Social Stratification 1 •What is social stratification? –Systematic inequality between groups of people •Why social? –SS concerns the groups of people –Systems of inequality are organized around groups with a shared characteristic. •Criteria delimit the inequality –wealth, income, prestige, power, gender, education, age •Rankings of groups change only very slowly •Contemporary European societies are stratified societies – • On what dimensions does stratification exist? •Assets, wealth, money (“class” views) = Labour market •Prestige, respect (“status” views) •Education, occupation, income (“socioeconomic status” view) •Power and influence (“power” view) • •The debate is over which is the most important or most basic •Three main dimensions of stratification are: power, economic capital, prestige • •Basic Social Stratification Cube: 3 dimensions • Two concepts of social stratification 3 •Inequality of conditions –unequal distribution of income to people –differencens in wealth and material conditions –different incomes means different chances to get different goods •Inequality of opportunity –unequal start positions – different start positions means different chances to get different levels of education, jobs and incomes Historically speaking, there are three major types of systems of social stratification: slavery, caste, and class. Let me briefly describe each type. 1. In slave systems, some peoples are considered less than human and are owned as property. Their legal rights are limited, certain relationships are prohibited, and as you might imagine, and social power is essentially nonexistent. 2. In caste systems, societal groupings are based on deeply held cultural ideals and boundaries. The Indian caste system exemplifies this societal form of stratification, having both cultural and economic impacts. Caste systems are rigidly based. They are characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social barriers and are sanctioned by custom, law, and religion. 3. Class systems are the stratification system we are familiar with. People are divided according to economic markers such as income, wealth, ownership, and so on. There are many different characterizations of what constitutes class, and we will be talking about these characterizations today. Inequality of conditions vs. inequality of opportunity •Inequality of conditions and inequality of opportunity are connected in empirical reality •Analytically they are two concepts that describe differences among people •Inequality of conditions result from social classes in empirical reality •Inequality of opportunity result from social movements/social mobility • Inequality of material conditions •indicated by Lorenz curve in empirical reality –curve not number, it shows the shape of material inequality not the size •the size of material inequality is indicated by GINI coefficient –it is number, it shows the size of material inequality • 5 Lorenz curve I. •Max O. Lorenz (1876-1959), American economist •description of concentration of incomes/wealth in societies •graphical presentation of inequality of conditions –it is cumulative distribution function • •Lorenz curve is utilized in social sciences as: •economy •sociology •demography •statistics u 6 Lorenz curve II. •it is based on the comparison of cumulative distribution of incomes to cumulative distribution of population •higher distance between hypothetical and real Lorenz curve means higher inequality in incomes in society • u https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjhjQHzJUO7NIlMQBPUX9eofS5XFLltgz3Ia4JGHrzsAf -WyMgkA 7 Trends in Lorenz curve in the CR 8 Gini index I. lCorrado Gini (1884-1965), Italian sociologist, statistician and demograph lthe Gini coefficient is also known as the Gini index or Gini ratio la measure of the income inequality lit is one number that represents the income distribution in society lthe coefficient varies between 0, which reflects complete equality and 1, which indicates complete inequality (one person has all the income or consumption, all others have none). l 9 Gini index II. lGI is derived from Lorenz curve lit shows the relationship between the Lorenz curve area and the total area under ideal Lorenz curve area l 10 Trend in GINI in the Czech Republic 11 Advantages and disadvantages of Lorenz curve and GINI coefficient •advantages of GINI •it is a number suitable for comparison of many historical periods or countries •disadvantages of GINI •it does not show the shape of inequality, different shapes but one GINI coefficient •advantages of Lorenz curve •it shows the shape of inequality, it means that it makes differences among various types of inequalities •disadvantages of Lorenz curve •but Lorenz curve is not very suitable for huge comparisons •many curves means chaos 12 Inequality of opportunity •indicated by social mobility •SM is the movement of people up or down the stratification system •trends in European countries •from agriculture to industry: industrial societies •from industry to services: post-industrial societies •these trends are reflected in structural social mobility trends •but no changes in social fluidity (relative social mobility) •odds ratios are the same • • 14 14 An important characteristic of class systems, as opposed to slave or caste systems, is that in class-based systems of stratification, there is the opportunity for social mobility. This means that people and groups can, potentially, move up or down in the rankings, and this is seen by many as a significant benefit of class systems. In reality, however, such mobility is less common than our national mythology suggests. Typically, those who arrive at high positions have families who either had high positions themselves or the resources to provide the appropriate education for advancement. Achieving upward mobility is very difficult, and the wonderful stories we’ve all heard and seen (think, for example, of the movie The Pursuit of Happyness) are so very moving because they are the exception, not the norm. If such stories were common, they would not get our attention in nearly the same way. Ascription versus Achivement •What is ascription? –How does acriptive society work? – •What is achivement? –How does meritocratic society work? – •Why we should strive for meritocratic societies? –Discussion Three basic models of social stratification •Slavery—ownership of certain people • •Caste—status for life • •Class—positions based on economics 16 Historically speaking, there are three major types of systems of social stratification: slavery, caste, and class. Let me briefly describe each type. 1. In slave systems, some peoples are considered less than human and are owned as property. Their legal rights are limited, certain relationships are prohibited, and as you might imagine, and social power is essentially nonexistent. 2. In caste systems, societal groupings are based on deeply held cultural ideals and boundaries. The Indian caste system exemplifies this societal form of stratification, having both cultural and economic impacts. Caste systems are rigidly based. They are characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social barriers and are sanctioned by custom, law, and religion. 3. Class systems are the stratification system we are familiar with. People are divided according to economic markers such as income, wealth, ownership, and so on. There are many different characterizations of what constitutes class, and we will be talking about these characterizations today. Fathers of social classes are Karl Marx and Max Weber - -Karl Marx (1818–1883), German philosopher, economist, sociologist. -Two classes in modern society: class antagonisms under capitalism between the bourgeoisie and proletariat -Classes are defined by the relationship to production -Bourgeoisie owns means of production -Proletariat owns just labour power -This is the problem of modern society - -Max Weber (1864–1920), German sociologist, philosopher, and political economist -Class position means the labour market position -Jobs -Many classes and specific behaviour (explanation!) - - Standards of Equality – what should be the goal? 18 •Ontological equality - everyone is created equal. Goal is equal respect and status within the culture. •Equality of Condition – “level playing field,” same starting point for everyone. Goals may include increasing diversity & using affirmative action. •Equality of Opportunity - inequality of condition is acceptable as long as everyone has the same opportunities for advancement and is judged by the same standards – Fits most closely with modern capitalist society – – • • • Photo Courtesy of AP Photo.