Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups in a society based on various factors such as wealth, power, education, occupation, and social status. It is the system by which society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. These layers or strata influence access to resources, opportunities, and privileges.
- Karl Marx viewed it in terms of class conflict, emphasizing the division between the proletariat (working class) and the bourgeoisie (capitalists).
- Max Weber defined it as a system of classification in which groups of people are ranked based on their social, economic, and political status.
Table of Contents
Features of Social Stratification
- Hierarchy: People are ranked based on various factors like wealth, power, and prestige.
- Permanence: Social stratification is persistent over time, though it can change due to social, political, and economic shifts.
- Inequality: There is unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges in society.
- Cultural and Social Norms: Stratification is often justified by societal norms, beliefs, and ideologies.
- Social Mobility: There are varying degrees of mobility between strata in different societies. Some systems allow for movement (upward or downward), while others are rigid.
Functional Approach to Social Stratification
The functional approach to social stratification is primarily associated with Emile Durkheim and later Talcott Parsons and Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore. This perspective emphasizes that social stratification is a necessary and beneficial part of the structure, contributing to the overall stability and functioning of society. It is based on the assumption that society needs a division of labor and hierarchy to function effectively.
Key Concepts in the Functional Approach:
Role Differentiation
Society is composed of different roles, and each role contributes to the overall functioning of society. Some roles are more important or require more specialized skills, and therefore, these roles are rewarded with higher prestige, wealth, or power.
Motivation and Incentives:
Stratification provides incentives for individuals to aspire to higher positions by offering greater rewards (like wealth, status, and power) for more demanding or significant roles in society. These rewards motivate people to work hard, innovate, and contribute to the society’s functioning
Social Order and Stability
The system of stratification is seen as an essential mechanism that maintains order and stability in society. By assigning different levels of status and resources to different groups, stratification ensures that society’s most crucial roles are filled by the most qualified individuals. This creates a stable, efficient, and functioning social system.
Davis-Moore Hypothesis:
- Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore argued that stratification is functional because it ensures that the most qualified people fill the most important positions in society. These positions require special talents, skills, and education, which is why they are rewarded with higher status, wealth, and power.
- For example, doctors, engineers, and professors typically receive more rewards than laborers because their roles require higher levels of education, training, and expertise, contributing more significantly to society’s well-being.
Strengths of the Functionalist View:
- It helps explain the persistence of inequality and social stratification in many societies.
- It highlights the importance of role differentiation in maintaining order and efficiency.
- It supports the idea that unequal distribution of rewards (like wealth and power) is functional for the overall progress of society.
Criticisms:
- It tends to justify inequality as a natural or inevitable part of society, overlooking its negative impacts.
- It assumes that social mobility is possible and that everyone has an equal opportunity to attain higher positions, which is often not the case in real life.
- It underplays the role of power and exploitation in the maintenance of stratification systems.
Conflict Approach to Social Stratification
The conflict approach to social stratification is associated with Karl Marx, but it was also developed further by Max Weber. This perspective challenges the functionalist view and instead argues that stratification is the result of conflict and competition for scarce resources. The conflict theory sees stratification as a means for the powerful to maintain control over the weaker groups, leading to inequality and social injustice.
Key Concepts in the Conflict Approach
Power and Control
According to Karl Marx, stratification is driven by the conflict between different social classes. The bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) hold power and wealth, while the proletariat (working class) is exploited for their labor. The ruling class controls economic resources, education, and political systems to maintain their dominant position in society.
Exploitation:
Marx argued that social stratification is inherently exploitative, as the working class is deprived of the full value of their labor. The capitalist system leads to inequality because the bourgeoisie benefits from the surplus value created by workers but does not share it equally with them
Social Class and Class Conflict
Marx viewed stratification as a product of class conflict. He believed that society was divided into two primary classes: the ruling class (capitalists) and the working class (proletariat). This division leads to tension, exploitation, and, eventually, the potential for revolution if the proletariat rises up against the bourgeoisie.
Weber’s View:
Max Weber expanded on Marx’s ideas but included other dimensions of stratification, such as:
- Class: Economic position and ownership of wealth.
- Status: Social prestige and honor.
- Party: Political power and influence. Weber argued that social stratification is not based only on economic factors but also on status (prestige) and political power, leading to a more complex understanding of inequality.
Strengths of the Conflict View:
- It highlights the role of power, exploitation, and inequality in maintaining its structures.
- It emphasizes the need for social change, drawing attention to the injustices perpetuated by unequal systems of stratification.
- It accounts for the fact that stratification often benefits a small elite, not society as a whole.
Criticisms:
- It can overlook the positive aspects of stratification (e.g., role differentiation and specialization).
- It tends to focus more on conflict and revolution, underestimating the potential for gradual change or social mobility within existing systems.
- It may not account for the full complexity of social stratification, such as the intersectionality of race, gender, ethnicity, and other factors.
Comparison of Functional and Conflict Approaches
| Aspect | Functional Approach | Conflict Approach |
|---|
| View of Stratification | Necessary for social order and stability. | Result of power struggles and exploitation. |
| Role of Inequality | Inequality motivates individuals to work and fulfill society’s needs. | Inequality arises from the exploitation of the weak by the powerful. |
| Social Change | Change occurs gradually through adaptation and innovation. | Change occurs through conflict, revolution, or power struggles. |
| Social Mobility | Social mobility is possible and essential for societal function. | Social mobility is restricted by the power dynamics and class structures. |
| Focus | Focuses on how stratification contributes to societal stability. | Focuses on how stratification creates and maintains inequality. |
Social Stratification
Nepal’s social stratification is shaped by a combination of class, caste, ethnicity, and gender. Historically, caste has been a significant determinant of social status. Over time, the growing recognition of ethnic diversity, along with democratic reforms and legal protections for marginalized groups, has prompted changes. Nonetheless, caste and ethnic identity still influence social mobility and access to resources.
- Class: Economic divisions exist between the elite (mainly urban business and political families) and the working class, including farmers, laborers, and informal sector workers.
- Caste: Despite legal reforms, caste-based discrimination remains, especially in rural areas. Dalits face severe social exclusion.
- Ethnicity: Indigenous groups like the Tamang and Sherpa, as well as the Madhesi people, often face marginalization, with less access to resources and political power.
- Gender: Women, especially in rural and marginalized communities, still face gender-based discrimination. Efforts to address these disparities are ongoing, including the promotion of women’s rights and participation in governance.
Class:
- Meaning: Class refers to a group of people who share similar economic positions or social status in society.
- Features: Based on wealth, income, occupation, education, and lifestyle. It is dynamic, allowing for social mobility.
- Nepalese Context: Nepal has a class system characterized by urban and rural divides, with many people still engaged in agrarian work. The wealthy elite (landowners, business families) hold considerable power, while the working-class population remains in lower economic strata.
Caste:
- Meaning: Caste refers to a system of social stratification where individuals are born into a particular group, determining their social status, occupation, and interactions with others.
- Features: It is hereditary, rigid, and often linked to social discrimination.
- Nepalese Context: Nepal is home to a complex caste system, especially among Hindu communities. The “Varna” system divides people into four main categories (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras), with Dalits at the bottom. Despite legal efforts to reduce caste-based discrimination, caste remains influential in some rural areas.
Ethnicity:
- Meaning: Ethnicity refers to the shared culture, language, religion, and historical background of a group of people.
- Features: It is linked to identity, often leading to group cohesion, but can also become a basis for stratification.
- Nepalese Context: Nepal is ethnically diverse, with numerous ethnic groups like Tamang, Gurung, Thru, and Newar. Ethnic stratification exists, with some ethnic groups holding more political and economic power, while others face marginalization. The ethnic hierarchy has evolved, particularly with the rise of federalism and democracy in Nepal.
Gender:
- Meaning: Gender refers to the roles, behaviors, and attributes that a given society associates with individuals based on their sex.
- Features: Gender inequality is often evident in areas like employment, political representation, and family roles. Women, in many societies, face lower social status and fewer opportunities.
- Nepalese Context: Women in Nepal have historically been subjected to patriarchal structures. Though there have been significant advances in gender equality, women, particularly in rural areas, still face unequal access to education, healthcare, and employment. Dalit women and indigenous women face compounded discrimination.
Conclusion
Social stratification is a fundamental and enduring feature of human societies. It refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups based on various factors such as wealth, power, occupation, education, and social status. These layers of stratification shape individuals’ access to resources and opportunities and influence their life chances, behavior, and social interactions.
The functional approach to social stratification emphasizes the idea that inequality is essential for maintaining social order, stability, and efficiency. According to this view, stratification ensures that the most qualified individuals fill society’s most important roles, motivating people to work hard and contribute to the overall functioning of society. However, this perspective has been criticized for justifying inequality and overlooking its detrimental effects on marginalized groups.
FAQ Questions
What are the causes of social stratification?
Social stratification arises from a combination of social, economic, and cultural factors:
Economic systems: The way resources are distributed (e.g., capitalism, feudalism).
Political power: The control over political and legal institutions often results in social inequality.
Cultural beliefs and values: Societies justify inequality through ideology, religion, or tradition.
Historical factors: Colonialism, wars, and historical practices like slavery can perpetuate social hierarchies.
What are the functionalist views on social stratification?
Functionalist perspectives, as proposed by theorists like Talcott Parsons and Kingsley Davis & Wilbert Moore, argue that social stratification is necessary for the stability and smooth functioning of society. Stratification ensures that individuals are motivated to fulfill essential roles, with higher rewards given to more important or demanding positions, which contributes to social order and productivity.
What is the conflict theory view on social stratification?
The conflict theory, influenced by Karl Marx and Max Weber, views social stratification as the result of power struggles. It argues that stratification benefits the powerful elite by exploiting and oppressing the lower classes. This creates inequality, where the ruling class controls resources and institutions, while the working class remains disadvantaged.