Social Stratification: Meaning and Definition

Social Stratification

Meaning

Social stratification can be defined as the situation in which a society is divided in a hierarchical way.  In a society that is socially stratified, groups are arranged in a hierarchy with each level (each stratum of society) having different degrees of power and wealth in the society.

For example, our society is generally stratified largely on the basis of wealth.  Those who have wealth generally have power and are part of the highest level of society. Those who have very little wealth have little power and are at the lowest rung of society. 

In other societies and other times, there has been social stratification, for example, on the basis of birth.  In such societies, people who are born to aristocratic families occupy the highest levels of society regardless of how rich they are.  Those not born to such families cannot achieve the highest level regardless of their wealth.

Social stratification, then, occurs when society is divided up into different levels with different amounts of wealth and power.

Definition of Social Stratification

1. According to Gisbert is of the view that, “Social stratification is the division of society into permanent groups or categories linked with each other by relationship of superiority and subordination.”

2. According to R.W. Murray says that, “Social stratification is a horizontal division of society into higher and lower social units.”

3. According to Ogburn and Nimkoff, “The process by which individuals and groups are ranked in more or less enduring hierarchy of status is known as stratification.”

4. According to Lundberg, “A stratified society is one marked by inequality, by differences among people that are evaluated by them as being ‘lower’ and ‘higher’.”

5. According to Williams, Social Stratification refers to “The ranking of individuals on a scale of superiority-inferiorityequality, according to some commonly accepted basis of valuation.”

6. According to Raymond W. Murray, “Social stratification is horizontal division of society into ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ social units.”

7. According to Melvin M Tumin, “Social stratification refers to arrangement of any social group or society into hierarchy of positions that are unequal with regard to power, property, social evaluation and psychic gratification.”