Social Stratification - Definition, Examples, Principles, Functions, Types, Elements, Theories & More!

The essence of social stratification is classification and ranking people in a society. These categories and rankings depend on many things such as wealth, income, education, and power. Family background or caste can also play a big role. In this sense, social stratification is like a system that determines who lives on the top hill, who sits back in the middle valleys, and who struggles in the bottom valley.

In exploring social stratification, which happens to be an important part of the Sociology Syllabus in the UPSC CSE Exam, we'll dissect its various facets, from its types and characteristics to the theoretical underpinnings that explain its existence. By the end of this guide, you'll have gained a holistic understanding of this multi-layered phenomenon, its implications, and its significance, particularly for UPSC CSE aspirants.

What is Social Stratification?

The division of a society's population into discrete groups or strata is known as social stratification. This depends on a number of variables, including social standing, occupation, wealth, income, and education. Sociologists use this idea to comprehend and examine how societies are organized hierarchically.

Principles of Social Stratification

The principles of social stratification can be summarized as follows:

• Social Definition: Social stratification is a characteristic of society as a whole. It is not just an individual attribute.
• Reproduction: Social stratification can be reproduced from one generation to the next. This gives social stratification continuity over time.
• Universality and Variability: Social stratification exists in every society, but it looks different in each society and occurs at different historical times.
• Beliefs and Attitudes: Social stratification involves not only unequal distribution of resources. It also involves the development of beliefs, values, and attitudes that justify and perpetuate the existing social hierarchy.

Examples of Social Stratification

• Class System: In many societies, individuals are divided into social classes based on their economic position. This includes the upper class, middle class, and lower class.
• Caste System: Certain societies follow a caste system where individuals are born into a particular social group. Their social status and opportunities are determined by their caste membership.
• Gender Stratification: Social stratification on the basis of gender is the uneven distribution of power, resources, and opportunities between women and men in a society.
• Racial and Ethnic Stratification: Some cultures do experience stratification along racial or ethnic lines. In these, specific racial or ethnic groups are systematically discriminated against relative to others.

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Stratification & Social Mobility

Social stratification has a deep impact on social mobility, determining if people do get to shift between societal strata. In his classic UK study, John Goldthorpe made the distinction between absolute and relative mobility. His research finds that although absolute mobility has varied, based on structural changes over time (such as employment trends) relative mobility has been remarkably stable—meaning, your class of origin still, to a large extent, dictates your class destination.

The Goldthorpe Class Scheme further refines class categories by focusing on employment relations and labor market positions rather than just wealth or power—an empirically grounded tool widely used in mobility research.

Different Types of Social Stratification

There are a number of different social stratification systems, each distinct but having the common feature of stratifying society into layers or strata. The most common varieties are:

• Estate System: A relic from the past, this type segmented societies into estates or orders - nobles, clergy, and commoners.
• Caste System: An inheritance of India, this system is based on hereditary status with classes such as the Brahmins (priests) and Kshatriyas (warriors).
• Class System: Dividing people on the basis of economic conditions such as wealth and occupation, the system gives rise to classes such as the bourgeoisie and proletariat.
• Status Group/System: Conceived by Max Weber, this system introduces stratification based on prestige and honor, in addition to wealth and power.

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Indigenous Indian Perspectives: Sanskritization & Dominant Caste

1. N. Srinivas introduced key concepts:

• Sanskritization: Lower castes adopt upper-class cultural traits (diet, rituals, lifestyle) to elevate their social standing within the caste hierarchy.
• Dominant Caste: Defined by Srinivas in 1959, these are caste groups with economic strength, numerical advantage, and political influence, often occupying the top of local hierarchies.

These concepts, grounded in fieldwork and ethnographic insight (e.g., The Remembered Village), underscore how Indian social mobility operates within traditional structures and community agency.

Different Elements of Social Stratification

Social Stratification is not just a phenomenon, it is a collection of things working together to create a hierarchy of societies. Let's examine the main factors to this element:

• Status differentiation: The foundation for social stratification. It separates society into different layers based on wealth, prestige, or power.
• Status can be based on the following - Economic status, which is related to wealth and job, Social status, which is based on family background or reputation, Political status, which relates to an individual's influence and power in a political setting.
• Ranking: This is where we create an order of these strata ranking them in order of level of social position.
• Evaluation: Society assigns values to the strata affecting the esteem or stigma of belonging to each stratum.
• Rewards: Based on these evaluations society rewards or punishes with opportunities, resources, or privileges. 

Learn more about Social Structural Theories!

Characteristics of Social Stratification

To comprehend social stratification fully, we must understand its main characteristics. Some prominent ones include:

• Ubiquitous: There is no society without some sort of stratification.
• Social: Stratification is social; it is not an individual phenomenon.
• Ancient and Persistent: It has existed through times and change occurs typically slowly.
• Influences Life Chances: It has a great influence on a person's life chances and level of social mobility.
• Often linked to the Belief System of Society: It is sometimes legitimized by ideologies, religions, or social customs.

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Function of Social Stratification

Underneath the seemingly rigid structure of social stratification lies a functional core that contributes to society's overall operation. Social stratification, from the structural-functionalist point of view, exists to allocate persons in society to roles and make sure that the roles are occupied by capable people. It encourages individuals to discharge their role efficiently through a reward-punishment system.

Theories of Social Stratification

There have been many theories attempting to explain the sophistication of social stratification. Let's look at the most important ones:

• Structural-Functional Theory: Focuses on the fact that there is a need for social inequality for a society to run smoothly.
• Conflict Theory: Regards social inequality as an outcome of struggle for resources and promotes equal sharing of resources.

• Symbolic Interactionism: Focuses on micro-level interactions, studying how social stratification is maintained and reproduced in everyday life.
• Feminist Theory: Examines how gender inequalities contribute to overall social stratification.
• Weber’s Three-Component Model: Beyond economic class, stratification includes status (prestige) and party (power)—highlighting multi-dimensional sources of inequality.

Functionalist vs Marxist vs Conflict Approaches, enriched:

• Functionalism: Justifies stratification for societal role fulfilment.
• Marxism: Stratification reflects bourgeois power over proletariat.
• Conflict Theory: Highlights how power disparities sustain inequality.

Functionalist Theory of Social Stratification

Constituting a new dimension of understanding social stratification, the Functionalist Theory presents a new take on the table. Informed by the early foundations of sociologists Émile Durkheim and Kingsley Davis, this theory sees social stratification as not an aberration but an integral aspect of an operational society.

Basically, the functionalist viewpoint subscribes to the notion that social stratification has an essential function. According to it, society is a highly structured system of interdependent components, each essential to the general balance and stability. In this elaborate mechanism, social stratification takes on the critical role of making sure that every component is occupied by the most appropriate person. How is that?

Society can be segmented into strata by talent, aptitude, and knowledge and the strata then place individuals in tasks that fit with their ability. For example, a surgeon is in a superior stratum because his skills are less common than those of a factory worker and more important.

Criticism of Functionalist Theory of Social Stratification

Not everyone subscribes to the functionalist approach to social stratification. Some claim functionalists ignore the underlying inequities and power relations involved in social stratification. Some critics argue a functionalist view represents the interests of the powerful and wealthy and that social stratification promotes a status quo of inequality rather than being useful for promoting harmony in society. 

Marxist Theory of Social Stratification

In contrast to functionalism, the Marxist social stratification theory views social stratification as a result of the class struggle. Marxists claim society consists of the bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (the workers). This stratification leads to class conflict, as the bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat to amass wealth, reinforcing their position at the top of the social hierarchy. It posits that such a system of inequality can only be overthrown through a societal revolution.

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Social Stratification: A Key Concept for UPSC Aspirants

For the UPSC aspirant, the study of social stratification is extremely important. Its importance comes from its interdisciplinarity across sociology, political science, and economics. Good knowledge of social stratification would enable the candidates to understand the structure, functioning, and inequalities of society. By tying theoretical concepts to real-world situations, candidates can develop a nuanced perspective, making their answers stand out in the examination.

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