Social Stratification: Crash Course Sociology #21

What Determines Wealth: Inheritance vs. Hard Work?

The Question of Deserving Wealth

• Sociologically, the focus is not on individual answers to who deserves wealth but on how different societies perceive this question over time and place.

• The concept of deserving wealth ties into social stratification, which categorizes individuals within a hierarchy based on various factors.

Understanding Social Stratification

• Social stratification is a universal yet variable system that affects job opportunities, social status, and poverty levels across all societies.

• It categorizes people in ways that differ from society to society, highlighting that stratification is a societal characteristic rather than an outcome of individual differences.

Effects and Persistence of Stratification

• Children from wealthy families tend to have better health outcomes, educational opportunities, and likelihood of becoming wealthy themselves compared to those born into poverty. This illustrates the generational persistence of social stratification.

• While some degree of social mobility exists (upward or downward movement within the hierarchy), horizontal mobility—changing jobs without altering one's class standing—is more common in the U.S. context.

Structural Factors in Mobility

• Structural social mobility occurs when large groups move within the hierarchy due to broader societal changes (e.g., economic recessions). This emphasizes that mobility isn't solely based on personal achievement but also influenced by external factors.

Beliefs Supporting Stratification Systems

• Cultural beliefs play a crucial role in maintaining systems of social stratification; they define inequalities as normal or fair, ensuring the system's longevity if widely accepted by society members.

Closed vs Open Systems: How Does Society Rank Individuals?

Characteristics of Closed Systems

• Closed systems exhibit rigidity with little room for social mobility; positions are often determined by ascribed status at birth rather than achieved through effort or meritocracy. Examples include caste systems where one’s position is fixed from birth.

Caste System Example: India

• India's traditional caste system exemplifies a closed system with strict divisions (varnas) affecting job roles and daily life interactions; it enforces endogamy and restricts contact between castes based on cultural beliefs about moral duty tied to caste identity.

Historical Context: Feudal Europe

Understanding Social Stratification

The Role of Race in Closed Social Systems

• Race has historically been a primary factor in closed social systems, exemplified by apartheid in South Africa, which enforced racial segregation and denied rights to black individuals.

• Jim Crow laws in the American South and slavery are additional examples where race dictated social status and legal rights.

Class Systems vs. Caste Systems

• Unlike caste systems that are rigidly defined by ascribed status at birth, class systems allow for social mobility through personal achievement.

• In the U.S., class boundaries are less defined compared to traditional caste systems, allowing for movement between classes based on merit rather than fixed categories.

Meritocracy and the American Dream

• The American stratification system promotes the idea that hard work can lead to upward mobility, contrasting with hereditary or racial divisions seen in other societies.

• While meritocracy is emphasized, it also serves as a justification for inequality; those who do not succeed may be viewed as undeserving of their poverty.

Structural Limitations within Class Mobility

• Despite being an open system, structural factors significantly influence class standing; initial advantages can perpetuate existing inequalities.

• The U.S. remains stratified along race and gender lines despite legal equality, indicating deeper systemic issues affecting mobility.

Understanding Socioeconomic Status

• Socioeconomic status encompasses income, education, and occupational prestige; inconsistencies among these factors can create complex social standings.

• An example of status inconsistency is an adjunct professor who possesses high education but earns a low income—highlighting disparities within social status metrics.

Mixed Systems of Stratification

• Not all societies fit neatly into caste or class categories; modern Britain illustrates a mixed system with remnants of nobility alongside a class structure similar to the U.S.

• Even self-proclaimed classless societies like the Soviet Union had stratification based on political power and prestige among different societal groups.

Conclusion: The Importance of Studying Stratification