Chapter 9.1Social Stratification

Social Stratification the division of society

into categories, ranks or classes

Social Inequality: the unequal sharing of scarce resources and social rewards

What criteria would you use to stratify a society in order to distribute scare resources?

The Caste System in India

BrahmansOccupations: priests, scholars

Kshatriyas Occupations: rulers,

nobles, soldiers

Vaisyas Occupations:

merchants, bankers, businesspeople

Sudras Occupations: laborers,

artisans

Harijans Occupations:

outcasts, limited to the most undesirable tasks

Stratification Theories

Functionalist Cause of Stratification

needed to help society function smoothly by ensuring that specific roles are performed

higher rewards guarantee that important roles that require more skill are filled

Criticisms of Theory society does not provide equal access to

education & jobs rewards do not always reflect the social

values of roles

Conflict: Marxists Cause of Stratification

the bourgeoisie exploit & control the proletariat to maintain wealth & power

Criticisms of Theory fails to recognize that unequal rewards

are based in part on differences in talents, skills & desires among people

American Theorists Cause of

Stratification groups compete

for scarce resources

those with power use it to maintain their position

Criticisms: See Conflict Theory

CHAPTER 9: CLASSWORK Page 212: #3-4 Page 220: #2-3 Page 227: #2-3 Page 228: #1-10 Identifying People & Ideas Page 228: #1-6 Understanding Main Ideas Page 229: #1-4 Building Social Studies Skills

Activity: Dimensions of Social Stratification

in groups of 3, please complete 1 of the following activities… 1. Poster: Choose 1 of the 3 dimensions

of social stratification & create a poster containing an explanation of the dimension as well as relevant illustrations & examples

2. Skit: Choose 1 of the 3 dimensions of social stratification & create a skit portraying an example of that dimension