SOCIAL STRATIFICATION 1 PAGE NOTE

Thinker Concept
Dipankar Gupta Social differentiation
Haralambos Social inequality without stratification
Gerhard Lenski Status Crystallization and Status Inconsistency
Andre Beteille Harmonic system of stratification
Talcott Parsons Stratification based on value consensus
For stability and order of the system
Role differentiation leadership and authority
stratification-essential for coordination and
integration of a specialized division of labour.
Kingsley Davis & Wilbert E. Moore Effective Role Allocation and Performance
Places individuals in positions which they are
suitable for.
Most able people to functionally most important
positions.
Functionally Important if unique and other
functions dependent on it.
Malvin M Tumin Criticises Davis and Moore on:
Critic of Davis and Moore 1.Adequacy of measurement method.
2.Ignorance of role of power in distribution of
rewards.
3.Stratification demotivating Poor less likely
to aspire for important positions
4.Barriers by occupants
5. Stratification non-functional. - hostility
suspicion and distrust among various segments.
Neo-liberal perspective Encourages competition-> better products for
consumers at lower rates.
Reject the idea of equality of rewards.
Discard the option of state intervention which
may lead to inefficiencies, motivation to work
hard, infringe upon freedom-injustice to those
who work hard.
Peter Saunders Unequal reward beneficial for the society.
Only method to allocate most rewarding persons
to most important positions.
Equally rewarding societies are repressive in
nature(China, USSR, etc.) - Durkheim,
repressive laws in societies with uniformity.

Stratification not inevitable but desirable.

Inequality promotes economic growth
Equal chance to become unequal.
Inequality of opportunity is due to inequality in
terms of ability and effort i.e. Genetically
inherited inequality.
 Tumin
Gordon Marshall & Adam Swift
Critics of free market
Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett
The Spirit Level(2010)
whereas less for Japan where inequality is least.
Max Weber
Factors other than ownership and non-ownership
prestige Social Closure where some people
Status groups and classes cut across each other.
W.G. Runciman
Critique of Saunders
Socialist societies are repressive is a sweeping
generalisation slavery in America, Apartheid
in SA, Chile.
Social Mobility influenced by class
Undermines Saunders view of Genetically
Inherited Inequality- same degree different
chances.
Free Market doesnt guarantee that merit is
equally rewarding for all social groups.
Inequality is dysfunctional.
Case study of Japan, UK, Portugal
UK and Portugal have high social problems,
Inequality- shame effects social and mental
health violence -homicides.
- stress lack of medicinal facilities health
issues.
High inequality lower social mobility (Jo
Blanden)
- lower degree of mutual trust
Thus discourage high social inequalities.
Oxfam Report.
Classes based on Market situation i.e. value of
skills in the job market.
are significant
No evidence of polarization of classes.
Expansion of the White Collar.
Political power is not necessarily derived from
economic power.
Concept of Status- unequal distribution of
are restricted from the membership of a
particular social group e.g. Caste System and
Apartheid. ( Prohibition on commensality and
inter-marriage).
Combines Marxist and Weberian Concepts of
Means of Production and Marketability
1.Ownership
2.Control
3.Marketability
7 Class Scheme.
 Erik Olin Wright
Neo-Marxist
John H Westergaard and Henreitta Resler
Proletarianization
Harry Braverman
Anti Thesis
David Lockwood
Clark Kerr (Embourgeoisement)
Convergence Theory Anti-Thesis by
John Goldthorpe
The Affluent Worker
Pierre Bourdieu
Jan Pakulski and Malcolm Waters
The Death of Class
Ownership Credential skills Organizational
Asset.
Major division still between capital and labour.
Other differences were insignificant
Westergaard and Resler Concentration of
wealth in the hands of 5%
Supported by Oxfam
White collar has become a part of working class
De-skilling of manual labour
Wages have gone down, job security has
increased.
Advanced industrialisation high educated
trained and skilled workforce high paid, high
status jobs.
Middle range wages Middle range Lifestyles
Thus Convergence Theory
Significant differences between affluent worker
and white collar worker.
Higher wages didnt alleviate alienation
No desire to seek Middle class status.
Highlighted the role of Culture in stratification
and mobility
Culture and lifestyle shape the chances of
upward social mobility.
Class as a sociological concept has lost its
importance.
Social status, gender, ethnicity, religion