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Theories of Social Stratification

👥 Sociology By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated
Quick answer: stratification theories explain why societies rank people by wealth, power and prestige - as a social necessity or as domination.
Contents
  1. 1. Class and strata
  2. 2. Main theories
  3. 3. Social mobility
  4. 4. References

Class and strata

Stratification is the hierarchical ranking of people by unequal shares of scarce resources such as wealth, power and prestige. Class refers to groups defined by economic relations such as ownership (Marx); strata refer to graded rankings on several criteria.

Main theories

  • Functionalism: Davis and Moore (1945) argued unequal rewards are needed to fill important, demanding positions, making stratification universal and functional. Tumin (1953) replied that it blocks talent and passes on inequality.
  • Conflict: Marx saw class rooted in exploitation between bourgeoisie and proletariat, driving conflict and change.
  • Weber: class, status (prestige) and party (power) can vary independently.
  • Bourdieu: cultural and social capital, not only money, reproduce class position.

Social mobility

Mobility may be intra- or intergenerational, vertical or horizontal; education is both a ladder and a means of reproduction.

References

  1. Davis, K., & Moore, W. E. (1945). Some principles of stratification. American Sociological Review, 10(2), 242-249.
  2. Tumin, M. M. (1953). Some principles of stratification: A critical analysis. American Sociological Review, 18(4), 387-394.
  3. Weber, M. (1922/1978). Economy and Society. University of California Press.
  4. Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction. Harvard University Press.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

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This article was last updated on October 15, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.