The division of society into groups is called social stratification

The division of society into groups is called social stratification. This is a system of criteria and attributes, by which stratification occurs in our society. And in it, each of us participates. Because all of us are members of society, and therefore are connected with society inseparably.

Principle

The division of society into groups is called stratification for good reason. This term was borrowed from geology. And in this science he denotes the location of the layers of the earth. In general, the most appropriate concept.

Sociology has built a system of stratification of society like the structure of the Earth. If you carefully delve into the topic, you can understand that this is so. Social layers are placed vertically. And in the role of the foundation is the ladder of income. That is, the level of quality of life in the material plane. At the lowest level are the poor. Representatives of a well-to-do group (moderately wealthy individuals) are located in the middle. And the ladder is headed by really rich people.

This scheme perfectly reflects the notion of social inequality. And as a criterion can be not only the level of income. Still often takes into account the power, the nature of labor, knowledge. Here, for example, is the last case. On the lowest step will be people without education. A little higher - those who finished 9 classes. Next - people with full secondary education. A little higher - those who graduated from college / technical school / colleges. Further - people with higher bachelor's education. Then - masters, graduate students, doctors, professors, etc. In general, the principle is clear.

Socio-economic status

This is a topic worth noting with attention, telling about classes of social stratification.

So, each of us has a status in society. It consists of several criteria. The first is income. That is, the amount of money earned.

The second criterion is wealth. That is, the savings, accumulations and material values of a person (property). The difference between people who have wealth, from those who do not have it, is that they, if they do not want, can not work. And live off of savings and savings. Others are forced to work for the sake of wages.

The third criterion is power. People who have it, traditionally belong to the elite, because they can impose their will against the wishes of the others. Power is access to social goods.

The last criterion is prestige. That is, the respect that people enjoy. All listed criteria in the aggregate are what determines the socio-economic status of the individual. And his position in society. It is the status that is generally considered to be a generalized indicator of the notorious stratification.

Social elevator

This concept should also be noted with attention. Since it has a direct relationship to the topic under discussion. A social elevator is a mechanism by which you can improve or worsen your status. And it affects all the above criteria - on the level of income, education, prestige and power (wealth follows from the first).

It is worth turning to the example for clarity. And the best of all possible has long been brought by the Russian-American sociologist Pitirim Sorokin. He, by the way, for the first time stated that the division of society into groups is called stratification, and he developed this concept.

So, a vivid example of a social elevator is the army. If a young man who has been poisoned to serve for the benefit of the Motherland, will make due efforts, diligence and be diligent, he can grow up with a private soldier to a corporal, and then - to a junior sergeant. Manifesting himself in the best light, and perfectly fulfilling his military duties, he has a chance to get better titles. In the end, the generals were once ordinary soldiers.

Hierarchy

This is a typical sociological concept. And it means the order of subordination of the lower to the higher. It is already possible to guess that we are going to talk about such a topic as the social hierarchy.

This is the structure of relations that distributes prestige, power and other values in society, and also reflects the inequality of statuses.

A simple example, which everyone faced, concerns the sphere of labor relations. At the head of the hierarchy is the owner of the enterprise. He obeys the lower link - the director of the organization. He, in turn, manages all the other subordinates, ordinary employees, occupying certain positions with all the rights.

About the laws

Social stratification was always. And in it, as in any other structure, there are laws. And even whole systems of them. One of the best, logical and fair was developed by the German sociologist Max Weber.

He assured us that those on which the whole hierarchy rests is a clear division of labor. When it exists, there is a need to use highly qualified specialists for each of the existing posts.

There should also be rules and regulations that would regulate all processes taking place in society and in the work. Still important is the so-called spirit of formal impersonality. It is with him that officials must fulfill their duties - so it is more correct.

And, at last, hiring for work is carried out unbiased. The position is taken by one who fully meets the requirements, without taking into account anything else.

Finally

The division of society into groups is called stratification. And it always took place - no matter how many argued that we are all alike. However, the opposite is difficult to imagine. On Earth, there are 7.46 billion people. And the fact that they are divided into groups (strata), uniting in one way or another, on the contrary, regulates society. Everyone fulfills his role. And if you want to change something - that is, the notorious social elevator, which everyone can use if they want. The most important thing is that stratification does not become a negative concept. But this already depends on humanity in society.