This document provides an overview of social stratification. It defines social stratification as the layering and ranking of groups in a society based on power, property, and prestige. It discusses the key dimensions and types of stratification, including egalitarian, ranked, class-based, and caste societies. Gender, slavery, and the emergence of social hierarchies over time are also addressed. The purpose is for students to understand social inequality and how it varies across different types of societies.

1. Social Stratification
A. Defining Social Stratification
B. Dimensions of Social Inequality
C. Types of Societies According to Stratification
D. Racial & Ethnic Stratification
E. Theories of Stratification
Based on thorough reading of the chapter, students should be able to:
● Define social stratification
● Demonstrate knowledge of the concepts relating to the variation in degree of social inequality.
● Distinguish between egalitarian, rank, class, and caste societies.
● Discuss the emergence of stratification.
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
● layering of the nations, and of groups of people within a nation
● a system in which people are divided into layers according to their relative power, property and
prestige
● a way of ranking large groups of people into a hierarchy according to their relative privileges
● Four Basic Principles
● It is a characteristic of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences.
● It persists over generations.
● It is universal but variable.
● It involves not just inequality but beliefs.
Cultural beliefs serve to justify social stratification. That is part of the reason why it persists.
Important:
1. Every society stratifies its members; some societies have greater inequality than others, but
stratification is universal.
2. Gender is basis for stratification. On the basis of gender, people are either allowed or denied
access to the good things offered by their society.
● In no society is gender the sole basis for stratifying people, but gender cuts across
all systems of social stratification – whether slavery, caste, or class. In all these
systems, on the basis of their gender, people are sorted into categories and given
different access to the good things available in their society.
● These distinctions are always in favor of males. It is remarkable, for example, that
in every society of the world, men’s earnings are higher than women’s. Men’s
dominance is even more evident when we consider female circumcision. And, there
are more females who are illiterates than males. (Henslin, James. Essentials of
Sociology, 2004).

2. Virtually all societies have developed some degree of inequality among their people through the
process of social stratification-the division of members of a society into strata (or levels) with unequal
wealth, prestige or power. Differences lie in how societies treat the inequalities. Some may downplay them
so they become transparent and insignificant (egalitarian societies) while others will accent inequalities
(ranked and class-based societies). Three different types of societies can generally recognized: egalitarian
societies, ranked societies and class-based societies.
● Types Of societies According to Social Stratification
1. Egalitarian
Egalitarian societal members tend to treat each other as equals. Wealth differences are few as is the
amount of power available to any individual or group. The people possess norms that emphasize sharing
and ideals of interpersonal equality. This is not to say that stratification is non-existent in these societies.
In comparison with nonegalitarian societies, however, stratification is relatively insignificant. Even when
someone like a bigman is present, prestige is important and linked to redistribution. However, the bigman
gives more than he receives as his role as a redistributor is defined. If he hordes or possesses too much,
he will lose the recognition as a bigman. In effect, he is a member of society as an equal who has a defined
role that carries prestige but not wealth and recognition but not status. Foraging bands are the most
egalitarian societies. However, even in these societies, there are differences based on age and sometimes
gender.
Egalitarian societies then:
● have no individual or group has more access to resources, power or prestige than any
other.
● have no fixed number for social positions for which individuals must compete.
● are associated with bands or tribes.
The Penan of Serawak, Malaysia, are one of the few
remaining nomadic peoples of the forest.
2. Rank
In ranked societies people are divided into hierarchically ordered groups that differ in terms of prestige,
but not significantly in terms of access to resources or power. Within this context it is possible to identify
persons we can label as chiefs whose inherited position and prestige is often linked to the redistribution of
goods.
Rank societies, in sum, possess the following characteristics:
● Institutionalized differences in prestige but no restrictions on access to basic resources.

3. ● Individuals obtain what they need to survive through their kinship group.
● Associated with horticultural or pastoral societies that have a surplus of food.
● Associated with chiefdoms.
3. Class
In class-based societies people are divided into hierarchically ordered groups that differ in terms of access
not only to prestige, but also to resources and power. Western capitalist societies have distinct classes (e.g.
upper class, middle class, poor), but mobility amongst the classes sometimes occurs through activities such
as education, marriage or hard work.
The following features mark class societies:
● Formal and permanent, social and economic inequality.
● Some people are denied basic access to basic resources.
● Characterized by basic differences in standard of living, security, prestige and political power.
● Economically organized by market systems.
● Based on intensive agriculture and industrialism.
● Associated with form political organization called the state.
● Open Class Societies
We call class systems open if there is some possibility of moving from one class to another. A very good
example would be our own society, wherein people, although categorized into low, middle or upper class,
can move from one hierarchy into another. It is important to note however that class systems give the
impression of being “open,” but the positions open and how many are available are
still determined by social structure and not individual choice.
There are a number of mechanisms that ensure class perpetuation. Class tends to perpetuate themselves,
for instance, through inheritance. Education also makes it possible for the rich to have little contact with
other classes, and vice-versa. People in the same class tend to live n the same neighborhood, attend the
same parties, or join the same clubs.
Class systems:
● are much more open because it is based primarily on money or material possessions
● allow for change in one’s status in life depending on what one has achieved (or failed to achieve)
in life
● have no laws specify people’s occupations on the basis of birth or prohibit marriage between
classes
● allow for social mobility – movement up or down the class ladder
The potential for improving one’s life – or for falling down the class ladder- is a major force that drives
people to go far in school and work hard. In the extreme, the family background that a child inherits at birth
may present such obstacles that he or she has little chance of climbing very far- or it may provide such
privileges that it makes it almost impossible to fall down the class ladder.
● Closed Class Systems

4. Some societies have classes that are virtually closed, called castes. In caste systems,
● status is determined by birth and is lifelong;
● the basis of a caste system is ascribed status;
● they practice endogamy (marriage within their own group);
● members develop elaborate rules about ritual pollution teaching that contact with inferior castes
contaminates the superior caste
The most commonly cited example of this system is India’s caste system. India’s Religious Caste:
● is based not on race but on religion
● are divided into four main castes but are further divided into thousands of subcastes or jati with
each jati having an occupational specialty
INDIA’S CASTE SYSTEM
Brahmins
-are very wise and understand the world
interpret world for -
others -preferred to be left alone to meditate and create art
includes artist, philosophers, clergymen, and teachers
Administrators and Leaders (Kshatriyas)
-organize activities and guide others
-need authority to lead others
-usually has politicians, managers, and military men
Producers (Vaishyas)
-provide goods and services
-must have tools and services to produces food,
clothing, and shelter
-this group would include farmers, merchants,
craftsmen, and engineers
Followers and Workers (Sudras)
-perform simple jobs
-unskilled workers
-usually perform jobs that require physical activity
Untouchables (Pariahs)
-lowest caste
-jobs no one else wants
-considered unclean
-forbidden to use wells, streets, schools, temples
-forbidden to mix with other people

5. ● Slavery
Slaves are persons who do not own their labor, and as such represents a class. Slaves are often obtained
from other cultures directly: kidnapped, captured in war; or given as tribute. Or they may be obtained
indirectly as payment of a debt; as punishment for a crime; or even as a chosen alternative to poverty.
Slavery is common in world history (the Old Testament lays out rules for how Israelites should treat their
slaves). It is least common among nomads, especially among hunters and gatherers, and most common in
agricultural societies.
There are terrible human rights abuses taking place in Sudan. In central Sudan live many southern people
who have migrated north to escape the war. These people are being exploited by the Arabs and forced
to work for little or no wages. There are also prisoners of war in the area (taken in fighting between the
Baggara peoples and the Dinka).
Conditions of Slavery:
1. In some cases, slavery was temporary.
2. Slavery was not necessarily inheritable.
3. Slaves were not necessarily powerless and poor.
(Among the Nupe of Central Nigeria, male slaves were given the same opportunities to earn
money as other dependent males in the household. A slave might be given a plot of his own to
cultivate, or he might be given a commission if his master was a craftsman or a tradesman. Slaves
could acquire property, wealth, and even slaves of their own. But all of a slave’s belongings went to
the master at the slave’s death.)
● Determinants of Social Class
Main assumption: Social Class is made up of three components: property, power and prestige.
● Property (wealth) – some people do not own property but they control means of production such
as managers of corporations
● Prestige (status) – people tend to look up to the wealthy, but those who have prestige, for instance
Manny Pacquiao, are able to exchange their prestige for property. Property can bring prestige,
prestige can also bring property.

6. ● Power - (the ability to make others do what you want them to do even if they do not like it).
Prestige can be turned to power as in the case of Erap Estrada (an actor-prestige) who became
president of the country (power). (Although of course it could be argued that he lost both when he
was impeached.)
The Emergence of Stratification
Social stratification appears to have emerged relatively recently in human history, after 8,000 years ago.
This conclusion is based on archaeological evidence and on the fact that certain cultural features associated
with stratification developed recently, such as fixed settlements, political integration beyond the community
level, the use of money as a medium of exchange, and the presence of some full-time specialization.
● At least three theories attempt to explain the emergence of stratification:
1. Social stratification developed as productivity increased and surpluses were produced
(Sahlins and Lenski).
2. Stratification can develop only when people have “investments” in land or technology
therefore cannot move away from leaders they do not like.
3. Stratification emerges only when there is population pressure on resources in rank
societies.