stratification

• Stratification - grouping people into layers in social hierarchy - how we split society up e.g middle class, working class and ruling class
• open system of stratification- equality of opportunity - open society - meritocratic society - same chances with hard work, enables social mobility for example in the US
• closed systems of stratification- inequality of opportunity, meritcoracy restricted and restricted social mobility

  example-apartheid and the caste system
• criticisms of open and closed systems- simplistic way to view stratification , in reality if western societies did open truly, complete opportunity and no discrimination in society
• functionalist view on stratification


  society stratified on how hard you work

  same as education

  hardest working on top

  least working on bottom

  can be done by social mobility- everyone equal

  people in society act as a motivator -work hard , more status
• Marxists view on stratification

  society split into two groups - see stratification as unfair

  Proletariat-labor

  Bourgeoise- exploit them , own means of production