What is social stratification, and how is it different from social mobility and social reality?

What is Social Stratification?

Social stratification is the way that people are ranked and ordered in society. It is a system of social inequality that divides people into different groups based on their wealth, income, occupation, education, or other factors.

Social stratification is a universal phenomenon that exists in all societies. However, the specific criteria used to stratify people and the degree of inequality that exists vary from society to society.

Types of Social Stratification

There are three main types of social stratification:

• Class stratification is based on economic factors, such as wealth, income, and occupation.
• Caste stratification is based on birth and is often hereditary.
• Estate stratification is based on legal status and is often associated with political power.

Social Mobility

Social mobility is the movement of people between different social strata. It can be upward, downward, or lateral.

Upward social mobility occurs when people move from a lower social stratum to a higher one. Downward social mobility occurs when people move from a higher social stratum to a lower one. Lateral social mobility occurs when people move from one social stratum to another that is at the same level.

Social Reality

Social reality is the way that people perceive the world around them. It is influenced by social stratification, as people's social class can shape their worldview.

For example, people from different social classes may have different views on topics such as education, healthcare, and the economy.

How is Social Stratification Different from Social Mobility and Social Reality?

Social stratification is the system of social inequality that divides people into different groups. Social mobility is the movement of people between different social strata. Social reality is the way that people perceive the world around them.

The main difference between social stratification and social mobility is that social stratification is a system, while social mobility is a process. Social stratification is the way that society is structured, while social mobility is the way that people move within that structure.

The main difference between social stratification and social reality is that social stratification is objective, while social reality is subjective. Social stratification is based on real-world factors, such as wealth, income, and occupation. Social reality is based on people's perceptions of those factors.

Conclusion

Social stratification is a complex and important phenomenon that has a significant impact on society. It is important to understand the different types of social stratification, how social mobility works, and how social reality is influenced by social stratification.

I hope this blog has helped you to understand social stratification a little better.

Question asked in B. S. S. O. (Main) 2022

7-What is the positioning of people into various social layers called in society?

(a) Social mobility

(b) Social unity

(c) Social stratification

(d) Social reality