Page 296 - DSOC202_SOCIAL_STRATIFICATION_ENGLISH

Unit 13: Changing Dimensions of Social Stratification

but hierarchization of differences too creates social inequality. People have tendency to Notes
hierarchize their relations, and seek expression and articulation of the same in actual life
with due legitimacy to perpetuate their entrenched position or to gain access to new avenues
of status and power. This is how stratification emerges. In this way, social stratification
incorporates a semblance of differences and hierarchy. The two are found in different
combinations.
• The person who tills the ground has wherewithal the ground to maintain himself till he
reaps the harvest. The master maintains his existence by giving advance, and in return he
gets share in the produce of his labour.
• There are not many independent persons combining the roles of a master and a workman.
The masters can combine easily the law and authorities, but workmen cannot do it. Workmen
cannot subsist even for a work, the masters, landlords, master manufacturers or merchants
can survive on their own for a long time.
• Modern industry has developed the world market. As a result, commerce, navigation and
communication by land immensely developed. In proportion to such a development, the
bourgeoisie developed, increased its capital, and pushed into the background every earlier
class. Marx and Engels thus observe : “We see, therefore, how the modern bourgeoisie is
itself the product of a long course of development, of a series of revolutions in the modes of
production and of exchange.”
• Marx and Engels write : “But not only has the bourgeoisie forged the weapons that bring
death to itself, it has also called into existence the new who are to wield those weapons - the
modern working class - the proletarians”. In proportion to the bourgeoisie, the proletariat -
a class of labourers - has developed. They are a commodity, like every other article of
commerce, influenced by the vicissitudes of competition and fluctuation of the market.
• The term “class” refers to any group of people that is found in the same class situation. Like
Marx, for Weber too, class is an economic phenomenon. The people, who are actors in the
market for material gains, constitute different classes as determined by their role and capacity.
Market signifies a situation of competition among the actors, namely, buyers and sellers. The
two are not monoliths, hence, some become privileged and monopolists and others remain
loosers. Weber observes that property” and “lack of property” are the basic categories of all
class situations. All this holds true within the area in which true market conditions prevail.
“Property” and “lack of property” are, therefore, the basic categories of all class situations.
• The capitalist class has control over all the three resources. The working class has control
over none of them. In between the two are contradictory class locations, in which Wright
includes white-collar and professional employees. These people are neither capitalists nor
manual workers, but share some common features with both of them.
• Mode of production and class contradictions are essential features of the Marxist approach
to class, class conflict and class consciousness. The forces of production and production
relations could be seen even in caste, kinship, family, marriage and even in rituals. Emergence
of a new bourgeoisie, polarization of peasantry and pauperization of the working class have
been reported in Indian society.
• The primary manifestations in real life can be seen in the practice of connubium, commensality
and exclusive appropriation of privileged economic opportunities, and also prohibition of
certain modes of acquisition. There are also certain conventions or traditions attached to a
social status.
• An “occupational group” is also a status group. Generally, it successfully claims social honour
only by virtue of the special style of life which may be determined by it. The differences
between classes and status groups frequently overlap. Castes in India are a sort of status

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