Stratification

Definition

Stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of different groups within a society, where individuals are divided into layers or strata based on factors such as wealth, power, status, and access to resources. This concept is crucial in understanding the organization and dynamics of various modes of subsistence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Stratification is a fundamental aspect of all societies, shaping the distribution of resources, opportunities, and life chances.
2. The degree and nature of stratification can vary significantly across different modes of subsistence, such as foraging, horticulture, pastoralism, and agriculture.
3. In foraging societies, stratification is often minimal, with limited differences in wealth, power, and status among individuals.
4. Horticultural and pastoral societies may exhibit more pronounced stratification, with the emergence of social classes and the concentration of resources and authority.
5. Agricultural societies tend to have the most complex and entrenched systems of stratification, often characterized by the development of social classes, hereditary privileges, and institutionalized inequalities.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of stratification relates to the organization and dynamics of different modes of subsistence.
  • The degree and nature of stratification within a society is closely linked to its mode of subsistence. In foraging societies, where resources are relatively abundant and evenly distributed, stratification is typically minimal, with limited differences in wealth, power, and status among individuals. As societies transition to more complex modes of subsistence, such as horticulture and pastoralism, stratification becomes more pronounced, with the emergence of social classes and the concentration of resources and authority. Agricultural societies tend to have the most complex and entrenched systems of stratification, often characterized by the development of social classes, hereditary privileges, and institutionalized inequalities.
• Analyze the relationship between social inequality and the different modes of subsistence.
  • The level of social inequality within a society is closely tied to its mode of subsistence. In foraging societies, where resources are relatively abundant and evenly distributed, social inequality is typically low, with limited differences in wealth, power, and status among individuals. As societies transition to more complex modes of subsistence, such as horticulture and pastoralism, social inequality becomes more pronounced, with the emergence of social classes and the concentration of resources and authority. Agricultural societies, with their more complex economic and social structures, tend to have the most entrenched systems of social inequality, often characterized by the development of hereditary privileges, institutionalized inequalities, and the creation of distinct social classes with vastly different access to resources and opportunities.
• Evaluate how the concept of social mobility is influenced by the different modes of subsistence.
  • The degree of social mobility within a society is closely linked to its mode of subsistence. In foraging societies, where resources are relatively abundant and evenly distributed, social mobility is often more fluid, with individuals and groups able to move more freely within the social hierarchy. As societies transition to more complex modes of subsistence, such as horticulture and pastoralism, social mobility may become more restricted, with the emergence of social classes and the concentration of resources and authority. Agricultural societies, with their more entrenched systems of stratification, tend to have the lowest levels of social mobility, as individuals and groups face significant barriers to moving up or down the social hierarchy due to factors such as hereditary privileges, institutionalized inequalities, and the rigidity of the class system.

Related terms

Social Inequality: The unequal distribution of wealth, power, and status within a society, leading to the formation of social hierarchies.

Social Mobility:

The movement of individuals or groups within a social hierarchy, either upward (social ascent) or downward (social descent).

Class:

A group of people within a society who share a similar socioeconomic status, often defined by their occupation, income, and access to resources.