Chapter 7: Social Stratification
Complete the following statement by choosing the correct alternative given in the bracket and rewrite it.
Social stratification is _________.
OPTIONS
local
national
universal
SOLUTION
Social stratification is universal.
Class is a _________ form of stratification.
OPTIONS
open
closed
rigid
SOLUTION
Class is a open form of stratification.
Gender based stratification has led to _______ in society.
OPTIONS
justice
exploitation
equality
SOLUTION
Gender based stratification has led to exploitation in society.
Social stratification of _______ is based on the principle of purity and pollution.
OPTIONS
class
gender
caste
SOLUTION
Social stratification of caste is based on the principle of purity and pollution.
Correct the incorrect pair and rewrite it.
OPTIONS
Ownership of wealth - Economic capital
Membership and involvement in social network - Social capital
Gained through education - Cultural capital
Prestige, status and social honour - Economic capital
SOLUTION
Prestige, status and social honour – Symbolic capital
Correct underlined words and complete the statement.
Caste is based on wealth.
SOLUTION
Class is based on wealth.
A hierarchical system where women are given a lower social status is stratification based on class.
SOLUTION
A hierarchical system where women are given a lower social status is stratification based on gender.
Write short note.
Principles of social stratification
SOLUTION
Stratification is social: Social stratification is not determined by biological differences but it is governed by social norms and sanctions.
Social stratification persists over generations: In all societies parents confer their social status on their children. Thus the pattern of inequality stays same from generation to generation.
Social stratification is universal but variable: Social stratification is found everywhere. At the same time the nature of inequality varies. 'What' is unequal and 'how' unequal, changes within the context of a society.
Social stratification involves inequality: Any stratified system not only gives people more resources but also justifies this arrangement and defines them as fair.
Social stratification is consequential: Stratification affects every aspect of life of all individuals. Social life is affected because of the position of an individual in the social hierarchy. Some experience positive consequences, while others face negative consequence of the hierarchy in a particular society.
Characteristics of caste according to Dr. G. S. Ghurye
SOLUTION
The characteristics of caste given by Dr. G. S. Ghurye are as follows:
Segmental division of society: Society is divided into various castes which are hereditary. The status of a person in caste-based society is not determined by the wealth he owns but it depends on the status of the caste in which he is born. Each caste is a well-developed social group and has its own traditional social status, occupations, customs, rules and regulations. Since membership is based on birth, mobility from one caste to another is impossible.
Hierarchy: According to Ghurye castes are graded and arranged into a hierarchy on the basis of the concept of ‘purity and pollution.’ Hierarchy is a scheme which arranges castes in terms of higher (or superior) and lower (or inferior) status, in relation to each other. The relative ranking of specific caste groups differs from one place to another.
Restriction on feeding and social intercourse: Each caste imposes restrictions on its members with regards to food and social intercourse. This also leads to separation or distance between castes.
Differential civil and religious privileges and disabilities: In a caste society, there is an unequal distribution of privileges and disabilities among its members. While higher caste people enjoy all privileges, lower caste people suffer from different kinds of disabilities.
Lack of unrestricted choice of occupation: Each caste or a group of allied castes is traditionally associated with a particular occupation. Occupations are hereditary and the members of a caste are expected to follow their traditional occupation.
Endogamy: Castes are divided into sub-castes and each sub-caste is an endogamous group. Every caste or sub-caste insists that its members should marry within the group.
Types of mobility
SOLUTION
Horizontal Mobility: It refers to change of residence or job without status change. Under this type of social mobility, a person changes one's occupation but the overall social standing remains the same. Certain occupation like doctor, engineer and teacher may enjoy the same status but when an engineer changes one's occupation from engineer to teaching engineering there is a horizontal shift from one occupational category to another but no change has taken place in the system of social stra tification.
Vertical Mobility: Vertical mobility refers to any change in the occupational, economic, political status of an individual or a group which leads to change of their position. Vertical Mobility stands for change of social position, either upward or downward.
Intergenerational Mobility: This type of mobility means that one generation changes its social status in contrast to the previous generation. However, this mobility may be upward or downward. For e.g., people of lower caste or class may provide facilities to their children to get higher education, training and skills, with the help of which the younger generation may get employment in higher position.
Intragenerational Mobility: This type of mobility takes place in the lifespan of one generation. A person may start one's career as a clerk and after acquiring more education, becomes an IFS Officer. Here the individual moves up and occupies a higher social position than previously.
Write difference.
Caste and Class
SOLUTION
Intragenerational mobility and Intergenerational mobility.
SOLUTION
Explain the following concept with an example.
Vertical mobility
SOLUTION
Vertical mobility refers to any change in the occupational economic or political status of an individual or a group which leads to a change in their position. Vertical mobility stands for a change of social position either upward or downward, which can be labelled as an ascending or descending type of mobility.
Example: A person who works as a customer assistant, works hard, and starts his own business successfully. In such a position there is a clear change in the position of the individual.
Intergenerational mobility
SOLUTION
Intergenerational mobility takes place when one generation changes its social status as compared to the previous generation.
Example: Amit’s parents were illiterate and used to work on someone else’s farm. Amit was brilliant and determined. So, he became a doctor and thus, enjoyed greater social status than his parents.
State whether the following statement is True or False with reasons.
There is no mobility in the class system.
OPTIONS
True
False
SOLUTION
This statement is False.
Reason: Class system is an example of open stratification in which individuals or groups enjoy the freedom of changing their social strata, i.e., in-class system there is scope for social mobility.
Education has led to women’s empowerment.
OPTIONS
True
False
SOLUTION
This statement is True.
Reason: There has been an unequal distribution of wealth, power, and privilege between men and women for a long period of time. Women were always assigned lower social ranking than their male counterparts. Education has brought awareness among women regarding this inequality and the need to raise a voice against it. Education also made women more skilled and knowledgeable and thereby, led to their empowerment.
Complete the concept map.
SOLUTION
Determined by birth
No scope of social mobility
Less importance to achieved status
More rigid than class stratification
Answer the following question in detail. (About 150 words)
Discuss class and gender as forms of social stratification with suitable examples of your own.
SOLUTION
Class stratification: The relative position of each class in the social set up arises from the degree of prestige attached to it. Social classes differ from each other in terms of their ways of dressing, standards of living, means of recreation, etc. e.g. people belonging to the upper class may purchase only branded clothes, go on international trips often, purchase luxury cars than middle and lower-class individuals.
Gender stratification: It refers to the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and privilege between the two sexes. e.g. in brick kilns, payment is usually decided on the basis of each brick made by a person. In many cases, male workers get higher payment per brick than their female counterparts. It represents discrimination as both male and female workers are engaged in exactly the same work. The basis for this discrimination is gender stratification.
Sociology 11th Standard Balbharati Solutions Maharashtra State Board
Balbharati Solutions for Sociology 11th Standard Maharashtra State Board Chapterwise. These Balbharati Solutions for Sociology 11th Standard Maharashtra State Board will help students understand the concepts better.
• Chapter 1: Introduction to Sociology
• Chapter 2: Contribution of Western and Indian Sociologists
• Chapter 3: Basic Concepts in Sociology
• Chapter 4: Social Institutions
• Chapter 7: Social Stratification
Balbharati Solutions for Class 11th Standard FYJC Maharashtra.
Organisation of Commerce and Management (OCM)
