Social Stratification: Crash Course Sociology #21

Summary

This video discusses social stratification, the system by which societies categorize and rank people in a hierarchy based on factors like wealth, power, and prestige. It explains that stratification is universal but varies across societies, and is a characteristic of society, not individuals. It persists across generations and influences life chances. The video contrasts closed systems, like India’s caste system, with open class systems that allow for social mobility. It emphasizes that stratification is maintained by societal beliefs, shaping views on merit, success, and inequality.

Takeaways

• 💰 Social stratification refers to the system by which society categorizes and ranks people in a hierarchy, affecting social status, job opportunities, and overall life outcomes.
• 🌍 Stratification is universal, but it varies across societies. Each society has its own methods of dividing people and assigning advantages or disadvantages.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Stratification is a characteristic of society, not a result of individual differences. It influences life outcomes regardless of personal choices or traits.
• 👶 Social stratification persists across generations, with wealthier families passing on advantages to their children, like better health, education, and future wealth prospects.
• 📉 Social mobility, or changes in social class, occurs but is often limited. People can move upward, downward, or horizontally (changing jobs without a shift in class).
• 📊 Structural mobility happens when societal changes cause large numbers of people to move up or down the hierarchy, such as during economic recessions.
• 💭 Beliefs play a crucial role in social stratification. Societies' cultural beliefs justify inequalities, making them seem normal or fair.
• 📜 Closed systems, like caste systems, are rigid and allow little social mobility, whereas open systems, like class systems, offer more opportunities for movement.
• 🏰 Examples of closed systems include India’s caste system, feudal Europe, and apartheid-era South Africa. Open systems, like in the U.S., allow for meritocracy, though structural factors still limit mobility.
• 📚 Status inconsistency occurs when a person’s different aspects of social standing (like income, education, and occupational prestige) don't align, leading to mixed social status.

Q & A

What is social stratification?

Social stratification is a system by which society categorizes people and ranks them in a hierarchy. It affects aspects of life such as social status, job opportunities, and life chances, with different societies having varying forms of stratification.

What are the four basic principles of social stratification?

The four principles are: 1) Social stratification is universal but variable, 2) It is a characteristic of society, not just individual differences, 3) It persists across generations, and 4) It is maintained through societal beliefs about inequality.

How does social stratification affect people's life chances?

Social stratification affects life chances by determining access to resources and opportunities. For example, children from wealthy families tend to live longer, have better health, attend college, and are more likely to be wealthy themselves.

What is the difference between ascribed status and achieved status?

Ascribed status refers to social positions one inherits at birth, like race or family background, while achieved status is based on personal accomplishments, such as education or career success.

What is the difference between open and closed systems of stratification?

Closed systems, like caste systems, are rigid and allow little social mobility, with status determined by birth. Open systems, like class systems, allow for more mobility, and social status can be achieved through merit and personal effort.

What is structural social mobility?

Structural social mobility refers to large-scale changes in the social hierarchy due to societal shifts, such as economic recessions, which can cause many people to move downward in class at the same time.

What role do cultural beliefs play in social stratification?

Cultural beliefs help to define and justify social inequalities, making stratification seem normal or fair in the eyes of society. Without these beliefs, the system of stratification would not be able to function effectively.

How does the American class system differ from a caste system?

The American class system is more meritocratic and open, allowing for social mobility based on personal effort. In contrast, caste systems are rigid, with social status determined at birth and little possibility for movement.

What is status inconsistency?

Status inconsistency occurs when different aspects of a person's social position don't align in terms of social status. For example, a highly educated person with a low-income job may experience status inconsistency.

Can you provide examples of closed systems of stratification?

Examples of closed systems include the caste system in India, feudal Europe with its estate system, and apartheid in South Africa. In these systems, social mobility is severely restricted, and social position is largely determined by birth.