Social Stratification: Meaning, Causes, Effects, Solution
Meaning: Social stratification is the ranking of people living in a society to give them a hierarchy of social status.
Social stratification is the unequal segregation of the people in a society on the basis of their financial, economical, occupational, heredity, religious, family, regional, other status.
In simple words, it is a societal division into higher and lower social units, based on unfair factors.
Social stratification in the West vs. East: In the Western parts of the world, social stratification exists as Upper class, Middle class and Lower class divisions based on their financial position in the society.
In the eastern part of the world like India, Social stratification is divided by varnas or castes. The four varnas include Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras in the decreasing order of their social position.
Causes:
Exercise control: To control people who are lower in social status.
Disrupt unity: To create inequality in the masses and disrupt peace.
Financial strength: The wealthy always look down upon the poor.
Power: People are power-hungry and always want to prove their position in the society.
Effects:
Inequality: The society gets segregated and inequality prevails among people. The upper caste people treat lower caste people with contempt.
Lack of social mobility: People do not have the right or option of changing their caste. They have to live with the caste that they are born in.
Injustice: Unfair advantages are enjoyed by higher class people while the lower strata suffer in vain.
Solution:
Promote inter-caste marriage: This will break the vicious chain of social stratification and promote intermingling among the different strata.
Educate: Promote awareness and education among people to point out the harmful effects of social stratification.
Employment: Employment should be provided on the basis of capability and education and not according to caste differences.
Purbita, .
