RUNNING HEAD: DIMENSIONS OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION 1

Dimensions in social stratification

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Dimensions of social stratification

The three dimensions of social stratification discussed in the pages are prestige, power

and wealth. Prestige is respect, regard and recognition attached to the social position of an

individual. There are different issues which define prestige and these are acknowledgments

and accomplishments. Acknowledgement may occur as a result of being the best in ones

occupation, school etc. Prestige comes in also by the manner in which one is regarded by

other people. A good example is how people of the different occupations are perceived in

America. Those with formal education tend to be highly thought of as they are perceived to

be in occupations that pay more, provide autonomy and make them socially important.

The other aspect is power and this is the ability of people to influence others and

achieve goals in life despite the confrontation they face. Power depends on the social class

that an individual belongs to. It may be realistic or perceived. Customs/traditions, charisma

and professions also give people power. A good example of this is a group of people who

control America and/or make the major decisions for it. These are senior people who are

considered to be powerful such as the president, the Supreme Court judges, prominent

lawyers etc.

Wealth is the other dimension of social stratification. Wealth defines a peoples social

economic situation. It is wealth that causes people to be classified into social classes (Hurst,

2007). In America, for example, there is the upper class which is comprised of the Upper

upper class and the lower upper-class. The upper-class in general is the one which is

considered to be comprised of wealthy individuals who make up less than 3% of the

population. There are the upper and the lower middle class who make up 40%, the working

class who are 30% and finally the lower class who make up 27% of the population. The lower

class earns the least.

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References

Hurst, C. (2007). Social Inequality: Forms, Causes, and Consequences. Boston MA, Allyn
and Bacon, 6th.