Class stratification is a type of social stratification in which a society is divided into parties with varying access to resources and power. It is the division of society into different social classes or strata based on various factors such as wealth, occupation, education, and social status. Different classes usually have economic, natural, cultural, and religious, interests, and ideal schisms. It is a method of classifying individuals or groups based on their position in the socioeconomic hierarchy.
Class stratification is a common feature of many societies, and it can have a significant impact on people’s lives and opportunities. The specific criteria used to determine social classes vary across cultures and societies, but some common indicators include income level, property ownership, educational attainment, and occupation type.
Process of class stratification
During the early stages of class stratification, the majority of members in a given society have comparable access to wealth and power, with only a few members having noticeably more or less wealth than the rest.
With the passage of time, the majority of wealth and status may begin to concentrate around a small percentage of the population. When wealth continues to concentrate, pockets of society with significantly less wealth may emerge, resulting in a sharp disparity between rich and poor. Classes are formed as members of a society become economically separated from one another.
The division of society into classes frequently results in unequal distribution of resources, power, and privileges. Higher social classes typically have more access to wealth, education, healthcare, and political power, whereas lower social classes may face economic disadvantages, limited opportunities, and social marginalisation.
When a physical divide is introduced, a cultural schism between the classes emerges, such as the perception of the rich’s well-mannered, “cultured” behavior versus the poor’s “uncivilized” behavior. With the cultural divide, chances for classes to mix become less likely, and mythos (i.e. “the wrong side of the railway tracks”) becomes more common between them. The lower class loses more of its influence and wealth as the upper class gains more influence and wealth, further dividing the classes from one another.
Class stratification can have long-term consequences for individuals and communities, influencing their life opportunities, social mobility, and overall quality of life. Sociologists and other social scientists investigate class stratification in order to comprehend its causes, consequences, and potential solutions. To analyze the dynamics of class stratification and its implications for society, various theories, such as Karl Marx’s theory of social class, have been developed.
