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 – • Three basic models of social stratification •Slavery—ownership of certain people • •Caste—status for life • •Class—positions based on economics 2 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. On what dimensions does stratification exist? •Assets, wealth, money (rich vs. poor people) = economic view •Occupations (labour market positions) = social class view •Prestige, respect = social status view •Power, influence, authority = power view • •Income, occupation, education, power = socioeconomic status view • •The debate is over which is the most important or most basic criteria • •Three main dimensions of stratification are: economic capital (income, salary), education (prestige, respect), power (authority) • Social stratification cube •Three main dimensions –economic capital (income, salary) –education (prestige, respect) –power (authority) • •Fourth dimension –time – •Social mobility vs. social reproduction •Delimitation of social strata (no social classes) Consequences of SSC •Reproduction of social strata –In European countries children from the highest social classes have about 80% higher probability to attend university compare to children from the working class. –Correlation between parents’ education and children education is about 0.44 –Correlation between parents’ income and income of children is about 0.35. –Children from highest social class have 70% probability to get married with the same social class partner –Marriage homogamy is about 55 % •Structured by social class position •marriage preferences vs. marriage remainders Two reasons of reproduction •Social reproduction –glass ceiling –social barriers –system –everyone wants the same • •Cultural reproduction –sticky floor –cultural values, attitudes –behaviour –people want different things Two concepts of social stratification 7 •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 •Video YT: The problem of education inequality | CNBC Reports •https://youtu.be/T-JVpKku5SI • • • Basic principles social class reproduction •Cumulative advantage –Matthew effect –Advantages have tendency to strengthen itself –The same can be applied to disadvantages. • •Compensatory advantage –Economic, cultural, social, family resources to face risks along the life course 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 • 10 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 • • 11 11 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. 13 Changes in social structures of post-socialistic countries •increase of vertical social differentiation •increase of social inequalities •increase of income inequalities and inequalities in wealth •increase of life opportunities •increase of economic returns in education •education becomes stronger determinant of occupation –No political criteria, no political loyalty to political party •education becomes important factor of economic success in society •from status inconsistency to status consistency – explanation • • • • 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 Standards of Equality – what should be the goal? 16 •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. 17 Equality vs Equity Equality is the provision of equal access to resources and opportunities. Everyone gets the same thing, regardless of where they come from or what needs they might have. Equity is the provision of personalized resources needed for all individuals to reach common goals. The goals and expectations are the same for all students, but the supports needed to achieve those goals depends on the students’ needs. Photo Courtesy of AP Photo.