Social Stratification
Short Questions
1. What is social stratification?
Answer: Social stratification is the process of ranking individuals or groups in a hierarchical order based on status.
2. How does social stratification differ from social differentiation?
Answer: Social stratification involves vertical hierarchical ranking, while social differentiation is horizontal division.
3. What is the basis of the caste system?
Answer: The caste system is based on birth and the principles of purity and pollution.
4. What type of stratification allows social mobility?
Answer: Open stratification allows social mobility between social strata.
5. Name one characteristic of the caste system according to G. S. Ghurye.
Answer: Segmental division of society is a characteristic of the caste system.
6. What determines social class status?
Answer: Social class status is determined by wealth, occupation, education, and prestige.
7. What is gender stratification?
Answer: Gender stratification is the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and privilege between sexes.
8. What is horizontal mobility?
Answer: Horizontal mobility is a change in job or residence without a status shift.
9. Give an example of intergenerational mobility.
Answer: A farmer’s child becoming a doctor is an example of intergenerational mobility.
10. What role does education play in class stratification?
Answer: Education enables upward mobility and influences class rank.
11. What is the origin of the term “caste”?
Answer: The term “caste” originates from the Spanish word “casta,” meaning breed or race.
12. What is patriarchy in the context of gender?
Answer: Patriarchy is a social organization where men dominate, oppress, and exploit women.
13. What is the key feature of closed stratification?
Answer: The key feature of closed stratification is the lack of social mobility.
14. Who introduced the concept of different types of capital in class analysis?
Answer: Pierre Bourdieu introduced the concept of economic, social, cultural, and symbolic capital.
15. What is intragenerational mobility?
Answer: Intragenerational mobility is a status change within an individual’s lifetime.
Long Questions
1. Explain the concept of social stratification with its basic characteristics.
Answer: Social stratification is the hierarchical ranking of individuals or groups based on unequal access to resources and status. It is social in nature, persists across generations, is universal yet variable, involves inequality, and has significant consequences on life chances and lifestyles. These characteristics shape societal structures and individual experiences globally.
2. Discuss the caste system as a closed form of stratification with its key features.
Answer: The caste system is a closed stratification where status is fixed by birth, with no mobility between strata, as seen in traditional Indian society. Key features include segmental division, hierarchy based on purity and pollution, restrictions on feeding and social intercourse, differential privileges, hereditary occupations, and endogamy. These elements reinforce a rigid social order that is gradually changing in modern times.
3. Describe the class system as an open form of stratification and its determinants.
Answer: The class system is an open stratification allowing mobility based on achieved status, differing from the rigid caste structure. Its determinants include wealth, occupation, education, and prestige, which influence an individual’s rank and lifestyle. This flexibility enables upward or downward movement, as seen in industrial societies with upper, middle, and lower classes.
4. What is gender stratification, and how does it manifest in society?
Answer: Gender stratification refers to the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and privilege between men and women, a universal societal feature. It manifests through sexism and patriarchy, where men dominate, as seen in lower pay for women or gendered roles like caregiving for females. This inequality affects opportunities and social status across various domains like economy and polity.
5. Explain the types of social mobility with suitable examples.
Answer: Social mobility includes horizontal mobility (e.g., a doctor becoming a professor without status change), vertical mobility (e.g., a clerk becoming a manager), intergenerational mobility (e.g., a laborer’s child becoming a doctor), and intragenerational mobility (e.g., a teacher rising to principal). These types reflect shifts in social position, either within a lifetime or across generations, influenced by education and opportunity. Each type highlights the dynamic nature of social hierarchies.
6. How does education impact class and gender stratification?
Answer: Education serves as a lever for upward mobility in class stratification, enabling individuals to improve their status through better jobs and skills. In gender stratification, it empowers women by challenging stereotypes, increasing workforce participation, and fostering independence. However, access to quality education often remains unequal, perpetuating existing disparities.
7. Analyze the role of purity and pollution in the caste hierarchy.
Answer: The concept of purity and pollution forms the basis of caste hierarchy, ranking groups as superior or inferior based on ritual cleanliness. Higher castes are deemed purer, enjoying privileges, while lower castes face pollution-related restrictions on interactions and occupations. This ideology, though weakening, historically reinforced caste segregation in Indian society.
8. Discuss Pierre Bourdieu’s contribution to understanding class stratification.
Answer: Pierre Bourdieu expanded class analysis by introducing four types of capital: economic (wealth), social (networks), cultural (education), and symbolic (prestige). These capitals explain how the upper class maintains dominance beyond mere money, influencing lifestyle and opportunities. His framework highlights the interconnectedness of social factors in sustaining inequality.
9. How do traditional gender roles contribute to gender stratification?
Answer: Traditional gender roles assign masculinity (e.g., bravery, dominance) to men and femininity (e.g., nurturance, submission) to women, creating a hierarchical social structure. This socialization, evident in toys like cars for boys and dolls for girls, limits women’s access to power and resources. Such roles perpetuate gender inequality across family, work, and public spheres.
10. Evaluate the changing nature of the caste system in contemporary India.
Answer: The caste system in contemporary India is evolving due to education, urbanization, and legal reforms, reducing rigid barriers like endogamy and occupational restrictions. Inter-caste marriages and job diversification are increasing, though hierarchy and discrimination persist in rural areas. This gradual shift reflects a move toward a more open society, yet caste identity remains a significant social factor.
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