W12. Social Stratification

Summary

  The phenomenon of social stratification refers to the classification of a person by social or economic factors. The reason for this classification is due to social inequality. For example, in modern society, layers are generally divided into higher, middle, and lower classes by stratification due to economic inequality.

Four basic principles are presented to support the social stratification phenomenon. First, social stratification is the property of society, not the property of the individual; second, the reproduction of social stratification from generation to generation; third, the fact that social stratification can vary from generation to generation; and fourth, social stratification includes not only quantitative inequality but also qualitative beliefs and attitudes toward social status.

However, the exact concept of social stratification is often interpreted differently for each theory. Three representative examples, I think, in behavioral theory, the ruling class system inevitably emerges to maintain social order and structure in an advanced society. In conflict theory, the social class is divided by whether or not the means of production are the capitalist class, and the majority without the means of production is divided into the proletariat, or the working class. Pointing out that the concentration of social resources appears to the ruling class of the minority, and that it is impossible to move from class to class, they argue that in this case, the progress of society is impossible. The theory of dependence explains that social and political views influence the social status change of workers in the Third World. In addition, Max Weber's theory of three-tier classification and anthropological theory exist in various ways.

Recently, the best-received stratification theory is the global stratification theory of Light Mills. With the flow of globalization, the whole world is developing, but the relatively economically powerful core countries deal with finance, capital, etc., have the highest surplus production by controlling resources, and the surrounding countries, not core countries, have the lowest surplus output, by providing labor to the country and having difficulty securing raw materials. As a result, those in the world's 85th richest people account for 50 percent of the world's population.

Interesting Point

  Wright Mills' theory of global layering was interesting. There seems to be no correlation, but the fact is that due to globalization, we are being interfered with our social class.

Discussion

  According to Wright-Mills' theory, core countries make it uncomfortable to move national social classes by exploiting neighboring countries. Nevertheless, do you think it is possible to move the social class?

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