"Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into groups based on socioeconomic factors like wealth, income, race, education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, social status, or derived power (social and political)."
The study of how economic inequality and social stratification are interconnected, and how they affect economic behavior and outcomes.
Social classes: The concept of social classes refers to the hierarchical ranking of individuals or groups in a society based on their income, education, occupation, and social background.
Stratification systems: Different countries and societies have their distinct systems of social stratification based on various criteria like caste, race, gender, and ethnicity.
Inequalities in wealth and income: Wealth and income distribution among individuals in a society can vary widely, with some people having much higher earnings, assets or access to resources than others.
Social Mobility: Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups within the social hierarchy.
Education and inequality: Education can be a significant factor in determining one's social status and opportunities, as higher educational qualifications often lead to better employment and income prospects.
Gender and inequality: Gender is an important determinant of opportunities and experiences in many societies, and gender-based inequalities are often closely linked to economic stratification.
Power and privilege: Some individuals or groups may have more power and privilege over others, which can create inequalities in opportunities and social status.
Globalization and inequality: The process of globalization has had significant effects on economic inequality both within and between countries.
Social welfare and inequality: The availability and distribution of social welfare benefits can have a significant impact on the level of inequality within a society.
Discrimination and inequality: Discrimination based on factors like race, ethnicity, or religion can create significant disparities in opportunities and social status.
Labour and inequality: Wages and working conditions are significant determinants of social and economic inequality.
Poverty: Poverty is a widespread issue in many societies, and the extent of poverty can have a significant impact on levels of inequality.
Income inequality: Income inequality is a measure of how resources are distributed across groups, and it is often closely linked with other forms of economic and social inequality.
Social stratification and health: Social stratification can have significant impacts on physical and mental health outcomes, with those in lower social strata often having worse health outcomes.
Historical processes: Historical processes like colonialism, slavery, and imperialism can have significant impacts on economic and social inequalities that persist to this day.
Critical theories of social inequality: Critical theories provide a framework for understanding social inequality, looking at issues of power, capitalism, and social justice.
Demographics: Demographic factors like age, race, and ethnicity can have a significant impact on one's social and economic status, creating different forms of social stratification.
Social networks: An individual's social network can also influence their social status and economic opportunities.
Cultural capital: Cultural capital refers to non-monetary resources like education, knowledge, and social skills that can be important determinants of social and economic success.
Political economy of inequality: Understanding the political economy of inequality involves examining economic systems, institutions, and policies that perpetuate disparities in wealth and power.
Income inequality: Refers to the unequal distribution of income among individuals or groups within a society. It is often measured by the Gini coefficient and can lead to economic and social instability.
Wealth inequality: Refers to the unequal distribution of assets and property among individuals or groups within a society. It tends to be more concentrated than income inequality and can result in disparities in life opportunities.
Education inequality: Refers to unequal access to education opportunities, such as resources or quality of education, that result in differential outcomes in life opportunities.
Racial or ethnic inequality: Refers to differential treatment based on race or ethnicity, which can manifest in issues such as employment, education, and housing.
Gender inequality: Refers to differential treatment based on gender, which results in disparities in economic, social, and political opportunities.
Occupational inequality: Refers to structural and systemic biases limiting opportunities for certain occupations based on social, economic, and cultural factors.
Regional or geographical inequality: Refers to disparities between different areas, whether it be within countries or across borders. It can manifest in issues such as access to employment, resources, and infrastructure.
Age inequality: Refers to differential treatment based on age, which can impact one's economic opportunities in the workforce and access to healthcare and social welfare programs.
Disability inequality: Refers to unequal treatment based on a person's disability, which can lead to barriers in access to employment, education, and public services.
Immigration inequality: Refers to unequal treatment of immigrants, which can manifest in issues such as access to resources, employment, and social and political rights.
"In modern Western societies, social stratification is typically defined in terms of three social classes: the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class."
"Each class can be subdivided into the upper-stratum, the middle-stratum, and the lower stratum."
"A social stratum can be formed upon the bases of kinship, clan, tribe, or caste, or all four."
"The categorization of people by social stratum occurs most clearly in complex state-based, polycentric, or feudal societies..."
"Whether social stratification first appeared in hunter-gatherer, tribal, and band societies or whether it began with agriculture and large-scale means of social exchange remains a matter of debate in the social sciences."
"The degree of social inequality determines a person's social stratum."
"Generally, the greater the social complexity of a society, the more social stratification exists, by way of social differentiation."
"Stratification can yield various consequences. For instance, the stratification of neighborhoods based on spatial and racial factors can influence disparate access to mortgage credit."
"The stratification of neighborhoods based on spatial and racial factors can influence disparate access to mortgage credit."
"...socioeconomic factors like wealth, income, race, education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, social status, or derived power (social and political)."
"Stratification is the relative social position of persons within a social group, category, geographic region, or social unit."
"Social stratification is typically defined in terms of three social classes: the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class."
"A social stratum can be formed upon the bases of kinship, clan, tribe, or caste, or all four."
"Whether social stratification first appeared in hunter-gatherer, tribal, and band societies or whether it began with agriculture and large-scale means of social exchange remains a matter of debate..."
"Determining the structures of social stratification arises from inequalities of status among persons..."
"The stratification of neighborhoods based on spatial and racial factors can influence disparate access to mortgage credit."
"Generally, the greater the social complexity of a society, the more social stratification exists..."
"Each class can be subdivided into the upper-stratum, the middle-stratum, and the lower stratum."
"The categorization of people by social stratum occurs most clearly in complex state-based, polycentric, or feudal societies..."