Stratification Definitions

Social stratification is a system of categorizing a person or group into certain social

hierarchies or social classes based on their wealth or social status, as ranked by society. These

people and groups are categorized into social classes, where they have similar levels of wealth

and influence that is obtained either from birth or achievements. There are four systems of

stratification, which are slavery, caste, estate and class. Slavery is a system of stratification,

where individuals are owned by other individuals from a higher social class. An example would

be the enslavement of Africans during the seventeenth century, where society deems them as

slaves and treats them as people of the lowest hierarchy. It is a closed system, because an

individual inherits its ascribed status of a slave when they are born from a family of slaves. Caste

is another system of stratification, in which an individuals status is ascribed and would remain

with them for the rest of their life. An example would be in India, where the caste system is very

much practiced. People are treated accordingly to their caste status, where people of higher caste

status enjoy more benefits such as wealth and power. It is a closed system because individuals

inherit ascribed resources and class from their parents. The class stratification system is when

society determines ones class based upon money and the things they own thus individuals can

move up or down their class by achieving higher statuses. Thus, it is an achieved and open

system. An example would be when a lower-class individual works hard and earns an a high-

paying job in the future, then they have access to resources and power such as wealth and

authority in the workplace. The last stratification system is estate, where individuals are

categorized by the lands they control and is divided into nobility, clergy and commons. An

example would be in England during its early years, where the clergy and noble have access to

wealth and power thus the commons support them by their productions and paying taxes to build
more estates, whereas the noble and clergy payed little to no taxes. It reflects ascribed status,

because there is very little social mobility, where people move up or down the stratification

system, since individual inherits their parents status and resources.

According to Karl Marx, means of production are non-human inputs needed for

production, such as machinery, raw materials, facilities and more. People who owns the means of

production are classified as the bourgeoisie, which is a capitalist wealthy class. Whereas the

proletariat is a class of wage-earners who do not own means of production and receive wages

from people who do, known as the bourgeoisie in exchange of their labor. Class consciousness is

when one is aware of their place in the social system and that their interests as a social class is

not supported by the social structure. Dominant ideology is a set of social attitudes, beliefs,

values and such that is shared and upheld accepted by dominant members of the social system.

False consciousness is when members of lower hierarchies, such as the proletariat, accepts the

beliefs and attitudes insinuated by dominant members of social system, falsely leading them

away from the self-interests of their own group.

Weber refers to class as the economic status in a social system, where ones class is

defined by the materials they own and their role in production. An example is when one has a

higher class when they own resources, such as facilities. Status group is defined as an

individuals social status and power, where they tend to have to have the same prestige and

similar lifestyles. An example would be government officials, who have a high status for the

power they have to influence the countrys decisions. Party is referred as a groups political

status or power in their ability to exert power and influence groups. An example would be

activist groups, where they are able to create social movements and lead towards the approval of

the public towards that idea. A contrast between Marx and Weber is that Weber thinks that social
status or class is not only defined by what you own, or the means of production you have, but

also the power and prestige of what you do and what you have achieved.

Class differences of the upper class, lower-middle class and working class are linked to

cultural capital, as the higher class you have, the more social assets a person has. It also promotes

social mobility for individuals who would like to move up a class by attaining different assets

they have. Cultural capital linked to power differences, since it takes a certain social power to be

able to influence the behavior of those in the social system. Hence, there are power differences to

ensure that only certain groups have more power and other groups have less to maintain social

stability. In relation to material, social and cultural resources, cultural capital refers to a persons

material ownership that are achieved or ascribed and their access to it such as books and

education. Social resources are assets attained either by learning or experience that contribute to

ones cultural capital. Cultural resources give an individual an understanding of societys beliefs

and attitudes, thus forming ones cultural capital. Cultural capital is expressed in attire by the

way one presents themselves. People with cultural capital would dress a certain way with regard

to society around them. In sports, cultural capital is expressed by how well they perform in sports

and how educated they are in the techniques. Similarly in food, cultural capital is expressed by

the kinds of food they eat or are familiar with.