WHAT IS SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

 

-Definitions of social stratification 

By Wilbert Masamba

-Giddens (2001) defines stratification as ‘structured inequalities between different groupings’ 

-Crompton (1993) argues it involves ‘a hierarchical system of inequality (material and symbolic), always supported by a meaning system that seeks to justify inequality’.

- Ogburn and Nimkoff: ‘The process by which individuals and groups are ranked in more or less enduring hierarchy of status is known as stratification” 

-Lundberg: “A stratified society is one marked by inequality, by differences among people that are evaluated by them as being “lower” and “higher”.

 -Gisbert: “Social stratification is the division of society into permanent groups of categories linked with each other by the relationship of superiority and subordinations”. 

 -Williams: Social Stratification refers to “The ranking of individuals on a scale of superiority-inferiority- equality, according to some commonly accepted basis of valuation.

 - Raymond W. Murray: Social stratification is horizontal division of society into “higher” and “lower” social units.” 

-Melvin M Tumin: “Social stratification refers to “arrangement of any social group or society into hierarchy of positions that are unequal with regard to power, property, social evaluation and psychic gratification”.