Lecture-09 Social Stratification and Social Problems

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Lecture-09
Social Stratification and Social Problems
Social Stratification
Differentiation is the law of nature. True, it is the cases of human society. Human
society is not homogeneous but heterogeneous. Men differ from one other, in
many respects. Human beings are equal so far as their bodily structure is
concerned. But the physical appearance of individuals, their intellectual, moral,
philosophical, mental, economic, religious, political and other aspects are
different. No two individuals are exactly alike. Diversity and inequality are
inherent in society. Hence, human society is everywhere stratified.
All societies arrange their members in terms of superiority, inferiority, and
equality. The vertical scale of evaluation, this placing of people in strata, or
layers, is called stratification. Those in the top stratum have more power,
privilege than those below.
Definition
Ogburn and Nimkoff: “The process by which individuals and groups are
ranked in a more or less enduring hierarchy of status is known as stratification.”
Gisbert: Social stratification is the division of society into permanent groups of
categories linked with each other by the relationship of superiority and sub-
ordination.
Lundberg: “A stratified society is one marked by inequality, by differences
among people that are evaluated by them as being „lower‟ and higher”.
Raymond W. Murry: Social stratification is a horizontal division of society into
„high‟ and „lower‟ social units.”
Functions of Social Stratification

The glimpse of the cultures of the world reveals that no society is „classless‟ that
is unstratified. All the known established societies of the world are stratified in
one way or the other. According to Wilbert Moore and Kingsley Davis,
stratification system came to be evolved in all the societies due to the functional
necessity. As they have pointed out the main functional necessity of the system
is-”… the requirement faced by any society of placing and motivating individuals
in the social structure… Social inequality is thus an unconsciously evolved
device by which societies ensure that the most important positions are
conscientiously filled by the most qualified persons”. As analyzed be H. M
Johnson certain things here can be noted about the “functional necessity” of
class stratification system.
Encourages hard word:

One of the main functions of class stratification is to introduce people to work
hard to live up to values. Those who best fulfill the values of a particular society
are normally rewarded with greater prestige and social acceptance by other. It is
known that occupations are ranked high if their functions are highly important
and the required personnel is very scarce. Hard work, prolonged training and
heavy burden of responsibility are associated with such occupational positions.
People under taking such works are rewarded with money, prestige, comfort,
etc. Still we cannot say that all those positions which are regarded as important
are adequately compensated for.
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Ensures circulation of elites:
To some extent class stratification helps to ensure what is often called “the
circulation of elite”. When a high degree of prestige comforts and other rewards
are offered for certain positions, there will be some competition for them. This
process of competition helps to ensure that the more efficient people are able to
rise to the top, where their ability can best be used.
Serves an economic function:

The competitive aspect has a kind of economic function in that it helps to ensure
the rational use of available talent. It is also functionally necessary to offer
differential rewards if the positions at the top are largely ascribed as it is in the
case of caste system. Even in caste system the people at the top can lose their
prestige if they fail to maintain certain standards. Hence differential rewards
provide the incentives for the upper classes to work at maintaining their
positions.
Prevents waste of resources:

The stratification system prevents the waste of scarce resources. The men in the
elite class actually possess scarce and socially valued abilities and qualities,
whether these are inherited or acquired. Because of their possession of these
qualities their enjoyment of some privileges such as extra comfort and immunity
from doing menial work, are functionally justified. It becomes functionally
beneficial for the society to make use of their talents without being wasted. For
example, it would be a waste to pour the resources of society into the training of
doctors and engineers, and then making them to work as peons and attenders.
When once certain individuals are chosen and are trained for certain difficult
positions it would be dysfunctional to waste their time and energy on task for
which there is enough manpower.
Stabilizes and reinforces the attitudes and skill:

Member of a class normally try to limit their relations to their own class. More
intimate relationships are mostly found between fellow class- members. Even
this tendency has its own function. It tends to stabilize and reinforce the attitudes
and skills that may be the basis of upper class position. Those who have similar
values and interests tends to associate comfortably with one another. Their
frequent association itself confirms their common values and interests.
Helps to pursue different professions or Jobs:

The values, attitudes and qualities of different classes do differ. This difference
is also functional for society to some extent. Because society needs manual and
well as nonmanual workers. Many jobs are not attractive to highly trained or
„refined‟ people for they are socialized to aspire for certain other jobs. Because
of the early influence of family and socialization the individuals imbibe in them
certain values, attitudes and qualities relevant to the social class to which they
belong. This will influence their section of jobs.
Social Control:
Further, to the extent that „lower class‟ cultural characteristics are essential to
society, the classes are, of course, functional. In fact, a certain amount of mutual
antagonism between social classes is also functional. To some extent, upper-
class and lower-class groups can act as negative reference groups for each
other. This they act as a means of social control also.
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Social Problems
Though sociologists talk of social problems, they have failed to give an
agreed-upon definition of “social problem”. Some sociologists have
defined social problems as “behavior patterns or conditions that are
considered objectionable or undesirable by many members of a society.
These members recognize that the corrective policies, programs and
services are necessary to cope with and reduce the scope of these
problems”. A more precise, though broad, definition is given by E. Raab
and G. J. Selznick. According to them, a social problem is “a problem of
human relationships which seriously threatens society itself or impedes
the important aspirations of many people.” In regard to the first aspect
they say: “A social problem exists when organized society‟s ability to
order relationships among people seems to be failing; when its institutions
are faltering, its laws are being flouted, the transmission of its values from
one generation to the next is breaking down, and the frame work of
expectations is being shaken”. Bottomore considers the definition
proposed by Raab and Selznick more useful.
The existing major social problems at present are as follows:
1) Overpopulation 2) Poverty 3) Illiteracy 4) Unemployment 5) Crime 6)
Juvenile Delinquency 7) Corruption 8) Malnutrition 9) Drug addiction 10)
Prostitution 11) Beggary and vagrancy 12) Dowry system and torture of
women 13) Divorce 14) Insecurity 15) Unequal distribution of wealth 16)
Ill-health etc.
Crime
Crime is a kind of abnormal behavior which is not recognized by society
or common law. Sociologist Koenig says,”The behavior firmly opposed or
prohibited by the society or group is called crime”. For example: theft,
adulteration, killing, bribery etc.
Causes of Crime:
It is now being increasingly felt that not one but a multiplicity of factors
may be responsible for the causation of crime. All these factors may be
conveniently discussed under two general heads: 1.environmental factors
and 2. hereditary and biological factors.
Environmental Factors
It is now generally recognized that environmental factors are conducive to
criminality. To begin with, a number of Italian, French, and German
criminologist attempted to show that crimes vary with the geography, the
climate, the seasons and the weather. Among the various factors
included in socio-economic environment, we shall consider here the more
important ones: family conditions education, companionship factors,
community conditions, cinema and the economic factor.
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Family Conditions:
The family environment is very important factor in the life of every person,
for it is in the family that the early socialization of the individual take place.
Hence various family conditions-such as unsatisfactory parent-child
relations, broken home, the size of the family, sibling positions, lack of
proper discipline and control and demoralized home conditions (e.g.
alcoholism, immorality and criminality among the family members)-are
considered responsible for the causation of delinquent behavior of
children who usually become adult offenders.
Companionship Factors:
Companionship may also be regarded as a factor in the causation in the
crime since much delinquent and criminal activity have been found to be
an affair of association of two or more individuals. Many case studies
have revealed bad companionship as a causative factor in juvenile
delinquency. However, the importance of companionship lies not so much
on its role as cause of first or early offences but its role as perpetrator of
continued criminal activity.
Education:
Most of the delinquents, it is reported, have never been to a school or had
give up their studies before completing even the primary course. The
present-day system of education fails to attract children in the activities of
the school; the result is truancy, running or staying away from school,
which by steps leads to delinquency and other forms of criminal activity.
Community Conditions:
The influence of a good home is often offset “by the tide of immorality that
flows out of saloon, dance halls, vicious resorts, and the uncontrolled life
of the gang in alleys, backyards, etc.”
Again, overcrowding in urban areas, particularly in the slum sections, is
also considered a factor in the causation of delinquency and other types
of criminal behavior.
Cinema:
Though authorities differ in their estimate of the role of motion pictures in
producing delinquency and criminal activity, it cannot be denied that crime
and sex pictures have some demoralizing effect on children and
adolescents.
Economic Factor:
W. A. Bonger, the famous Dutch criminologist, has marshaled factors to
show that the basic cause of crime is the economic pressure of
capitalism. Child labor, bad housing, unemployment, lack of economic
security, and above all, poverty-the evils of the capitalist system, are all
important factors in the causation of crime. He has offered statistics to
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prove that the majority of criminals and delinquents come from the poor
classes who live in poverty.

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Functions of Social Stratification

Encourages hard word:

Serves an economic function:

Prevents waste of resources:

Stabilizes and reinforces the attitudes and skill:

Helps to pursue different professions or Jobs:

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