Class System As A Form Of Stratification

access_time February 9, 2024
perm_identity Posted by Admin

INTRODUCTION

The differentiation among the people are not only caste based but they are class based also which means that people face Inequality on the basis of his income, job, lifestyle, etc. The concept of class was first used by Thomas Blount in 1656. Social classes are in different terms such as upper class, lower class and middle class. 

DEFINITION

The definition of class system is a system of social stratification where individuals are grouped into classes based on their economic, social, and cultural status. The class system defines social standing and affects an individual's access to resources, opportunities, and lifestyles. Classes are typically determined by factors such as income, wealth, education, occupation, and family background, and they can influence an individual's future prospects and success. The class system often creates inequality and social mobility can be limited, with those in higher classes having more advantages and opportunities than those in lower classes.

According to OGBURN AND NIMKOFF, "A class is one where two or more broad groups of individuals are ranked by members of a community in social superior and inferior positions."

APPROACHES :

THREE MAIN APPROACHES TO THE CONCEPT OF CLASS ARE :-

  1. MARXIAN APPROACH: This approach says that class is based on who owns the things that people need to work and live, like factories and land. People who own these things control the work of others and make money from it. According to this approach, there are two main classes: those who own the things, and those who don't. On the following bases Marx has viewed the class as the fundamental organisational structure :
    1. POWER DYNAMICS: In the Marxian approach, class is primarily about power and the relationship between those who own the means of production (the factories, land, etc.) and those who do not. The owners of the means of production control the work of others and exploit their labor to generate profit. This relationship creates a power dynamic, with the owners of the means of production having greater power and control over society and the economy.
    2. COLLECTIVE INTEREST: According to Marx, members of the same class share a common interest based on their position in the mode of production. For example, workers who do not own the means of production share a collective interest in improving their working conditions and wages, while the owners of the means of production share a collective interest in maintaining their control and profits.
    3. ECONOMIC DETERMINATION: Marx believed that economic factors, specifically the mode of production, determine all other aspects of society, including class structure, politics, and culture. He argued that economic changes, such as the development of new technologies, can lead to changes in the class structure and power dynamics within society.
  2. WEBERIAN APPROACH: This approach says that class is about who has the most power to get what they want in the market. For example, someone with a lot of money has more power to buy things and get a better job than someone with less money. This approach says that class is based on money and power.
  3. WARNER'S APPROACH: This approach says that class is not just about money and power, but also about culture and the way people live their lives. For example, someone who is rich might have a different way of living, different hobbies, and different friends than someone who is not rich. This approach says that class is about all of these things, not just money and power. In Warner's approach, these six class categories might be defined based on a combination of economic, social, and cultural factors. Here's how they might be described in the context of Warner's approach:
    1. UPPER UPPER CLASS: This group is composed of individuals who possess enormous wealth and hold highly influential positions in society. They are often at the center of cultural and political power and have the means to pursue exclusive lifestyles, education, and cultural pursuits.
    2. LOWER UPPER CLASS: This group includes individuals who have substantial wealth and income, but may not have the same level of cultural and political influence as the upper-upper class. They may have highly prestigious occupations and education, but their lifestyles and cultural pursuits are less exclusive.
    3. UPPER MIDDLE CLASS: This group is composed of individuals with high levels of education and income, often with professional or managerial careers. They typically have comfortable lifestyles, but may not have the same level of wealth or cultural influence as the upper classes.
    4. LOWER MIDDLE CLASS: This group includes individuals who have some college education and may work in white-collar or blue-collar jobs. They may have a moderate income, but may face financial insecurity and limited opportunities for upward mobility.
    5. UPPER LOWER CLASS: This group is composed of individuals with lower levels of education and income, and may work in manual or service-sector jobs. They may have limited access to resources and opportunities, but their lifestyles may still be considered comfortable compared to those in the lower lower class.
    6. LOWER LOWER CLASS: This group includes individuals who have low levels of income, education, and employment opportunities. They may face significant financial insecurity and struggle to meet their basic needs.

In this approach, each class category is seen as a complex, multidimensional construct that encompasses economic, social, and cultural factors, and is subject to change over time.

CHARACTERISTICS OF CLASS SYSTEM :
  1. HIERARCHY: In a class system, there is a clear hierarchy of social status, with some groups occupying higher positions of prestige, wealth, and power, and others occupying lower positions. This hierarchy creates a sense of superiority and inferiority among different classes, as well as a sense of entitlement and entitlement among those in higher positions.
  2. FEELING OF SUPERIORITY AND INFERIORITY: Classes in a class system often view each other with feelings of superiority or inferiority, based on the prestige and resources associated with each class. Those in higher classes may look down upon those in lower classes as being less competent, less deserving, or less worthy, while those in lower classes may view those in higher classes with resentment or envy.
  3. CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS: Class consciousness refers to an awareness of one's own class position and the collective interests that arise from that position. This awareness can lead to collective action and solidarity among members of the same class, as they work to improve their collective situation.
  4. OPEN SYSTEM: Class systems are typically considered to be open systems, meaning that people can move between classes over the course of their lives. However, the opportunities for mobility vary greatly depending on the social, economic, and political conditions of a given society, and it is often easier for people to move up the class hierarchy than it is for them to move down.
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING SOCIAL CLASS :

Sociologists determine social class by using one of the following approaches:-

  1. LIFE STYLES APPROACH: The life styles approach focuses on the patterns of consumption and behavior that are associated with different classes. This might include things like the type of neighborhood people live in, the quality of their housing and furnishings, their educational background, and their leisure activities.
  2. REPUTATIONAL APPROACH: The reputational approach involves asking people to rate the status of different occupations, and then using these ratings to assign individuals to different classes. This approach is based on the idea that people have a general sense of the prestige and status associated with different occupations, and that these perceptions can be used to determine class.
  3. SUBJECTIVE APPROACH: The subjective approach involves asking individuals to self-identify their own class. This approach takes into account people's own perceptions and understandings of their class position and is often used in combination with other criteria.
  4. OBJECTIVE APPROACH: The objective approach focuses on more concrete, observable indicators of class, such as income, education, and occupation. This approach uses quantifiable data to determine class and is often considered the most scientifically rigorous method of class measurement.
  5. OCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGE APPROACH: The occupational prestige approach focuses on the prestige and status associated with different occupations. This approach uses data on the median income and education levels of people in different occupations to assign individuals to different classes.
CORRELATES OF SOCIAL CLASS

Peter Calvert has identified the following correlates of social class - prestige, power, demographic, consciousness, style of life.

  1. PRESTIGE: Prestige refers to the social honor and respect associated with a particular class. Prestige is often linked to occupation, education, and other factors that are associated with high status in society.
  2. POWER: Power refers to the ability to control resources and make decisions that affect others. Social class is often linked to power, with those in higher classes having more access to and control over resources than those in lower classes.
  3. DEMOGRAPHIC: Demographic factors, such as age, gender, race, and ethnicity, can also be linked to social class. Different demographic groups may experience different levels of social mobility and face different barriers to upward mobility in the class hierarchy.
  4. CONSCIOUSNESS: Consciousness refers to the awareness of one's own class position and the collective Interests that arise from that position. Class consciousness can lead to collective action and solidarity among members of the same class, as they work to improve their collective situation.
  5. STYLE OF LIFE: Style of life refers to the patterns of consumption and behavior that are associated with different classes. This might include things like the type of neighborhood people live in, the quality of their housing and furnishings, their educational background, and their leisure activities.

These correlates of social class highlight the different ways in which class affects people's lives and the ways in which people understand and experience class. By considering these different dimensions of class, we can gain a more complete understanding of the social and economic dynamics of a given society.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CASTE AND CLASS :
  1. SOCIAL MOBILITY: In a caste system, social mobility is largely determined by birth, and individuals are typically restricted to the caste into which they are born. In contrast, in a class system, social mobility is based on merit and achievement, and individuals have more opportunities to move up or down the class hierarchy.
  2. MARRIAGE: In a caste system, marriage is typically restricted to individuals within the same caste, while in a class system, individuals have more freedom to choose their marriage partners and may marry across class lines.
  3. SOCIAL CONTROL: Caste systems are typically more rigid and hierarchical, with strict social controls in place to maintain the existing social order. In contrast, class systems are often more fluid and open, with more opportunities for upward mobility.
  4. FUNCTIONS FOR THE SOCIETY: Caste systems often have a more rigid division of labor, with each caste performing specific functions for the society as a whole. In contrast, class systems may have a more flexible division of labor, with individuals able to move into different occupations and perform different functions for the society based on their abilities and ambitions.
INTERFACE BETWEEN CASTE TO CLASS

The two main views regarding the changes in the caste to class system are -

  1. CASTE SYSTEM BEING REPLACED BY CLASS SYSTEM: Some scholars argue that the caste system is being replaced by the class system in many societies, especially in countries undergoing rapid industrialization and modernization. In this view, the caste system is seen as a traditional form of social stratification that is gradually being replaced by a more modern and dynamic class system, characterized by increased social mobility and greater equality of opportunity.
  2. CASTE SYSTEM STRENGTHENING: Other scholars argue that the caste system is not being replaced by the class system, but rather is strengthening in new forms. In this view, the caste system is seen as a flexible and adaptive system that can adapt to new economic and political conditions, rather than being replaced by a class system. This view suggests that the caste system may persist in new forms, even in the presence of modern forms of social stratification such as class.
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGES IN THE CASTE SYSTEM :
  1. MODERN EDUCATION SYSTEM: The introduction of modern education systems has played a significant role in changing the caste system in many societies. Education has provided individuals from lower castes with opportunities to acquire new skills and knowledge, which has in turn increased their social mobility and reduced their dependence on their traditional caste-based occupations.
  2. LEGISLATIVE REFORMS: Legislative reforms, such as the abolition of caste-based discrimination and the introduction of affirmative action policies, have also played a role in changing the caste system. These reforms have provided individuals from lower castes with legal protections and greater access to education, employment, and other opportunities, which has helped to reduce the power of the caste system and promote greater equality.
  3. ECONOMIC SYSTEM: Changes in the economic system, such as the expansion of the market economy and the growth of the middle class, have also had an impact on the caste system. These changes have created new opportunities for social mobility and reduced the importance of traditional caste-based occupations, thereby weakening the power of the caste system.
  4. URBANIZATION: The process of urbanization has also played a role in changing the caste system in many societies. Urbanization has created new forms of work and new economic opportunities, which has allowed individuals from lower castes to move into non-traditional occupations and escape the restrictions of the caste system.
  5. REFORM MOVEMENTS: Reform movements, such as the anti-caste movement in India, have played a significant role in changing the caste system. These movements have challenged the social, economic, and political power of the upper castes and advocated for greater equality and social mobility for individuals from lower castes.

These factors have contributed to the changes in the caste system in many societies, and have helped to reduce the power and influence of the caste system, promoting greater equality and social mobility. However, the caste system continues to play a role in shaping social stratification in many societies, and its impact is still felt in many areas of social, economic, and political life.

CONCLUSION :

The concept of social stratification and the class system is a complex and multi-faceted one that has been studied and analyzed by many sociologists and social scientists. The class system is characterized by a hierarchy of social groups based on factors such as wealth, income, education, occupation, and lifestyle, and it is influenced by various social, economic, and political factors. The class system has been approached from various theoretical perspectives, including the Marxian, Weberian, and Warner's approaches, and is understood to play a role in shaping social mobility, power dynamics, and the distribution of resources and opportunities in society. While the caste system and the class system have some similarities, they also have important differences, and the changes in the caste system and its relationship to the class system are shaped by various social, economic, and political factors. The study of the class system and social stratification continues to be an important area of research and inquiry in the field of sociology, as it sheds light on the complexities of social inequality and helps us understand the structures and dynamics that shape our societies.

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