Stratification is the division of society into classes that have unequal amounts of wealth, power, and prestige. Karl Marx and Max Weber studies these dimensions of stratification in great detail.

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Key Terms​

​social stratification

• social class

• bourgeoisie

• proletariat

• income​

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• wealth

• power

• prestige

• False consciousness​

Dimension of Stratification

• Social stratification is the creation of layers of people who possess unequal shares of scarce resources.

• ​Income, wealth, power, and prestige are the most important resources.

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Dimension of Stratification

Each layer is considered a social class, or a segment of a population whose members hold similar amounts of scarce resources and share values, norms, and an identifiable lifestyle.

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The Economic Dimension

Karl Marx believed that the economy determined the nature of society and predicted that capitalist societies would be reduced to two social classes:

• The bourgeoisie is the class that owns the means of production.​

• The proletariat is the class that labors without owning the means of production.​

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• Marx also noted the unequal distribution of economic resources.​

• ​Income inequality exists and is growing within the United States.

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The Economic Dimension

​These definitions must be considered when discussing this gap:

• Income is the amount of money received within a given time period by an individual or group.

• Wealth refers to all the economic resources possessed by an individual or group.​

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The Economic Dimension

The Power Dimension

• Power is the ability to control the behavior of others, even against their will.

• Marx believed that those who own and control capital have the power in a society.

• Weber argued that while having money helps, economic success and power are not the same

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The Power Dimension

The following can also increase power:​

• Expert knowledge

• Social positions 

• A large group of supporters or skill at organizing resources

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The Prestige Dimension

​Prestige is recognition, respect, and admiration attached to social positions.

• It is defined by your culture and society.

• It is voluntarily given.

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• People with similar levels of prestige share similar lifestyles.

• An occupation usually dictates a level of prestige.​

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The Prestige Dimension

Explanations of Stratification

​Each of the three perspectives—functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism—explains stratification in society in a different way.

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Functionalist Theory of Stratification

According to the functionalists, stratification assures that:

• the most qualified people fill the most important positions

• these qualified people perform their tasks competently

• they are rewarded for their efforts

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Conflict Theory of Stratification

• According to the conflict theory, inequality exists because some people are willing to exploit others.

• ​This is based on Marx’s ideas regarding class conflict—the people with the power are able to control everyone else because they can easily spread their ideas.

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Marx used the term false consciousness to refer to the working-class acceptance of capitalist ideas and values.

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Conflict Theory of Stratification

Symbolic Interaction and Stratification

• According to this perspective, American children are taught that a person’s social class is the result of talent and effort.

• ​Therefore, people’s self-concepts help preserve the status quo.

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