Social MobilitySocial Mobility

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What is Social Stratification?What is Social Stratification?

Social stratification is Social stratification is “...the division of society “...the division of society into levels, steps or positions”into levels, steps or positions”

Stratification is, in essence, the Stratification is, in essence, the structured structured inequalityinequality of entire categories of people of entire categories of people

Stratification is different than mere Stratification is different than mere inequalityinequality, , which refers to the uneven distribution of which refers to the uneven distribution of opportunities and rewards to individuals and opportunities and rewards to individuals and groups.groups.

When these inequalities becomes structured When these inequalities becomes structured into society and passed on from generation to into society and passed on from generation to generation, we have social stratificationgeneration, we have social stratification

Social MobilitySocial Mobility

Social mobilitySocial mobility refers to the movement of refers to the movement of persons or groups from one social stratum to persons or groups from one social stratum to anotheranother

Social mobility is more possible in Social mobility is more possible in open open societiessocieties which provide greater opportunities which provide greater opportunities for mobility, than in for mobility, than in closed societiesclosed societies which fixes which fixes one’s position at birthone’s position at birth

Sociologists distinguish between several types Sociologists distinguish between several types of mobilityof mobility

Types of Social MobilityTypes of Social Mobility

Direction of MovementDirection of Movement

AcrossAcross Up or DownUp or Down

Horizontal MobilityHorizontal Mobility Vertical MobilityVertical Mobility

Time Frame for MobilityTime Frame for Mobility

Single GenerationSingle Generation Two or More GenerationsTwo or More Generations

Intra-generational Intra-generational MobilityMobility

Inter-generational Inter-generational MobilityMobility

Factors Affecting Social Factors Affecting Social MobilityMobility

Sociologists have identified several Sociologists have identified several structural-level factors which impact the structural-level factors which impact the likelihood of social mobilitylikelihood of social mobility• Economic Conditions Economic Conditions • ChanceChance• Population: Number of people in the Population: Number of people in the

workforceworkforce• EducationEducation• Openness of societyOpenness of society

Absolute and Relative MobilityAbsolute and Relative Mobility

Absolute MobilityAbsolute Mobility

Is defined as the overall numbers Is defined as the overall numbers of individuals from specific of individuals from specific origins reaching particular class origins reaching particular class locations and is expressed as a locations and is expressed as a percentage.percentage.

E.G. between 1950 and 1972 E.G. between 1950 and 1972 16% of working class boys had 16% of working class boys had reached middle class locationsreached middle class locations

Between 1945 and 1980 there Between 1945 and 1980 there was significant absolute mobility was significant absolute mobility in British society – in British society – can you can you think of any reasons whythink of any reasons why

Relative mobilityRelative mobility

Refers to the relative chances of Refers to the relative chances of mobility from particular classes mobility from particular classes across generations – by using across generations – by using relative mobility data it is relative mobility data it is possible to assess whether possible to assess whether society is becoming more or less society is becoming more or less openopen

Since 1980 the relative chances Since 1980 the relative chances of mobility (compared to previous of mobility (compared to previous generations) has slowed down – generations) has slowed down – can you think of any reasons can you think of any reasons why?why?

Types of Stratification Types of Stratification SystemsSystems

Caste systemsCaste systems are very rigid, are very rigid, closed systems of stratification closed systems of stratification based on ascribed characteristics based on ascribed characteristics such as skin color or family such as skin color or family identityidentity

Estate systemsEstate systems are also closed are also closed systems based largely on systems based largely on inheritanceinheritance

Class systemsClass systems are open systems are open systems that permit meaningful social that permit meaningful social mobilitymobility

Dimensions of Social Dimensions of Social StratificationStratification

Wealth—Wealth—the economic assets of an the economic assets of an individual, including income, individual, including income, monetary assets and other holdingsmonetary assets and other holdings

PowerPower—the ability to attain goals and —the ability to attain goals and maintain influence over others, even maintain influence over others, even in the absence of their consentin the absence of their consent

Prestige—Prestige—the approval and respect the approval and respect received from other members of received from other members of societysociety

Theories of Stratification: Theories of Stratification: Functionalist TheoryFunctionalist Theory

You will remember that functionalist theory You will remember that functionalist theory understands society as a “system” or “organism”understands society as a “system” or “organism”

As functionalists, Kingsley Davis and Wilbert As functionalists, Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore contended that stratification was a Moore contended that stratification was a necessity for society because:necessity for society because:

• Society has numerous positions that must be fulfilled if Society has numerous positions that must be fulfilled if it is to function properlyit is to function properly

• Some positions, however are more important for the Some positions, however are more important for the maintenance of society (e.g., physicians)maintenance of society (e.g., physicians)

• Finally, some positions require special talents that are Finally, some positions require special talents that are not generally prevalent in the populationnot generally prevalent in the population

Hence, functionally important positions and/or Hence, functionally important positions and/or positions requiring rare talent are rewarded most positions requiring rare talent are rewarded most highlyhighly

Criticisms of Functional Criticisms of Functional TheoryTheory

Are highly rewarded roles really Are highly rewarded roles really functional?functional?• Critics question the functional importance of Critics question the functional importance of

certain highly rewarded positions such as certain highly rewarded positions such as actors and sports figures, in contrast to actors and sports figures, in contrast to positions such as school teachers or social positions such as school teachers or social workersworkers

The Stratification System itself Inhibits The Stratification System itself Inhibits Talent and AbilitiesTalent and Abilities• Many barriers are placed in the way of Many barriers are placed in the way of

individuals from lower classes to keep them individuals from lower classes to keep them from competing effectivelyfrom competing effectively

Theories of Stratification: Theories of Stratification: Marxist Conflict TheoryMarxist Conflict Theory

Suggests that social stratification is Suggests that social stratification is determined by the determined by the relations of relations of productionproduction• bourgeoisie--bourgeoisie--capitalists who own the capitalists who own the

means of productionmeans of production• proletariat--proletariat--wage laborers who sell their wage laborers who sell their

labor to bourgeoisielabor to bourgeoisie Interests of these two classes are Interests of these two classes are

intrinsically opposedintrinsically opposed• Power of the capitalists allows them to Power of the capitalists allows them to

impose their will and realize their interestsimpose their will and realize their interests• According to Marx, the proletariat will According to Marx, the proletariat will

eventually develop a eventually develop a class consciousnessclass consciousness, , and ultimately overthrow the capitalistsand ultimately overthrow the capitalists

Comparing Functional and Conflict TheoriesComparing Functional and Conflict TheoriesFunctional TheoryFunctional Theory Marxist TheoryMarxist Theory

Stratification is universal, necessary Stratification is universal, necessary and inevitableand inevitable

Stratification is universal, but not Stratification is universal, but not necessary or inevitablenecessary or inevitable

The social system shapes the The social system shapes the stratification systemstratification system

The stratification system shapes the The stratification system shapes the social systemsocial system

Stratification arises from societal need Stratification arises from societal need for integration and coordinationfor integration and coordination

Stratification arises from group Stratification arises from group competition and conflictcompetition and conflict

Stratification facilitates the optimal Stratification facilitates the optimal functioning of societyfunctioning of society

Stratification impedes the optimal Stratification impedes the optimal functioning of societyfunctioning of society

Stratification is an expression of Stratification is an expression of commonly shared social valuescommonly shared social values

Stratification is an expression of the Stratification is an expression of the values of powerful groupsvalues of powerful groups

Power is distributed legitimately in Power is distributed legitimately in societysociety

Power is distributed illegitimately in Power is distributed illegitimately in societysociety

Tasks and rewards are allocated Tasks and rewards are allocated equitablyequitably

Tasks and rewards are not allocated Tasks and rewards are not allocated equitablyequitably

The economic dimension is subordinate The economic dimension is subordinate to other dimensions of societyto other dimensions of society

The economic dimension is paramount The economic dimension is paramount in societyin society

Stratification systems generally change Stratification systems generally change through evolutionthrough evolution

Stratification systems change through Stratification systems change through revolutionrevolution

Revision QuestionsRevision Questions What is the difference between inequality and What is the difference between inequality and

stratification?stratification? How can “social mobility” be defined?How can “social mobility” be defined? What factors affect social mobility?What factors affect social mobility? What type of stratification system allows for stratification?What type of stratification system allows for stratification? What are the three dimensions of social stratification?What are the three dimensions of social stratification? How do functionalists view stratification?How do functionalists view stratification? How can functionalism be criticised?How can functionalism be criticised? How do Marxists view stratification?How do Marxists view stratification? Why was there significant absolute mobility 1945-80?Why was there significant absolute mobility 1945-80? Why have the current generations chances of social Why have the current generations chances of social

mobility (relative mobility) declined since 1980?mobility (relative mobility) declined since 1980?