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Social stratification definition social science. The concept of “social stratification of society”. Reasons for social stratification. Types of stratification systems

Social stratification (from Latin stratum - layer and facio - do) is one of the basic concepts of sociology, denoting a system of signs and criteria social stratification, position in society; social structure of society; branch of sociology. The term “stratification” entered sociology from geology, where it refers to the arrangement of layers of the earth. But people initially likened the social distances and partitions that existed between them to layers of earth, floors of buildings, objects, tiers of plants, etc.

Stratification is the division of society into special layers (strata) by combining different social positions with approximately the same social status, reflecting the prevailing idea of social inequality, built horizontally (social hierarchy), along its axis according to one or more stratification criteria (indicators social status). The division of society into strata is carried out on the basis of the inequality of social distances between them - the main property of stratification. Social strata are built vertically and in strict sequence according to indicators of well-being, power, education, leisure, and consumption.

In social stratification, a certain social distance is established between people (social positions) and a hierarchy of social layers is built. In this way, unequal access of members of society to certain socially significant scarce resources is recorded by establishing social filters on the boundaries separating social strata. For example, social strata can be distinguished by levels of income, education, power, consumption, nature of work, and leisure time. The social strata identified in society are assessed according to the criterion of social prestige, which expresses the social attractiveness of certain positions.

The simplest stratification model is dichotomous - dividing society into elites and masses. In some of the earliest, archaic social systems, the structuring of society into clans was carried out simultaneously with the establishment of social inequalities between and within them. This is how “initiates” appear, i.e. those who are initiated into certain social practices (priests, elders, leaders) and the uninitiated - “profane” (profane - from Latin pro fano - deprived of holiness, uninitiated; profane - all other members of society, ordinary members of the community, fellow tribesmen). Within them, society can further stratify if necessary.

As society becomes more complex (structural), a parallel process occurs - the integration of social positions into a certain social hierarchy. This is how castes, estates, classes, etc. appear.

Modern ideas about the stratification model that has developed in society are quite complex - multi-layered (polychotomous), multidimensional (carried out along several axes) and variable (sometimes allowing the existence of multiple stratification models): qualifications, quotas, certification, determination of status, ranks, benefits, privileges, other preferences.

32.CLASS STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY

Exists special kind stratification of modern society, which is called class stratification .

Social classes , according to Lenin's definition "... large groups of people differing in their place in a historically defined system social production, in their relation (mostly enshrined and formalized in laws) to the means of production, in their role in public organization labor, and, consequently, according to the methods of obtaining and the size of the share of social wealth that they have. Classes are groups of people from which one can appropriate the work of another, due to the difference in their place in a certain structure of the social economy."

For the first time, the expanded concept of social class was formulated by K. Marx through the use of the concept class-forming characteristic . According to Marx, this sign is the attitude of people towards property. Some classes in society own property and can dispose of property, while other classes are deprived of this property. Such division can lead to inter-class conflicts, which are aimed primarily at redistribution and redistribution of property. The presence of this sign of the class division of society continues to be used by many modern scientists.

Unlike Marx, the German sociologist Max Weber identifies several signs of class division in society. In particular, he considers prestige as one of the most important signs of social class. In addition to prestige, Weber considers such signs wealth and power, as well as attitudes towards property . In this regard, Weber identifies a significantly larger number of classes in society than Marx. Each of social classes has its own subculture, which includes specific ways of behavior, an accepted value system and a set of social norms. Despite the influence of the dominant culture, each social class cultivates its own values, behaviors and ideals. These subcultures have fairly clear boundaries, within which individuals feel their belonging to social class, identify themselves with him.

Currently there are quite a lot of models class structure society. However, the most common model should be considered W. Watson model . According to this model, modern society is divided into six main classes. The upper and middle classes of society are especially clearly distinguished.

The experience of using this model has shown that it has limitations in relation to pre-market Russia. However, with the development of market relations, the class structure of Russian society increasingly resembles the class structures of Western countries. This is why Watson's model of class structure may have great importance when analyzing social processes occurring in modern Russia.

Social stratification

Social stratification(from lat. stratum− layer and facio− I do) is one of the basic concepts of sociology, denoting a system of signs and criteria of social stratification and position in society; social structure of society; branch of sociology. The term “stratification” entered sociology from geology, where it refers to the arrangement of layers of the earth. But people initially likened the social distances and partitions that existed between them to layers of earth, floors of buildings, objects, tiers of plants, etc.

Stratification- this is the division of society into special layers (strata) by combining different social positions with approximately the same social status, reflecting the prevailing idea of social inequality, built horizontally (social hierarchy), along its axis according to one or more stratification criteria (indicators of social status). The division of society into strata is carried out on the basis of the inequality of social distances between them - the main property of stratification. Social strata are built vertically and in strict sequence according to indicators of well-being, power, education, leisure, and consumption.

IN social stratification a certain social distance is established between people (social positions) and a hierarchy of social layers is built. In this way, unequal access of members of society to certain socially significant scarce resources is recorded by establishing social filters on the boundaries separating social strata. For example, social strata can be distinguished by levels of income, education, power, consumption, nature of work, and leisure time. The social strata identified in society are assessed according to the criterion of social prestige, which expresses the social attractiveness of certain positions.

The simplest stratification model is dichotomous - dividing society into elites and masses. In some of the earliest, archaic social systems, the structuring of society into clans was carried out simultaneously with the establishment of social inequalities between and within them. This is how “initiates” appear, i.e. those who are initiated into certain social practices (priests, elders, leaders) and the uninitiated - “profane” (profan - from lat. pro fano- deprived of holiness, uninitiated; laymen - all other members of society, ordinary members of the community, fellow tribesmen). Within them, society can further stratify if necessary.

The most important dynamic characteristic of society is social mobility. According to P. Sorokin’s definition, “social mobility is understood as any transition of an individual, or social object, or value created or modified thanks to activity, from one social position to another." However, social agents do not always move from one position to another; it is possible to move the social positions themselves in the social hierarchy, such a movement is called “positional mobility” (vertical mobility) or within the same social stratum (horizontal mobility). Along with social filters that set barriers to social movement, there are also " social elevators", significantly accelerating this process (in a crisis society - revolutions, wars, conquests, etc.; in a normal, stable society - family, marriage, education, property, etc.). The degree of freedom of social movement from one social stratum in the other, it largely determines what kind of society is - closed or open.

Social structure
Social class
Creative class
Social inequality
Religious stratification
Racism
Castes
Class struggle
Social behavior

Notes

Sorokin P. Man. Civilization. Society. M., 1992. P. 373

Categories:

Sociology
Social hierarchy

Social stratification

Social stratification (from Latin stratum - layer and facio - do) is one of the basic concepts of sociology, denoting a system of signs and criteria of social stratification and position in society; social structure of society; branch of sociology. The term “stratification” entered sociology from geology, where it refers to the arrangement of layers of the earth. But people initially likened the social distances and partitions that existed between them to layers of earth, floors of buildings, objects, tiers of plants, etc.

As society becomes more complex (structural), a parallel process occurs - the integration of social positions into a certain social hierarchy. This is how castes, estates, classes, etc. appear.

32.CLASS STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY

There is a special type of stratification of modern society, which is called class stratification .

Social classes , according to Lenin’s definition “... large groups of people, differing in their place in a historically defined system of social production, in their relationship (mostly enshrined and formalized in laws) to the means of production, in their role in the social organization of labor, and, consequently , according to the methods of obtaining and the size of the share of social wealth that they have. Classes are groups of people from which one can appropriate the labor of another, due to the difference in their place in a certain structure of the social economy."

Unlike Marx, the German sociologist Max Weber identifies several signs of class division in society. In particular, he considers prestige as one of the most important signs of social class. In addition to prestige, Weber considers such signs wealth and power, as well as attitudes towards property . In this regard, Weber identifies a significantly larger number of classes in society than Marx. Each of the social classes has its own subculture, which includes specific modes of behavior, an accepted value system and a set of social norms. Despite the influence of the dominant culture, each social class cultivates its own values, behaviors and ideals. These subcultures have fairly clear boundaries within which individuals feel they belong to a social class and identify themselves with it.

Currently, there are many models of the class structure of society. However, the most common model should be considered W. Watson model . According to this model, modern society is divided into six main classes. The upper and middle classes of society are especially clearly distinguished.

The experience of using this model has shown that it has limitations in relation to pre-market Russia. However, with the development of market relations, the class structure of Russian society increasingly resembles the class structures of Western countries. That is why Watson’s class structure model can be of great importance in the analysis of social processes taking place in modern Russia.

Social stratification

Social stratification - this is the determination of the vertical sequence of the position of social layers, strata in society, their hierarchy. Various authors often replace the concept of stratum with other keywords: class, caste, estate. Using these terms further, we will put a single content into them and understand by stratum a large group of people that differ in their position in the social hierarchy of society.

Sociologists are unanimous in the opinion that the basis of the stratification structure is the natural and social inequality of people. However, the way inequalities were organized could be different. It was necessary to isolate the foundations that would determine the appearance of the vertical structure of society.

K. Marx introduced the only basis for the vertical stratification of society - ownership of property. The narrowness of this approach became obvious already at the end of the 19th century. That's why M. Weber increases the number of criteria that determine belonging to a particular stratum. In addition to the economic - attitude towards property and income level - he introduces criteria such as social prestige and membership in certain political circles (parties)

Under prestige was understood as the acquisition by an individual from birth or due to personal qualities of such a social status that allowed him to occupy a certain place in the social hierarchy.

The role of status in the hierarchical structure of society is determined by such an important feature social life as its normative and value regulation. Thanks to the latter, only those whose status corresponds to the ideas rooted in the mass consciousness about the significance of their title, profession, as well as the norms and laws functioning in society always rise to the “upper steps” of the social ladder.

M. Weber’s identification of political criteria for stratification still seems insufficiently reasoned. Says this more clearly P. Sorokin. He clearly points out the impossibility of giving a single set of criteria for belonging to any stratum and notes the presence in society three stratification structures: economic, professional and political. An owner with a large fortune and significant economic power could not formally enter the highest echelons of political power or engage in professionally prestigious activities. And, on the contrary, a politician who has made a dizzying career may not be the owner of capital, which nevertheless did not prevent him from moving in the circles of high society.

Subsequently, sociologists made repeated attempts to expand the number of stratification criteria by including, for example, educational level. One can accept or reject additional stratification criteria, but apparently one cannot but agree with the recognition of the multidimensionality of this phenomenon. The stratification picture of society is multifaceted; it consists of several layers that do not completely coincide with each other.

IN 30-40s in American sociology an attempt was made to overcome the multidimensionality of stratification by inviting individuals to determine their place in social structure.) In studies conducted W.L. Warner in a number of American cities, the stratification structure was reproduced on the basis of the principle of self-identification of respondents with one of six classes based on the methodology developed by the author. This methodology could not but cause a critical attitude due to the debatability of the proposed stratification criteria, the subjectivity of respondents and, finally, the possibility of presenting empirical data for several cities as a stratification cross-section of the entire society. But this kind of research gave a different result: they showed that people consciously or intuitively feel, are aware of the hierarchical nature of society, feel the basic parameters, principles that determine a person’s position in society.

However, the study W. L. Warner did not refute the statement about the multidimensionality of the stratification structure. It only showed that different types hierarchies, refracted through a person’s value system, create a holistic picture of his perception of this social phenomenon.

So, society reproduces and organizes inequality according to several criteria: by the level of wealth and income, by the level of social prestige, by the level of political power, and also by some other criteria. It can be argued that all these types of hierarchy are significant for society, since they make it possible to regulate both the reproduction of social connections and direct the personal aspirations and ambitions of people to acquire statuses that are significant for society. After determining the basis of stratification, we move on to considering its vertical section. And here researchers are faced with the problem of divisions on the scale of social hierarchy. In other words, how many social layers need to be identified so that the stratification analysis of society is as complete as possible. The introduction of such a criterion as the level of wealth or income led to the fact that, in accordance with it, it was possible to distinguish a formally infinite number of segments of the population with different levels of well-being. And addressing the problem of socio-professional prestige gave grounds to make the stratification structure very similar to the socio-professional one.

Hierarchical system of modern society is devoid of rigidity, formally all citizens have equal rights, including the right to occupy any place in the social structure, to rise to the upper steps of the social ladder or to be “at the bottom.” The sharply increased social mobility, however, did not lead to the “erosion” of the hierarchical system. Society still maintains and protects its hierarchy.

Stability of society associated with the profile of social stratification. Excessive “stretching” of the latter is fraught with serious social cataclysms, uprisings, riots that bring chaos and violence, hindering the development of society, putting it on the brink of collapse. The thickening of the stratification profile, primarily due to the “truncation” of the apex of the cone, is a recurring phenomenon in the history of all societies. And it is important that it is carried out not through uncontrolled spontaneous processes, but through consciously pursued state policy.

Stability of the hierarchical structure society depends on the share and role of the middle layer or class. Occupying an intermediate position, the middle class plays a kind of connecting role between the two poles of the social hierarchy, reducing their opposition. The larger (in quantitative terms) the middle class, the more chances it has to influence state policy, the process of formation of fundamental values of society, the worldview of citizens, while avoiding the extremes inherent in opposing forces.

The presence of a powerful middle layer in the social hierarchy of many modern countries allows them to remain resilient despite occasional rising tensions among the poorest. This tension is “extinguished” not so much by the power of the repressive apparatus, but by the neutral position of the majority, generally satisfied with their position, confident in the future, feeling their strength and authority.

The “erosion” of the middle layer, which is possible during periods of economic crises, is fraught with serious shocks for society.

So, vertical cross-section of society mobile, its main layers can increase and decrease. This is due to many factors: declines in production, structural restructuring of the economy, the nature of the political regime, technological renewal and the emergence of new prestigious professions, etc. However, the stratification profile cannot “extend” indefinitely. The mechanism of redistribution of national wealth of power is automatically triggered in the form of spontaneous uprisings of the masses demanding the restoration of justice, or to avoid this, conscious regulation of this process is required. The stability of society can be ensured only through the creation and expansion of the middle layer. Taking care of the middle stratum is the key to the stability of society.

What is the stratification of society?

Psyche

Stratification is the arrangement of individuals and groups from top to bottom along horizontal layers (strata) based on inequality in income, level of education, amount of power, and professional prestige.
Stratification reflects social heterogeneity, stratification of society, dissimilarity social status its members and social groups, their social inequality.

Barcodaurus

Sociation is one of the main topics in sociology. This is the division of society into social layers (strata) by combining different social positions with approximately the same social status, reflecting the prevailing idea of social inequality, built vertically (social hierarchy), along its axis according to one or more stratification criteria (indicators of social status ) . In social stratification, a certain social distance is established between people (social positions) and unequal access of members of society to certain socially significant scarce resources is fixed by establishing social filters on the boundaries separating them. For example, social strata can be distinguished by levels of income, education, power, consumption, nature of work, and leisure time. The social strata identified in society are assessed according to the criterion of social prestige, which expresses the social attractiveness of certain positions. But in any case, social stratification is the result of more or less conscious activity (policy) of the ruling elites, who are extremely interested in imposing on society and legitimizing in it their own social ideas about the unequal access of society members to social benefits and resources. The simplest stratification model is dichotomous - dividing society into elites and masses. In the earliest, archaic society, the structuring of society into clans was carried out simultaneously with the establishment of social inequality between and within them. This is how those who are initiated into certain social practices (priests, elders, leaders) and the uninitiated - laymen (all other members of society, ordinary members of the community, fellow tribesmen) appear. Within them, society can further stratify if necessary. As society becomes more complex (structural), a parallel process occurs - the integration of social positions into a certain social hierarchy. This is how castes, estates, classes, etc. appear. Modern ideas about the stratification model that has developed in society are quite complex - multi-layered, multidimensional (carried out along several axes) and variable (allow for the existence of many, sometimes stratification models). The degree of freedom of social movement (mobility) from one social layer to another determines what kind of society it is - closed or open.

The term “stratification” entered sociology from geology, where it refers to the arrangement of layers of the earth. But people initially likened the social distances and partitions that existed between them to layers of the earth.

The division of society into strata is carried out on the basis of the inequality of social distances between them - the main property of stratification. Social strata are built vertically and in strict sequence according to indicators of well-being, power, education, leisure, and consumption.
“Stratification” is a term accepted in science, but the word “stratification” is more commonly used in everyday language.

Social stratification (brief definition) - social stratification, i.e. the division of the entire society into groups of the rich, wealthy, wealthy, poor and very poor, or beggars.

Stratification is the division of society into poor and rich, which constitute the two poles of society.

Polarization of society is a process when the distance between the poor and the rich increases greatly.

A class is a large social group that owns the means of production and occupies a certain place in the system social division labor and characterized by a specific method of generating income.

Underclass is the lowest layer of stratification (beggars).

Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation

All-Russian Correspondence Financial and Economic Institute

test

in the discipline "Sociology"

on the topic

"Social stratification of society"

Option No. 11

Performer: Khasanova M.V.

Specialty: F and K

Record book number: 04FFD41122

Head: Zainetdinov Sh.R.

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………….…………3

INTRODUCTION:

Considering the first question, I will reveal the essence of the structuring of society, I will give a definition of the concept of “stratification”, what social stratification is, what it reflects and what are the reasons for social stratification. What criteria are used for the location of strata.

Considering the types of stratification systems, I will reveal their content.

In answer to the second question, I will characterize Western sociological theories of social stratification: Marxist, functional significance, the concepts of the West German sociologist R. Dahrendorf, the French sociologist A. Touraine, the American sociologist A. Barber.

Setting out the third question, I will consider the concept of stratification, the problem of inequality, what is their view on the placement of layers in hierarchical subordination.

1 question.

The concept of social “stratification of society”. Reasons for social stratification. Types of stratification systems.

Stratification- this is a hierarchically organized structure of social inequality that exists in a certain society, in a certain historical period of time. Moreover, social inequality is reproduced in fairly stable forms as a reflection of the political, economic, cultural and normative structure of society. The existence of social differentiation can be taken as an axiom. However, an explanation of its nature, the foundations of historical evolution, and the relationships of specific forms remains one of the key problems of sociology.

Social stratification- this is a description of social inequality in society, its division into social strata according to income, the presence or absence of privileges, and lifestyle.

In the case of primitive society, the inequality was not so significant, and because of this, the phenomenon of stratification was almost absent. As society developed, inequality only grew and grew. In complex societies it has divided people by level of education, income, power. Arose castes, Then estates, not so long ago classes.

Term "stratification" originally the term was geological. There it serves to indicate the location of the Earth's layers along a vertical line. Sociology inherited this scheme and made the structure of society, like the structure of the Earth, placing the social strata of society also vertically. The basis for this structure is the so-called income ladder, where the poor have the lowest rung, the middle class of the population has the middle, and the rich have the top.

Inequality or stratification arose gradually, accompanying the emergence of human society. Its initial form was already present in the primitive mode. A tightening of stratification occurred during the creation of early states due to the creation of a new class - slaves
Slavery- this is the first historical system stratification. It arose in ancient times in China, Egypt, Babylon, Rome, Greece, etc. Slavery often deprived a person of any rights at all and bordered on extreme inequality.

Mitigation stratification occurred with the gradual liberalization of views. For example, during this period, in countries with the Hindu religion, a new division of society is created - to castes.

Castes represent social groups of which a person became a member only because he was born from representatives of a particular stratum (caste). Such a person was deprived for the rest of his life of the right to move to another caste from the one in which he was born. There are 4 main castes: peasants, merchants, warriors and priests. In addition to them, there are still about 5 thousand castes and subcastes.

All the best prestigious professions and privileged positions are held by the rich segment of the population. Usually their work is associated with mental activity and management of the lower parts of society. Their examples are presidents, kings, leaders, kings, political leaders, scientists, politicians, artists. They are the highest level in society.

IN modern society The middle class can be considered lawyers, qualified employees, teachers, doctors, as well as the middle and petty bourgeoisie. The lowest layer can be considered the poor, unemployed and unskilled workers. Between the middle and the lower, one class can still be distinguished, which often includes representatives of the working class.

Stratification of society occurs using several factors: income, wealth, power and prestige.

Income can be characterized as the amount of money that a family or a certain individual received over a certain period of time. Such money may include: wages, alimony, pensions, fees, etc.
Wealth - this is the possibility of owning property (movable and immovable), or having accumulated income in the form of cash. This is the main characteristic of all rich people. They can either work or not work in order to get their wealth, because the share of wages in their overall wealth is not large.
Power exercises the ability to impose one’s wishes without taking into account the will of others. In modern society, all power can be regulated by laws and traditions. People who have access to it can freely enjoy a wide range of all kinds of social benefits, have the right to make decisions that, in their opinion, are important for society, including laws (which are often beneficial to the upper class).
Prestige - this is the degree of respect in society for a particular profession. Based on these basis, aggregate socio-economic status is determined for the division of society. In another way, this can be called the place of a certain person in society.

There are many stratification criteria by which any society can be divided. Each of them is associated with special ways of determining and reproducing social inequality. The nature of social stratification and the way it is asserted in its unity form what we call a stratification system.

Below are NINE TYPES OF STRATIFICATION SYSTEMS, which can be used to describe any social organism, namely:

1.Physico-genetic 2.Slaveholding

3.Caste 4.Class

5.Etacratic 6.Social-professional

7.Class 8.Cultural-symbolic

9.Cultural-normative

PHYSICAL-GENETIC stratification system, which is based on the differentiation of social groups according to “natural”, socio-demographic characteristics. Here, the attitude towards a person or group is determined by their gender, age and the presence of certain physical qualities - strength, beauty, dexterity. Accordingly, the weaker, those with physical disabilities are considered defective here and occupy a degraded social position. Inequality is asserted in this case by the existence of the threat of physical violence or through its actual use, and then is reinforced in customs and rituals. Currently, deprived of its former meaning, it is still supported by military, sports and sexual-erotic propaganda.

The second stratification system - SLAVE - is also based on direct violence. But inequality here is determined not by physical, but by military-legal coercion. Social groups differ in the presence or absence of civil rights and property rights. At the same time, certain social groups are completely deprived of any civil and property rights and, moreover, along with things, they turn into an object of private property. Moreover, this position is most often inherited and, thus, consolidated in generations. Examples: this is ancient slavery, where the number of slaves sometimes exceeded the number of free citizens. The methods of reproducing the slave system are also quite diverse. Ancient slavery was maintained mainly through conquest.

The third type of stratification system is CASTE. It is based on ethnic differences, which, in turn, are reinforced by religious order and religious rituals. Each caste is a closed, as far as possible, endogamous group, which is assigned a clear place in the social hierarchy. This place appears as a result of the isolation of the special functions of each caste in the system of division of labor. There is a fairly clear list of occupations that members of this caste can engage in: priestly, military, agricultural occupations. The highest position is occupied by the caste of “ideologists” who possess a certain sacred knowledge. Since position in the caste system is inherited, opportunities for social mobility are extremely limited. And the more pronounced casteism is, the more closed a given society turns out to be.

The fourth type is represented by the CLASS stratification system. In this system, groups are distinguished by legal rights, which, in turn, are strictly related to their responsibilities and are directly dependent on these responsibilities. Moreover, by responsibilities we mean obligations to the state enshrined in law. Some classes are required to perform military or bureaucratic service, others are required to bear the “tax” in the form of taxes or labor obligations.

Some similarities with the class system are observed in the ETAK-RATIC society (from the French and Greek - “state power”). In it, differentiation between groups occurs, first of all, according to their position in power-state hierarchies (political, military, economic), according to the possibilities of mobilization and distribution of resources, as well as according to the privileges that these groups are able to derive from their positions of power. The degree of material well-being, the lifestyle of social groups, as well as the prestige they feel are associated here with the same formal ranks that they occupy in the corresponding power hierarchies. All other differences - demographic and religious-ethnic, economic and cultural - play a derivative role. The scale and nature of differentiation (the extent of power, the size of regulated property, the level of personal income, etc.) in an ethacratic system are under the control of the state bureaucracy. At the same time, hierarchies can be formally and legally established - through official Tables of Ranks, military regulations, assigning categories to state institutions - or they can remain outside the scope of state legislation (a good example is, for example, the system of the Soviet party nomenklatura, the principles of which are not spelled out not in any laws). Independence from legal formalization, the possibility of complete formal freedom of members of society (with the exception of dependence on the state), the absence of automatic inheritance of positions of power - also distinguish the ethacratic system from class divisions. The etacracy system is revealed with greater force, the more authoritarian the state government takes on.

Next comes the sixth, SOCIO-PROFESSIONAL stratification system. Within this system, groups are divided according to the content and conditions of their work. A special role is played by the qualification requirements for one or another professional role - the possession of relevant experience, skills and abilities. The approval and maintenance of hierarchical orders in this system is carried out with the help of qualification certificates (diplomas, licenses, patents), the effectiveness of which is supported by the power of the state or some other fairly powerful corporation (professional workshop). Moreover, these certificates are most often not inherited, although there are exceptions in history. Socio-professional division is one of the basic stratification systems, various examples of which can be found in any society with any developed division of labor. This is a structure of craft workshops medieval city and a rank grid in modern state industry, a system of attests and diplomas of education, scientific degrees and titles that open the way to qualified and prestigious jobs.

The essence of stratification processes

The formation of ideas about social stratification was a direct consequence of the development of the structural approach in sociology in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries, starting with O. Comte, K. Marx, G. Spencer and up to E. Durkheim and T. Parsons. Within the framework of this approach, the idea was formed that all relationships in society, be it intergroup or interpersonal interactions or stable connections, are of a ranked nature, that is, the individuals, groups, and communities connected by them are often part of social systems that differ in their ranking level. Moreover, such ranking is stable, and connections, accordingly, acquire an institutional character.

The first to seriously systematize the concepts that are key to the modern theory of social stratification (such concepts as “social mobility”, “unidimensional/multidimensional stratification”) was carried out by P. Sorokin. In addition, the theory of social stratification incorporated the concept of social classes of industrial society proposed by M. Weber; further development within the framework of the theory of social stratification, it received a structural-analytical direction in sociology; the concept was in demand social conflict(R. Dahrendorf, R. Collins).

The theory of social stratification has made it possible to significantly deepen the understanding of a number of key problems of social knowledge. At the same time, the theory of social stratification has been successfully used many times to study and describe societies that differ in their cultural traditions and levels of socio-economic and political development, which confirms its undeniable cognitive and general theoretical value.

The term “stratification” (from the Latin stratum - “layer”) was borrowed from geology, where it denotes a certain sequence of occurrence of rocks, each of which forms a layer related in a certain way to other layers. In sociology under social stratification It is understood that there are many social positions in society that differ in the degree of power and prestige, certain rights, responsibilities and privileges, and the amount of available material wealth. P. Sorokin defines social stratification as follows: “Social stratification is the differentiation of a given set of people (population) into classes in a hierarchical rank. It finds expression in the existence of higher and lower strata. Its basis and essence lies in the uneven distribution of rights and privileges, responsibilities and duties, the presence or absence of social values, power and influence” [Sorokin P. Man. Civilization. Society. – M., 1992. – P.302]. In other words, social stratification is a social stratification caused by the difference in the social positions occupied by individuals, which allow them to have access to a certain amount of sociocultural goods.

Individuals with similar positions in the distribution system sociocultural benefits, that is, those located at the same level of the social hierarchy, will constitute a certain social layer, or stratum. Thus, social stratum- is a collection of individuals who have similar positions in the system of social hierarchy of society. This similarity of social positions determines the similarity of socio-economic and cultural environment, in which there are representatives of one or another stratum. People who have received the same education, have the same level of income, grew up in similar socio-cultural conditions, and work in the same profession will most likely have much in common in their preferred lifestyle. That is why social layers, strata, classes are not only a theoretical model that covers people with the same social positions, but also a community of individuals with similar lifestyles, modes of behavior, cultural values, political and ideological beliefs that exist in reality.
To describe social heterogeneity, in addition to the concept of “social stratification,” more broad concept « social differentiation", which implies any - and not just rank - social differences. Thus, people who are interested in collecting insects are united by this common feature, but this feature has nothing to do with the process of social stratification (stratification). Representatives of any social groups and strata, representatives of different professions, which does not affect the social hierarchy in any way. The situation is completely different when we are dealing with an entomologist as a representative of a certain profession, that is specific type economic activity, which is included in common system social division of labor and occupies a certain position in hierarchy of professional statuses.

Social stratification scales

For effective description and analysis of stratification processes in modern societies, sociologists use four main scales of stratification:
- income;
- education;
- power;
- prestige.
These scales have a quantitative dimension; they can be used to describe the social position of both an individual member of society and entire social groups; In addition, with the help of stratification scales, you can create a kind of cross-section of the entire society, placing the entire composition of the population, divided into groups, on the appropriate scales in percentage terms. Individuals occupying similar positions on all scales of stratification constitute one stratum. Let us consider in more detail each of the scales proposed above.

Income - this is the amount of cash receipts of an individual or family per each member, per capita of a region or country for a certain period of time (month, year). Income is the amount of funds received in the form of wages, pensions, benefits, fees, deductions from profits, etc. When income exceeds expenses, funds accumulate (accumulation) and wealth is formed - accumulated income. Not only accumulated liquid assets can act as wealth. cash. Any liquid property is wealth: a house or other dwelling, a car, securities, clothing, etc.

Education measured by the number of years of education. For example, Primary School- 4 years, incomplete secondary - 9, secondary - 11, university - 4-6 and even 7 (in medical universities), postgraduate studies - 3-4, doctoral studies - 3 and, thus, a modern Ukrainian professor has more than 20 years of education behind him. Doctors have traditionally been trained for a long time. But besides the formal number of years of training, a significant, and sometimes even decisive, role is played by place training and its effectiveness (as evidenced, for example, by a certificate or diploma supplement). Graduates of similar specialties, but who studied at different universities, may informally have in the eyes of their social environment different level education. The same can be said about the effectiveness of education. In modern society, education as one of the stratification indicators undoubtedly plays a key role. For example, in the USA today the difference in income between people with and without higher education is 2 times or more.

Power formally measured by the number of people who are affected by the decision made by the individual. In a general sense, power refers to the ability to impose one's will on other people regardless of their wishes. For example, the decision of the President of Ukraine applies to all residents of the country, the decision of the rector - to students and teaching staff of the university, and parents - to their own children.

Prestige , unlike the three stratification scales discussed above, prestige is a subjective indicator; it does not lend itself to the same clear, formalized measurement. Prestige is respect for the social status of an individual, established in public opinion. As a rule, the prestige of a certain social position is determined intuitively, approximately. Moreover, in determining the prestige of a particular person’s position, a whole range of social indicators is always involved. But modern sociology, using special methods, can also measure prestige. For example, in the USA since 1947, the National Research Center public opinion periodically conducts surveys of ordinary Americans in order to determine the social prestige of various professions. The average results of these surveys as a whole make it possible to form a fairly objective picture of the distribution of the prestige of the main areas professional activity for this country.

The social role of stratification processes

What caused the emergence of social stratification? The natural basis of stratification processes is social connections and human interaction. Proponents of the theory of social stratification postulate unequal access to sociocultural benefits not only as a key point social development, but also as a natural result of self-organization of any social system. That is, if there is a society, then there is necessarily stratification as an obligatory attribute of the social system.

Uneven access to benefits provides the social system with the opportunity to stimulate the desire of individuals to engage in socially important activities and engage in socially significant interactions. Activities or interactions that are more in demand from the point of view of the public interest are encouraged to a greater extent than other types of activities or interactions.

For example, in a situation where society begins to feel a shortage of specialists in a certain specialty, this shortage may cause an increase in the wages of such specialists. In addition, the prestige of this specialty may increase (for example, due to the same increase in wages, or due to public awareness of the importance of this specialty). IN modern conditions Such social stimulation is experienced, for example, by specialties related to computer technology, the prestige and material support of which are significantly above the average level.
Thus, social stratification plays a regulatory and organizing role in the life of society, facilitating the adaptation of the social system to changes in the environment or its own structure. When a decision made by one individual or group certain conditions is a signal to action for the whole society, it becomes possible to mobilize all the necessary or at least available material, intellectual, cultural resources to solve a specific problem. This is especially evident during military clashes, natural disasters, and man-made disasters, when the situation requires an immediate and organized response. But even under normal conditions, coordinated interaction is impossible without clear social gradation. At the same time, one must understand that such a regulatory function is inherent in stratification processes in any - even the simplest or pre-modern - society.

Wherever society appears, it is always organized in a certain way, with stratification being one of the main factors of this organization. In all social systems there are individuals endowed with special rights or powers in certain situations (leader, interpreter of laws, military leader, shaman, priest or other cult minister), while other members of society, voluntarily or forcedly, are executors who embody the will of the leaders. The role of a leader can be played by both an individual (leader, tyrant, monarch) and a group (aristocracy, oligarchy, government). This hierarchy-based system can significantly improve efficiency. social interaction, the effectiveness of human activity. At the same time, one should not confuse the objective need for a social hierarchy to ensure the sustainable existence of a social system with all kinds of abuses of power (usurpation, dictatorship, tyranny).

From the above, we can conclude that the processes of social stratification in a time perspective provide the possibility of organizing and redistributing sociocultural resources. In this case, not only active device to changing conditions (by redistributing human, material and cultural resources), but also preservation society's own identity (by preserving the stratification system itself, which is based on the traditions, customs, norms, and values of a given society). Yes, the same one social problem different societies may decide completely differently. And these differences will be due precisely to the difference in the basic components of the culture of these societies. Consequently, we can conclude that the stratification processes of a particular original society have their own characteristics, among which their dynamism, normativity, and degree of polarization (opposition of some social strata to others) are of greatest importance. For example, in modern times in the countries of Western civilization, such consequences of stratification processes as class contradictions, national and religious conflicts very often took extreme forms. This was due not only to the objective severity of the social situation, but also to the cultural and historical characteristics of Western societies.

Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus

Educational institution

"BELARUSIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND RADIO ELECTRONICS"

Department of Humanities

Test

in Sociology

on the topic: “SOCIAL STRATIFICATION”

Completed by: student gr. 802402 Boyko E.N.

Option 19

The concept of social stratification. Sociological theories of social stratification.

Sources and factors of social stratification.

Historical types of social stratification. The role and significance of the middle class in modern society.

1. The concept of social stratification. Sociological theories of social stratification

The term “social stratification” itself was borrowed from geology, where it means the successive change of rock layers of different ages. But the first ideas about social stratification are found in Plato (he distinguishes three classes: philosophers, guards, farmers and artisans) and Aristotle (also three classes: “very wealthy”, “extremely poor”, “middle layer”). 1 The ideas of the theory of social stratification finally took shape at the end of the 18th century. thanks to the emergence of the method of sociological analysis.

Let us consider various definitions of the concept of “social stratification” and highlight its characteristic features.

Social stratification:

this is social differentiation and structuring of inequality between different social strata and population groups based on various criteria (social prestige, self-identification, profession, education, level and source of income, etc.);

these are hierarchically organized structures of social inequality that exist in any society; 3

a set of social strata arranged in a vertical order: poor-rich. 5

Thus, the essential features of social stratification are the concepts of “social inequality”, “hierarchy”, “system organization”, “vertical structure”, “layer, stratum”.

The basis of stratification in sociology is inequality, i.e. uneven distribution of rights and privileges, responsibilities and duties, power and influence.

Inequality and poverty are concepts closely related to social stratification. Inequality characterizes the uneven distribution of society's scarce resources - income, power, education and prestige - between different strata or segments of the population. The main measure of inequality is the amount of liquid assets. This function is usually performed by money (in primitive societies inequality was expressed in the number of small and large cattle, shells, etc.).

Poverty is not only a minimum income, but a special way of life and lifestyle, norms of behavior, stereotypes of perception and psychology passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, sociologists talk about poverty as a special subculture.

The essence of social inequality lies in the unequal access of different categories of the population to socially significant benefits, scarce resources, and liquid values. The essence of economic inequality is that a minority always owns the majority of national wealth, in other words, receives the highest incomes

The first to try to explain the nature of social stratification were K. Marx and M. Weber.

The first saw the cause of social stratification in the separation of those who own and manage the means of production and those who sell their labor. These two classes (bourgeoisie and proletariat) have different interests and oppose each other, the antagonistic relationship between them is built on exploitation. The basis for distinguishing classes is the economic system (the nature and method of production). With such a bipolar approach, there is no place for the middle class. It is interesting that the founder of the class approach, K. Marx, never gave a clear definition of the concept of “class”. The first definition of class in Marxist sociology was given by V.I. Lenin. Subsequently, this theory had a huge impact on the study of the social structure of Soviet society: the presence first of a system of two opposing classes, in which there was no place for the middle class with its function of coordinating interests, and then the “destruction” of the exploiting class and the “striving for universal equality” and, as follows from the definition of stratification, a classless society. However, in reality, equality was formal, and in Soviet society there were various social groups (nomenklatura, workers, intelligentsia).

M. Weber proposed a multidimensional approach, highlighting three dimensions to characterize classes: class (economic status), status (prestige) and party (power). It is these interrelated factors (through income, profession, education, etc.) that, according to Weber, underlie the stratification of society. Unlike K. Marx, for M. Weber class is an indicator only of economic stratification; it appears only where market relations arise. For Marx, the concept of class is historically universal.

Yet in modern sociology, the question of the existence and significance of social inequality, and, therefore, social stratification, occupies a central place. There are two main points of view: conservative and radical. Theories based on the conservative tradition (“inequality is a tool for solving the main problems of society”) are called functionalist. 6 Radical theories view social inequality as a mechanism of exploitation. The most developed is the conflict theory. 7

The functionalist theory of stratification was formulated in 1945 by K. Davis and W. Moore. Stratification exists due to its universality and necessity; society cannot do without stratification. Social order and integration require a certain degree of stratification. The stratification system makes it possible to fill all the statuses that form the social structure and develops incentives for the individual to perform the duties associated with their position. The distribution of material wealth, power functions and social prestige (inequality) depends on the functional significance of the position (status) of the individual. In any society there are positions that require specific abilities and training. Society must have certain benefits that are used as incentives for people to take positions and perform their respective roles. And also certain ways of unevenly distributing these benefits depending on the positions occupied. Functionally important positions should be rewarded accordingly. Inequality acts as an emotional stimulus. Benefits are built into the social system, so stratification is a structural feature of all societies. Universal equality would deprive people of the incentive to advance, the desire to make every effort to fulfill their duties. If incentives are insufficient and statuses are left unfilled, society falls apart. This theory has a number of shortcomings (it does not take into account the influence of culture, traditions, family, etc.), but is one of the most developed.

The theory of conflict is based on the ideas of K. Marx. Stratification of society exists because it benefits individuals or groups who have power over other groups. However, conflict is a common characteristic of human life that is not limited to economic relations. R. Dahrendorf 8 believed that group conflict is an inevitable aspect of social life. R. Collins, within the framework of his concept, proceeded from the belief that all people are characterized by conflict due to the antagonistic nature of their interests. 9 The concept is based on three basic principles: 1) people live in subjective worlds constructed by them; 2) people can have the power to influence or control an individual's subjective experience; 3) people often try to control the individual who opposes them.

The process and result of social stratification was also considered within the framework of the following theories:

distributive theory of classes (J. Meslier, F. Voltaire, J.-J. Rouseau, D. Diderot, etc.);

theory of production classes (R. Cantillon, J. Necker, A. Turgot);

theories of utopian socialists (A. Saint-Simon, C. Fourier, L. Blanc, etc.);

theory of classes based on social ranks (E. Tord, R. Worms, etc.);

racial theory (L. Gumplowicz);

multicriteria class theory (G. Schmoller);

theory of historical layers by W. Sombart;

organizational theory (A. Bogdanov, V. Shulyatikov);

multidimensional stratification model of A.I. Stronin;

One of the creators of the modern theory of stratification is P.A. Sorokin. He introduces the concept of “social space” as the totality of all social statuses of a given society, filled with social connections and relationships. The way of organizing this space is stratification. Social space is three-dimensional: each dimension corresponds to one of the three main forms (criteria) of stratification. Social space is described by three axes: economic, political and professional status. Accordingly, the position of an individual or group is described in this space using three coordinates. A set of individuals with similar social coordinates form a stratum. The basis of stratification is the uneven distribution of rights and privileges, responsibilities and duties, power and influence.

T.I. Zaslavskaya made a great contribution to solving practical and theoretical problems of stratification of Russian society. 10 In her opinion, the social structure of society is the people themselves, organized into various types of groups (layers, strata) and performing all those tasks in the system of economic relations. social roles, which the economy gives birth to, which it requires. It is these people and their groups that implement certain social policies, organize the development of the country, and make decisions. Thus, in turn, the social and economic position of these groups, their interests, the nature of their activities and relationships with each other influence the development of the economy.

2.Sources and factors of social stratification

What “orients” large social groups? It turns out that society has an unequal assessment of the meaning and role of each status or group. A plumber or a janitor is valued lower than a lawyer and a minister. Consequently, high statuses and the people who occupy them are better rewarded, have more power, the prestige of their occupation is higher, and the level of education should be higher. We get four main dimensions of stratification - income, power, education, prestige. These four dimensions exhaust the range of social benefits that people strive for. More precisely, not the benefits themselves (there may be many of them), but the channels of access to them. A house abroad, a luxury car, a yacht, a holiday in the Canary Islands, etc. - social benefits that are always in short supply (i.e. highly respected and inaccessible to the majority) and are acquired thanks to access to money and power, which, in turn, are achieved thanks to high education and personal qualities.

Thus, social structure arises from the social division of labor, and social stratification arises from the social distribution of the results of labor, i.e., social benefits.

The distribution is always unequal. This is how the arrangement of social strata arises according to the criterion of unequal access to power, wealth, education and prestige.

Let's imagine a social space in which the vertical and horizontal distances are not equal. This or roughly this is how P. Sorokin 11 thought about social stratification, the man who was the first in the world to give a complete theoretical explanation of the phenomenon, and who confirmed his theory with the help of enormous empirical material extending over the entire human history. Points in space are social statuses. The distance between the turner and the milling machine is one, it is horizontal, and the distance between the worker and the foreman is different, it is vertical. The master is the boss, the worker is the subordinate. They have different social ranks. Although the matter can be imagined in such a way that the master and the worker will be located at an equal distance from each other. This will happen if we consider both of them not as a boss and a subordinate, but only as workers performing different labor functions. But then we will move from the vertical to the horizontal plane.

Inequality of distances between statuses is the main property of stratification. It has four measuring rulers, or coordinate axes. All of them are located vertically and next to each other:

Education,

Prestige.

Income is measured in rubles or dollars that an individual (individual income) or a family (family income) receives over a certain period of time, say one month or year.

Education is measured by the number of years of education in a public or private school or university.

Power is not measured by the number of people affected by the decision you make (power is the ability to impose your will or decisions on other people regardless of their wishes). The decisions of the President of Russia apply to 147 million people, and the decisions of the foreman - to 7-10 people.

Three scales of stratification - income, education and power - have completely objective units of measurement: dollars, years, people. Prestige stands outside this series, since it is a subjective indicator. Prestige is respect for status established in public opinion.

Belonging to a stratum is measured by subjective and objective indicators:

subjective indicator - a feeling of belonging to a given group, identification with it;

objective indicators - income, power, education, prestige.

Thus, large fortune, high education, great power and high professional prestige - the necessary conditions so that a person can be classified as a higher stratum of society.

3. Historical types of social stratification. The role and significance of the middle class in modern society.

The ascribed status characterizes a rigidly fixed system of stratification, that is, a closed society in which the transition from one stratum to another is practically prohibited. Such systems include slavery, caste and class systems. The achieved status characterizes a flexible system of stratification, or an open society, where free transitions of people down and up the social ladder are allowed. Such a system includes classes (capitalist society). These are the historical types of stratification.

Stratification, that is, inequality in income, power, prestige and education, arose with the emergence of human society. It was found in its rudimentary form already in simple (primitive) society. With the advent of the early state - eastern despotism - stratification became stricter, and with the development of European society and the liberalization of morals, stratification softened. The class system is freer than caste and slavery, and the class system that replaced the class system has become even more liberal.

Slavery is historically the first system of social stratification. Slavery arose in ancient times in Egypt, Babylon, China, Greece, Rome and survived in a number of regions almost to the present day. It existed in the USA back in the 19th century. Slavery is an economic, social and legal form of enslavement of people, bordering on complete lack of rights and extreme inequality. It has evolved historically. The primitive form, or patriarchal slavery, and the developed form, or classical slavery, differ significantly. In the first case, the slave had all the rights of a younger family member: he lived in the same house with his owners, participated in public life, married free people, inherited the owner’s property. It was forbidden to kill him. At the mature stage, the slave was completely enslaved: he lived in a separate room, did not participate in anything, did not inherit anything, did not marry and had no family. It was allowed to kill him. He did not own property, but was himself considered the property of the owner (<говорящим орудием>).

Like slavery, the caste system characterizes society and rigid stratification. It is not as ancient as the slave system, closed and less widespread. While almost all countries went through slavery, of course, to varying degrees, castes were found only in India and partly in Africa. India is a classic example of a caste society. It arose on the ruins of the slave system in the first centuries of the new era.

Caste is a social group (stratum) in which a person owes membership solely by birth. He cannot move from one caste to another during his lifetime. To do this, he needs to be born again. The caste position of a person is fixed by the Hindu religion (it is now clear why castes are not widespread). According to its canons, people live more than one life. A person's previous life determines the nature of his new birth and the caste into which he falls - lower or vice versa.

In total, there are 4 main castes in India: Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants), Shudras (workers and peasants) - and about 5 thousand minor castes and subcastes. The untouchables (outcasts) stand out especially - they do not belong to any caste and occupy the lowest position. During industrialization, castes are replaced by classes. The Indian city is increasingly becoming class-based, while the village, in which 7/10 of the population lives, remains caste-based.

The form of stratification that precedes classes is estates. In the feudal societies that existed in Europe from the 4th to the 14th centuries, people were divided into classes.

Estate - social group having rights and obligations enshrined in custom or legal law and inheritable. A class system that includes several strata is characterized by a hierarchy expressed in the inequality of their position and privileges. The classic example of class organization was feudal Europe, where at the turn of the 14th - 15th centuries society was divided into the upper classes (nobility and clergy) and the unprivileged third class (artisans, merchants, peasants). And in the X - XIII centuries there were three main classes: the clergy, the nobility and the peasantry. In Russia, from the second half of the 18th century, the class division into nobility, clergy, merchants, peasantry and philistines (middle urban strata) was established. Estates were based on land ownership.

The rights and obligations of each class were secured by legal law and sanctified by religious doctrine. Membership in the estate was determined by inheritance. Social barriers between classes were quite strict, so social mobility existed not so much between, but within classes. Each estate included many strata, ranks, levels, professions, and ranks. Thus, only nobles could engage in public service. The aristocracy was considered a military class (knighthood).

The higher a class stood in the social hierarchy, the higher its status. In contrast to castes, inter-class marriages were fully tolerated, and individual mobility. A simple person could become a knight by purchasing a special permit from the ruler. Merchants acquired noble titles for money. As a relic, this practice has partially survived in modern England.

Belonging to a social stratum in slave-owning, caste and class-feudal societies was recorded officially - by legal or religious norms. In a class society, the situation is different: no legal documents regulate the individual’s place in the social structure. Every person is free to move, if he has ability, education or income, from one class to another.

Today sociologists offer different typologies of classes. One has seven, another has six, the third has five, etc. social strata. The first typology of US classes was proposed in the 40s of the 20th century by the American sociologist Lloyd Warner. It included six classes.

Today it has been replenished with another layer and in its final form it represents a seven-point scale.<аристократов по крови>Upper-high class includes who immigrated to America 200 years ago and over the course of many generations accumulated untold wealth. They are distinguished by a special way of life, high society manners, impeccable taste

and behavior.<новых богатых>The lower-upper class consists mainly of<аристократов по крови>.

, who had not yet managed to create powerful clans that seized the highest positions in industry, business, and politics. Typical representatives are a professional basketball player or a pop star, who receive tens of millions, but have no family history

The upper-middle class consists of the petty bourgeoisie and highly paid professionals: large lawyers, famous doctors, actors or television commentators. Their lifestyle is approaching high society, but they still cannot afford a fashionable villa in the most expensive resorts in the world and a rare collection of artistic rarities.

The middle-middle class represents the most massive stratum of a developed industrial society. It includes all well-paid employees, moderately paid professionals, in a word, people of intelligent professions, including teachers, teachers, and middle managers. This is the backbone of the information society and the service sector.

The lower-middle class consisted of low-level employees and skilled workers, who, by the nature and content of their work, gravitated toward mental rather than physical labor. A distinctive feature is a decent lifestyle. The upper-lower class includes medium- and low-skilled workers employed in mass production, in local factories, living in relative prosperity, but with a behavior pattern significantly different from the upper and middle classes. Distinctive features

The lower-lowest class consists of the inhabitants of basements, attics, slums and other places unsuitable for habitation. They have no or only primary education, most often survive by doing odd jobs or begging, and constantly feel an inferiority complex due to hopeless poverty and constant humiliation. They are usually called<социальным дном>, or underclass. Most often, their ranks are recruited from chronic alcoholics, former prisoners, homeless people, etc.

Term<верхний-высший класс>means the upper stratum of the upper class. In all two-part words, the first word denotes a stratum or layer, and the second - the class to which this layer belongs.<Верхний-низший класс>sometimes they call it what it is, and sometimes they designate it as the working class. In sociology, the criterion for classifying a person into a particular stratum is not only income, but also the amount of power, level of education and prestige of the occupation, which presuppose a specific lifestyle and style of behavior. You can earn a lot, but spend all the money ineptly or drink it away. It is not only the income of money that is important, but also its expenditure, and this is already a way of life.

The working class in modern post-industrial society includes two layers: lower-middle and upper-lower. All intellectual workers, no matter how little they earn, are never classified in the lower class.

The middle class (with its inherent layers) is always distinguished from the working class. But the working class is also distinguished from the lower class, which may include the unemployed, the unemployed, the homeless, the poor, etc. As a rule, highly skilled workers are included not in the working class, but in the middle, but in its lowest stratum, which is filled mainly by low-skilled mental workers - office workers.

The middle class is a unique phenomenon in world history. Let's put it this way: it has not existed throughout human history. It appeared only in the 20th century. In society it performs a specific function. The middle class is the stabilizer of society. The greater it is, the less likely it is that society will be shaken by revolutions, ethnic conflicts, and social cataclysms. The middle class separates two opposite poles, poor and rich, and does not allow them to collide. The thinner the middle class, the closer the polar points of stratification are to each other, the more likely they are to collide. And vice versa.

The middle class is the widest consumer market for small and medium-sized businesses. The more numerous this class is, the more confidently a small business stands on its feet. As a rule, the middle class includes those who have economic independence, i.e. own an enterprise, firm, office, private practice, their business, scientists, priests, doctors, lawyers, middle managers, the petty bourgeoisie - the social “backbone” of society.

What is the middle class? From the term itself it follows that it has a middle position in society, but its other characteristics are important, primarily qualitative. Note that the middle class itself is internally heterogeneous; it is divided into such layers as the upper middle class (it includes managers, lawyers, doctors, representatives of medium-sized businesses who have high prestige and large incomes), the middle middle class (small business owners , farmers), lower middle class (office staff, teachers, nurses, salesmen). The main thing is that the numerous layers that make up the middle class and are characterized by a fairly high standard of living have a very strong and sometimes decisive influence on the adoption of certain economic and political decisions, in general on the policies of the ruling elite, which cannot but listen to "voice" of the majority. The middle class largely, if not completely, shapes the ideology of Western society, its morality, and typical way of life. Let us note that a complex criterion is applied to the middle class: its involvement in power structures and influence on them, income, prestige of the profession, level of education. It is important to emphasize the last of the terms of this multidimensional criterion. Due to the high level of education of numerous representatives of the middle class of modern Western society, their inclusion in power structures at various levels, high incomes and the prestige of the profession are ensured.

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