Social Stratification

No society is classes or without strata. Social stratification is part and parcel of social life. Every society defines a means of categorizing each person into a particular social group. The placement of each individual in turn determines his value, as defined by the larger society: hence, the greater role of society in defining every person’s value. Differences in values and statuses of individual engender stratification in the society. If social stratification affected only such matters as who gets elected as president or who becomes the chief executive officer, separate chapter might not be dedicated to its discussion. But social stratification does much more: it results in some members of society benefiting greatly and others suffering. We shall discuss the characteristics of social stratification, forms of social stratification, and social stratification in India.