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Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit 13: Changing Dimensions of Social Stratification

Unit 13: Changing Dimensions of Social Stratification Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
13.1 Changing Dimensions of Social Stratification
13.2 Emerging Patterns of Social Stratification in India
13.3 Summary
13.4 Key–Words
13.5 Review Questions
13.6 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit students will be able to:
• Explain the Changing Dimensions of Social Stratification.
• Describe the Emerging Patterns of Social Stratification in India.

Introduction

So far we have discussed some basic concepts relating to stratification such as equality, inequality,
hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation in previous units. We have also explained theories
of social stratification, namely, Marxist, Weberian and structural-functional. Since our main
emphasis has been on the relevance conceptualizations, we have considerably drawn from our
experience and understanding of Indian society with a view to relate these concepts and theories
with the Indian society. Earlier, in the introductory chapter, an attempt has been made to define
the term “social stratification”, by drawing from different streams of thought systems and
formulations. The main dimensions of social stratification are economic, social and political as
perceived by Max Weber, and “class alone” as advocated by Karl Marx. Gender has been added
to the theory of social stratification along with the persisting dimensions of class, status and
power. Two dimensions, namely, ethnicity and race, have appeared as cultural dimensions of
stratification.
We will discuss these domains of social stratification in the following order:
1. Class
2. Status groups or castes
3. Power
4. Gender
5. Ethnicity
6. Race
Not only a discussion on these dimensions would embrace economic, social, political and cultural
aspects of social stratification, it would also provide understanding of specific situations and
factors and their permutations and combinations to know the overriding nature of given factors
and also that of the composite types of stratification systems. Lastly, all these domains/dimensions
of social stratification would be mirrored in terms of their relevance in the context of the present-
day Indian society.

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