Social Stratification DONE

Social Stratification
Stratification can be defined various ways, but most

commonly refers to institutionalized inequalities in
power, wealth, and status between categories of
persons within a single social system (e.g., classes,
castes, ethnic groups).
Status inequalities between individuals are found

everywhere, so how much inequality does it take to
qualify as a stratified society?
Social stratification refers to ‘arrangement of any
social group or society into a hierarchy of positions
that are unequal with regard to power, property,
social evaluation, and /or psychic gratification’-
Tumin
Social stratification is the division of society into

permanent groups of categories linked with each other
by the relationship of superiority and subordination-
Gisbert
An inclusive society must be based on respect for all
human rights and fundamental freedoms, cultural and
religious diversity, social justice and the special needs
of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, democratic
participation and the rule of law- The United Nations
Social exclusion has to be seen as an

institutionalized form of inequality, the failure of a
society to extend to all sections of its population, the
economic resources and social recognition which
they need in order to participate fully in the
collective life of the community- Sonowal, C.J.
Social exclusion defines boundaries between
groups, locates the different social groups in a
hierarchy and regulates and guides their
interaction. Since social exclusion is
intimately and inherently related to systems of
domination and oppression, it is often highly
resistant to change and transformation. And
thus social exclusion becomes a focal point
for social conflict.
What Does Exclusion Entail?
Denial of equal access to market-Markets exclude people
as consumers or buyers.
Limitation to Political Participation-The role in decision

making process related to development of society.
Denial of Rights (overtly or covertly)

otherwise available to the others citizens
How People Get Excluded?
The Mechanisms of Exclusion:

Differential Treatment (social identity-us’ and they)
Differential Access (Different levels of access to
institutional means)
Differential Participation (Limits to political,
economic/professional or social participation)
Exclusion is not always Active-We tend to overlook passive

exclusion
How Does Exclusion Manifest Itself?
 Lack of Resources-leading to poverty
 Marginalisation and denial of rights or
rights of a lower kind
 Exclusion from Decision Making
 Common Forms:
1. Ghettoisation/Apartheid
2. Stereotyping-with typed jobs
3. Using cultural Exclusion as Justification for
economic exclusion
4. Having dualism in socio-economic institutions
Exclusion: The Vulnerable Groups
Caste and Marginalisation:
Ascribed status that has institutional acceptance
The whole public profile of Dalits determined by the
Upper Castes
The lack is not of just opportunity but also of
systematic denial
Dichotomy between policy and action at the grassroots
The exclusion shows all around-in employment profile,
health facts, access to opportunities and in the position in
political system
Women:
The Access is to the Last Resources-feminization of
labour and poverty
Stereotyping some issues as women’s only concern
The extension of denial of one right to the denial of
others
The demographic profile has disturbing elements-
denial of the right to live itself
The difference of class and caste combine in the
denial
Age and Exclusion:
Almost 80 million senior citizens are there and the
figure may rise to 177 million by 2025
Almost 90 per cent of the senior citizens are from the
unorganized sector with no social security after the age
of 60
80 per cent live in rural areas and most being illiterate
can rely only on physical labour
Of the old 55 per cent are widows with little support
There is lack of special focus on geriatric health and
ability issues
Regional Marginals:
The isolation based on region
Thee mainstream view often varies between apathy,

non-acceptance, scorn and condescension
The manifest movements become more discussed

than the root of the problems
The nexus of mainstream apathy and the vested

interests ahs made development difficult in already
isolated zones
The Marginals in Work Sphere:
Children
The Non-Decision Making/Influencing Groups
The resource poor Migrants
Can mean low wages, exploitative work schedules, no

concern for the human needs and a general acceptance of
exclusions as natural
Excluded People
In the Indian context:
Social Groups: Dalits, Tribals / Indigenous Peoples,
religious and linguistic minorities, the most backward
castes, especially women and children among these social
groups.
Sectoral Groups: Agricultural labourers, marginalised

farmers, child labourers, domestic workers, informal
workers/unorganized sector workers, contract workers,
plantation workers, fisher communities, manual
scavengers, rural and forest based communities,
vernacular speaking social groups, people with disability
etc.
From Exclusion to Inclusion
The Path to Inclusion:
Institutional and Social Support
Access
Welfare
Development
Participation
Empowerment
Functionalist Theories:
Functionalists see rise of state systems as driven by

reciprocity, a "social contract" (as Hobbes argued over
300 yrs ago).
In this view, centralized rule is a bargain that benefits

everyone: citizens pay taxes (share of crops, labor, etc.)
and give up some freedom, and in return the state
provides public order, military security, various public
works (e.g., irrigation, highways, public buildings)
Conflict theorists (of whom the most
famous/influential is Marx)
see states as essentially exploitative, primarily

benefiting ruling elites, and arising only when
masses must submit to dominance &
exploitation, or else face starvation and
repression.
According to Wilbert More and Kingsley Davis,
stratification system came to be evolved in all the
societies due to the functional necessity.- Some
Principles of Stratification
Functional Necessity:
1. Encourages hard work
2. Ensures circulation elites
3. Serves as an economic function
4. Stabilizes and reinforces the attitude and skills
5. Social control
Talcott parsons believes that order, stability and
cooperation in society are on value consensus.
Social stratification is a device by which societies insure

that the most important positions are conscientiously filled
by the most qualified persons.
It is a functional necessity for all societies.
Melvin M. Tumin… stratification is divisive rather than an

integrating force.
Weberian Perspective
A person’s class situation is basically his ‘market
situation’.
Class-Status-Party
Slavery-Class-Estate-Caste-Gender-Tribe
Forms of Stratification
Estate System is a politically based system of stratification
characterized by limited social mobility that is best exemplified
in the social organization of feudal Europe and the pre–Civil
War American South.
Caste System is a system of stratification based on hereditary
notions of religious and theological purity and generally offers
no prospects for social mobility. The varna system in India is
the most common example today of a caste system.
Class System is an economically based system of stratification
characterized by somewhat loose social mobility and
categories based on roles in the production process rather than
individual characteristics.

Social Stratification DONE

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Social Stratification

Stratification can be defined various ways, but most

Status inequalities between individuals are found

Social stratification is the division of society into

Social exclusion has to be seen as an

Limitation to Political Participation-The role in decision

Denial of Rights (overtly or covertly)

The Mechanisms of Exclusion:

Exclusion is not always Active-We tend to overlook passive

Thee mainstream view often varies between apathy,

The manifest movements become more discussed

The nexus of mainstream apathy and the vested

The Non-Decision Making/Influencing Groups

The resource poor Migrants

Can mean low wages, exploitative work schedules, no

Sectoral Groups: Agricultural labourers, marginalised

Institutional and Social Support

Functionalists see rise of state systems as driven by

In this view, centralized rule is a bargain that benefits

see states as essentially exploitative, primarily

Social stratification is a device by which societies insure

It is a functional necessity for all societies.

Melvin M. Tumin… stratification is divisive rather than an

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