W13.1 Social stratification

 1. Summarization
    Social stratification is the division of people in a society into different groups. The classification is based on factors like wealth, income, education, occupation and status. It is categorized into 3 classes: upper, middle and lower class. The concept of social stratification exists more clearly in complex societies where large inequalities exist. The degree of social inequality determines a person's social stratum. Stratification can have impacts like racial segregation impacting access to services like mortgages. Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups between different classes of the social hierarchy. Marxists view social class as determined by someone's relationship to the means of production, while Weber emphasizes class, status and power as different sources of social power. Where Mills argues that power in society is concentrated in a power elite consisting of corporate, political and military leaders.

2. What was interesting/what did you learn?
    I think for most people social stratification is a known concept. Knowing the terms and depth or not. Throughout history and civilizations, people have often been subject to social stratification. It fascinates me as I think it's one of the fundamental pillars of dividing power within a society. More particularly this in correlation to the current situations in countries around the world.

3. Discussion points
    Social stratification can lead to social, economic and democratic imbalances, resulting in various social issues and inequalities. Is social stratification a phenomenon, society can't escape? Are there benefits to stratification? Personally, I think it will highly likely always be part of society. On the other hand, I do see it as a negative factor in society. It causes inequality between certain groups.

Jasper Toonen - 15 June 2023
Introduction to Information Sociology

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