GS Week 5 - Social division and stratification

5 main features of stratification

Open and closed systems of stratification

Social class

Inter-generational social mobility

Intra-generational social mobility

Four ways in which social inequality is maintained

Functionalist perspective on social inequality

Conflict perspective on social inequality

  1. Historical formation

2 Structural characteristic

3 Different strata, different access to resources

4 Boundaries between layers may be more or less permeable

5 Members of society can be categorized in different strata, making social stratification a characteristic of society itself

in closed systems, moving from one strata to another deems very difficult - no permeability; slavery and caste systems

Industrialisation lead to some specialisation which then lead to some more access of social mobility

Stratification based on inherited status or ascription

No opportunity for social mobility

Exchange mobility; mobility not induced by change in system

Structural mobility; due to changes in class composition

Takes place over the course of generations

Takes place in the course of an individual's life

Social mobility is desireable for those with upward aspirations > those in upper classes prefer the status quo; they promote an ideology that legitimates their superior position making those in less fortunate positions accept this


Since people have different skills, some inequality seems fair

  1. Habitualisation
  2. Coercion and violence
  3. Ideology
  4. Subjugation

Belief in meritocracy

Differential rewards motivate people to do better, work harder, hence inequality increases productivity.

Inequality of rewards is seen as ‘fair’ if it
is coupled with equality of opportunity

The school system is seen as a neutral, objective institution entrusted with selecting students into different curricula and allocating them into most suitable positions

Unsuccessful people can blame themselves

Inequality is not functional, logical or beneficial

Social stratification prove advantages to some people on the behalf of others

In reality, the stratification was more complex than marx two class model

Davis & Moore