Sociology · Indian Sociological Thoughts B K Nagla
Chapter 18 : Stratification Perspective
Table of contents16 sections
- 1.What is Social Stratification?
- 2.Key Terms
- 3.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 4.Key Concepts of Stratification
- 5.Key Terms
- 6.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 7.Theories of Social Stratification
- 8.Functional Approach
- 9.Marxian (Dialectical) Approach
- 10.Weberian Approach
- 11.Key Terms
- 12.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 13.Studies on Social Stratification in India
- 14.Key Terms
- 15.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 16.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
What is Social Stratification?
Social stratification is fundamentally a system of social ranking that involves relations of superiority and inferiority. These relations are essentially social in nature and are governed by a specific set of norms.
- Talcott Parsons (1954: 69) defines a stratification system of society as the "patterning" or "ordering" of social relations.
- This "ordering" or "patterning" involves multiple interconnected elements:
- The value system
- The power structure
- The role of ascriptive and achievement aspects
- The pattern of conformity and deviance
- The reward and punishment attached to conformity and deviance
Melvin Tumin (1969) provides a comprehensive definition: "social stratification is the arrangement of any social group or society into a hierarchy of positions that are unequal with regard to power, property, social evaluation, and/or psychic gratification."
Tumin's 4 Dimensions of Inequality
| Dimension | Definition |
|---|---|
| Power | The ability to secure one's ends in life, even against opposition. |
| Property | Rights over goods and services. |
| Evaluation | A societal judgement that a status or position is more prestigious and honourable than others are, or more popular, or preferable for one or another reason. |
| Psychic gratification | All sources of pleasure and contentment that are not otherwise classifiable as property, power or evaluation. |
Tumin's 5 Basic Characteristics of Social Stratification
| # | Characteristic | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social | It is patterned in character. |
| 2 | Ancient | It has been found in all past societies. |
| 3 | Ubiquitous | It is present everywhere. |
| 4 | Diverse | It exists in various forms. |
| 5 | Consequential | It is the most important and most desired aspect of social life. |
Key Terms
📌 Exam Tidbits
- Talcott Parsons (1954) → Defined stratification as the "patterning" or "ordering" of social relations.
- Melvin Tumin (1969) → Identified 4 dimensions of inequality (power, property, evaluation, psychic gratification) and 5 basic characteristics of stratification (social, ancient, ubiquitous, diverse, consequential).
Key Concepts of Stratification
Dipankar Gupta (1991) explains that there are two general terms that serve as the key concepts of stratification: hierarchy and difference.
Gupta's 2 Key Concepts of Stratification
K.L. Sharma (2010) discusses several basic concepts relating to stratification, emphasizing that while equality may be a genuine political expression, economic inequality (differential access…
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