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Chapter 9
Concepts and Theories of
Stratification
Chapter Outline
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Conceptions of Social Class
Marx’s Concept of Class
Weber’s Three Dimensions of Stratification
Status Inconsistency
Social Mobility
Marx and the Classless Society
The Functionalist Theory of Stratification
The Social Evolution Theory of Stratification
The Conflict Theory of Stratification
Plato’s Conception Of Social
Class
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There were two classes in ancient
Greek society: rich and poor.
Plato believed they were locked in
eternal conflict.
Aristotle’s Conception Of
Social Class
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Divided Greek society into three
classes:
– Rapacious upper class
– Servile lower class
– Worthy middle class
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The middle class, having all virtues and
all failings in moderation, could be
trusted to see after the common good.
Marx’s Concept Of Class
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Marx saw the history of human societies as a
history of one ruling class being overthrown
by a new one.
 Identified four classes in ancient Rome—
patricians, knights, plebians,and slaves.
 Marx expected modern capitalist societies to
consist of only two classes, the bourgeosie
and the proletariat.
The Bourgeoisie and the
Proletariat Classes
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Defined in terms of their relationship to
the means of production.
The bourgeoisie owns the means of
production.
The proletariat does not own such
means and must sell his or her labor to
the bourgeoisie.
Weber’s Three Dimensions Of
Stratification
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Based stratification on three
independent factors:
– Class (property)
– Status (prestige)
– Party (power)
Mosca: Three-step “proof” that
societies must be stratified
Human societies cannot exist without
political organization.
2. Whenever there is political organization (or
society), there must be inequalities in power.
3. Because human nature is self-serving,
people with more power will use it to exploit
others and gain material advantages.
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Theoretical Approaches to
Stratification
Functionalist theory – explains that because
some workers are much less replaceable
than others, rewards will be different.
 Evolutionary theory - explains
how specialization arises in societies.
 Conflict theory - stratification will reflect the
outcome of conflict among groups in a
society.
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