Notes: Stratification & Mobility Concepts | Sociology Mains Optional for UPSC 2024 PDF Download

 Page 1


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
5. Stratification and Mobility: 
 
a. Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation. 
 
  
Page 2


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
5. Stratification and Mobility: 
 
a. Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation. 
 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
EQUALITY: Emergence of Sociology. French Revolution. LEF. 
Literally means being identical but in social sciences, it has complex meaning because people have 
diversity (biological, social, economic, psychological etc). Equality has developed through various 
stages, primarily after rise of capitalism) 
- Equality before law 
- Political equality 
- Universal adult suffrage 
- Socio economic equality 
- Gender equality 
 
Peter Saunders distinguishes between three types of equality  
1) Formal equality (all members of society are subjected to same laws and rules but that does 
not imply that everybody ends up in the same position) 
2) Equality of opportunity (people have equal chance to become unequal i.e. meritocracy) 
3) Equality of outcome (Marxist idea- equal reward for any work ex affirmative action) 
 
Dalton Conley - You May Ask Yourself; 
Ontological Equality  
John Locke 
“All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights".  
 
Equality of condition  
The idea that everyone should have an equal starting point. 
 
Equality of outcome  
"The goals should not be the liberal one of equality of access but equality of outcome for the 
median number of each identifiable non-educationally defined group, i.e. the average women, 
Negro, or proletarian or rural dweller should have the same level of educational attainment as the 
average male, white, suburbanite". 
 
Louis Dumont – 
In India – Homo Hierarchicus  
West – Homo Equillus 
 
Karl  Marx – 
Capitalism brings inequality. Communism will have equality. 
  
Page 3


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
5. Stratification and Mobility: 
 
a. Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation. 
 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
EQUALITY: Emergence of Sociology. French Revolution. LEF. 
Literally means being identical but in social sciences, it has complex meaning because people have 
diversity (biological, social, economic, psychological etc). Equality has developed through various 
stages, primarily after rise of capitalism) 
- Equality before law 
- Political equality 
- Universal adult suffrage 
- Socio economic equality 
- Gender equality 
 
Peter Saunders distinguishes between three types of equality  
1) Formal equality (all members of society are subjected to same laws and rules but that does 
not imply that everybody ends up in the same position) 
2) Equality of opportunity (people have equal chance to become unequal i.e. meritocracy) 
3) Equality of outcome (Marxist idea- equal reward for any work ex affirmative action) 
 
Dalton Conley - You May Ask Yourself; 
Ontological Equality  
John Locke 
“All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights".  
 
Equality of condition  
The idea that everyone should have an equal starting point. 
 
Equality of outcome  
"The goals should not be the liberal one of equality of access but equality of outcome for the 
median number of each identifiable non-educationally defined group, i.e. the average women, 
Negro, or proletarian or rural dweller should have the same level of educational attainment as the 
average male, white, suburbanite". 
 
Louis Dumont – 
In India – Homo Hierarchicus  
West – Homo Equillus 
 
Karl  Marx – 
Capitalism brings inequality. Communism will have equality. 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
INEQUALITY:  Emergence of Sociology. French Revolution. LEF. 
Every society has differences which can be natural/ biological (race, colour, height, sex) or social 
(occupation, education, recognition) 
Differences  ? value attachment (superiority/desirability/preferability)  ? Inequalities 
 
- Inequalities can be present at level of individuals/ groups or at whole society (For ex 
fairness) 
- Understanding pattern of inequalities in terms of strata is known as social stratification. It is 
a mental construct. 
- Inequality is not a problem in itself but when certain rewards and punishments 
(discrimination/ exploitation) are attached to it, perpetuation of strata starts.  
 
Process of social stratification involves four stages  
(journey from natural differences to patterned inequalities) 
1) Differentiation (existence of differences which can be perceived by people) 
2) Ranking (elementary ranking through comparison) 
3) Evaluation (attaching values to a stratum at collective level) 
4) Rewarding (rewards like discrimination and after that system becomes self-perpetuating) 
 
Andre Beteille –  
Inequality of stratification can exist in two ways  
- Cumulative (when 3 types of rewards overlap i.e. one group enjoys wealth, prestige and 
power) 
- Dispersed (ex Rajput have power but Brahmins have higher status) 
 
GERHARD LENSKI: 
- Status inconsistency: individual or a group has high status in one criterion but low on other 
- Status crystallisation: similarly placed on all axis. For ex Dalits are low in all. 
Status inconsistencies lead to conflicts not status crystallisation. 
 
ANDRE BETEILLE: 
- Harmonic system: where norms/values of society advocate/ legitimize inequalities ex 
ancient India caste system and Hinduism; conflicts do not occur. 
- Disharmonic system: modern India, constitutional norms prescribe equality but inequality 
is rising; leads to conflict. 
 
Louis Dumont – 
In India – Homo Hierarchicus  
Inequality is not opposite to equality, it is a way of life. It brings dependence.  
 
Karl  Marx – Capitalism brings inequality. Communism will have equality. 
 
Feminists –  Major source of inequality is Patriarchy. 
 
Multicultural nations thrive when views of one community are not considered superior over views of 
another. 
Durkheim – Uniformity is not equality. 
Page 4


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
5. Stratification and Mobility: 
 
a. Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation. 
 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
EQUALITY: Emergence of Sociology. French Revolution. LEF. 
Literally means being identical but in social sciences, it has complex meaning because people have 
diversity (biological, social, economic, psychological etc). Equality has developed through various 
stages, primarily after rise of capitalism) 
- Equality before law 
- Political equality 
- Universal adult suffrage 
- Socio economic equality 
- Gender equality 
 
Peter Saunders distinguishes between three types of equality  
1) Formal equality (all members of society are subjected to same laws and rules but that does 
not imply that everybody ends up in the same position) 
2) Equality of opportunity (people have equal chance to become unequal i.e. meritocracy) 
3) Equality of outcome (Marxist idea- equal reward for any work ex affirmative action) 
 
Dalton Conley - You May Ask Yourself; 
Ontological Equality  
John Locke 
“All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights".  
 
Equality of condition  
The idea that everyone should have an equal starting point. 
 
Equality of outcome  
"The goals should not be the liberal one of equality of access but equality of outcome for the 
median number of each identifiable non-educationally defined group, i.e. the average women, 
Negro, or proletarian or rural dweller should have the same level of educational attainment as the 
average male, white, suburbanite". 
 
Louis Dumont – 
In India – Homo Hierarchicus  
West – Homo Equillus 
 
Karl  Marx – 
Capitalism brings inequality. Communism will have equality. 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
INEQUALITY:  Emergence of Sociology. French Revolution. LEF. 
Every society has differences which can be natural/ biological (race, colour, height, sex) or social 
(occupation, education, recognition) 
Differences  ? value attachment (superiority/desirability/preferability)  ? Inequalities 
 
- Inequalities can be present at level of individuals/ groups or at whole society (For ex 
fairness) 
- Understanding pattern of inequalities in terms of strata is known as social stratification. It is 
a mental construct. 
- Inequality is not a problem in itself but when certain rewards and punishments 
(discrimination/ exploitation) are attached to it, perpetuation of strata starts.  
 
Process of social stratification involves four stages  
(journey from natural differences to patterned inequalities) 
1) Differentiation (existence of differences which can be perceived by people) 
2) Ranking (elementary ranking through comparison) 
3) Evaluation (attaching values to a stratum at collective level) 
4) Rewarding (rewards like discrimination and after that system becomes self-perpetuating) 
 
Andre Beteille –  
Inequality of stratification can exist in two ways  
- Cumulative (when 3 types of rewards overlap i.e. one group enjoys wealth, prestige and 
power) 
- Dispersed (ex Rajput have power but Brahmins have higher status) 
 
GERHARD LENSKI: 
- Status inconsistency: individual or a group has high status in one criterion but low on other 
- Status crystallisation: similarly placed on all axis. For ex Dalits are low in all. 
Status inconsistencies lead to conflicts not status crystallisation. 
 
ANDRE BETEILLE: 
- Harmonic system: where norms/values of society advocate/ legitimize inequalities ex 
ancient India caste system and Hinduism; conflicts do not occur. 
- Disharmonic system: modern India, constitutional norms prescribe equality but inequality 
is rising; leads to conflict. 
 
Louis Dumont – 
In India – Homo Hierarchicus  
Inequality is not opposite to equality, it is a way of life. It brings dependence.  
 
Karl  Marx – Capitalism brings inequality. Communism will have equality. 
 
Feminists –  Major source of inequality is Patriarchy. 
 
Multicultural nations thrive when views of one community are not considered superior over views of 
another. 
Durkheim – Uniformity is not equality. 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
EXCLUSION 
Refers to ways in which individuals or groups become cut off from wider society.  
It leads to deprivation hindering full development.  
 
Exclusion is a wider concept i.e. a person may be rich yet excluded ex Corrupt businessman or poor 
but not excluded ex priest.  
 
Exclusion is not limited to minimum survival needs like food shelter and clothing but may include 
political participation, access to education, health, sanitation etc. 
 
Exclusion in modern times 
- Economic (Modern: rural urban divide, unequal wages, proper housing, slums, absolute 
poverty, market unaffordability)  
- Political (lack of accountability, lack of voice, dynastic polity) 
- Social (gender bias, transgender, educational inequality, old age) 
- Digital 
 
Karl Marx- Alienation is exclusion. At 4 levels (Peers, Product, Process, Self). 
Herbert Marcuse – One Dimensional Man 
 
Deliberate Exclusion 
Celebrities 
Merton – For becomimg part of some reference group. 
GS Ghurye – Sadhus. 
 
Collective vs Individual Exclusion 
 
International Angle –  
Deliberate - Countries like North Korea or Countries with Sanctions (like Iran, Russia) 
Structural – Poor African Nations,  
Institutional - Non-Permanent members of UN. 
 
Amartya Sen – 
Active or Passive Exclusion 
Active - Their rights are deliberately denied by states. Example – Caste System, Migrants, Refugees. 
Passive – No deliberate attempt is made to exclude from society but because of the structure of the 
society it happens. Example – Poverty. 
 
BR Ambedkar- Understood social exclusion as domination of one caste, example Priestly class. 
 
Steps to break exclusion 
- RTE 
- MNREGA 
- Reservation 
- Article 17 (Untouchability ban) 
 
  
Page 5


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
5. Stratification and Mobility: 
 
a. Concepts- equality, inequality, hierarchy, exclusion, poverty and deprivation. 
 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
EQUALITY: Emergence of Sociology. French Revolution. LEF. 
Literally means being identical but in social sciences, it has complex meaning because people have 
diversity (biological, social, economic, psychological etc). Equality has developed through various 
stages, primarily after rise of capitalism) 
- Equality before law 
- Political equality 
- Universal adult suffrage 
- Socio economic equality 
- Gender equality 
 
Peter Saunders distinguishes between three types of equality  
1) Formal equality (all members of society are subjected to same laws and rules but that does 
not imply that everybody ends up in the same position) 
2) Equality of opportunity (people have equal chance to become unequal i.e. meritocracy) 
3) Equality of outcome (Marxist idea- equal reward for any work ex affirmative action) 
 
Dalton Conley - You May Ask Yourself; 
Ontological Equality  
John Locke 
“All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights".  
 
Equality of condition  
The idea that everyone should have an equal starting point. 
 
Equality of outcome  
"The goals should not be the liberal one of equality of access but equality of outcome for the 
median number of each identifiable non-educationally defined group, i.e. the average women, 
Negro, or proletarian or rural dweller should have the same level of educational attainment as the 
average male, white, suburbanite". 
 
Louis Dumont – 
In India – Homo Hierarchicus  
West – Homo Equillus 
 
Karl  Marx – 
Capitalism brings inequality. Communism will have equality. 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
INEQUALITY:  Emergence of Sociology. French Revolution. LEF. 
Every society has differences which can be natural/ biological (race, colour, height, sex) or social 
(occupation, education, recognition) 
Differences  ? value attachment (superiority/desirability/preferability)  ? Inequalities 
 
- Inequalities can be present at level of individuals/ groups or at whole society (For ex 
fairness) 
- Understanding pattern of inequalities in terms of strata is known as social stratification. It is 
a mental construct. 
- Inequality is not a problem in itself but when certain rewards and punishments 
(discrimination/ exploitation) are attached to it, perpetuation of strata starts.  
 
Process of social stratification involves four stages  
(journey from natural differences to patterned inequalities) 
1) Differentiation (existence of differences which can be perceived by people) 
2) Ranking (elementary ranking through comparison) 
3) Evaluation (attaching values to a stratum at collective level) 
4) Rewarding (rewards like discrimination and after that system becomes self-perpetuating) 
 
Andre Beteille –  
Inequality of stratification can exist in two ways  
- Cumulative (when 3 types of rewards overlap i.e. one group enjoys wealth, prestige and 
power) 
- Dispersed (ex Rajput have power but Brahmins have higher status) 
 
GERHARD LENSKI: 
- Status inconsistency: individual or a group has high status in one criterion but low on other 
- Status crystallisation: similarly placed on all axis. For ex Dalits are low in all. 
Status inconsistencies lead to conflicts not status crystallisation. 
 
ANDRE BETEILLE: 
- Harmonic system: where norms/values of society advocate/ legitimize inequalities ex 
ancient India caste system and Hinduism; conflicts do not occur. 
- Disharmonic system: modern India, constitutional norms prescribe equality but inequality 
is rising; leads to conflict. 
 
Louis Dumont – 
In India – Homo Hierarchicus  
Inequality is not opposite to equality, it is a way of life. It brings dependence.  
 
Karl  Marx – Capitalism brings inequality. Communism will have equality. 
 
Feminists –  Major source of inequality is Patriarchy. 
 
Multicultural nations thrive when views of one community are not considered superior over views of 
another. 
Durkheim – Uniformity is not equality. 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
EXCLUSION 
Refers to ways in which individuals or groups become cut off from wider society.  
It leads to deprivation hindering full development.  
 
Exclusion is a wider concept i.e. a person may be rich yet excluded ex Corrupt businessman or poor 
but not excluded ex priest.  
 
Exclusion is not limited to minimum survival needs like food shelter and clothing but may include 
political participation, access to education, health, sanitation etc. 
 
Exclusion in modern times 
- Economic (Modern: rural urban divide, unequal wages, proper housing, slums, absolute 
poverty, market unaffordability)  
- Political (lack of accountability, lack of voice, dynastic polity) 
- Social (gender bias, transgender, educational inequality, old age) 
- Digital 
 
Karl Marx- Alienation is exclusion. At 4 levels (Peers, Product, Process, Self). 
Herbert Marcuse – One Dimensional Man 
 
Deliberate Exclusion 
Celebrities 
Merton – For becomimg part of some reference group. 
GS Ghurye – Sadhus. 
 
Collective vs Individual Exclusion 
 
International Angle –  
Deliberate - Countries like North Korea or Countries with Sanctions (like Iran, Russia) 
Structural – Poor African Nations,  
Institutional - Non-Permanent members of UN. 
 
Amartya Sen – 
Active or Passive Exclusion 
Active - Their rights are deliberately denied by states. Example – Caste System, Migrants, Refugees. 
Passive – No deliberate attempt is made to exclude from society but because of the structure of the 
society it happens. Example – Poverty. 
 
BR Ambedkar- Understood social exclusion as domination of one caste, example Priestly class. 
 
Steps to break exclusion 
- RTE 
- MNREGA 
- Reservation 
- Article 17 (Untouchability ban) 
 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
https://testseries.sleepyclasses.com/ 
Sleepy Classes 
POVERTY AND DEPRIVATION 
 
In writings of Sir John Sinclair and FM Eden – Poverty is a social problem. 
 
Poverty is a relative condition of absence of some desirable component in society. 
Mostly, the term is used in an economic sense. A condition of lacking vital resources- is often 
qualified as relative and absolute. 
 
Absolute poverty - means lacking the truly basic necessities for living- food, water, shelter. 
Relative poverty - on the other hand, means lacking those things which most people in the 
society possess. 
It is a matter of debate if poverty is a result of social divisions and hierarchies or vice versa. 
Multi Dimensional Poverty – The social aspects of poverty may include lack of access to 
information, education, health care, social capital or political power. 
 
Lack of intangible assets that cause poverty – like access to credit, social capital, cultural capital, 
political capital, and human capital. 
 
Max Weber - cultural values could affect economic success. 
 
Great Smoky Mountains Study (a ten-year Longitudinal study) – Counter evidence - changing 
economic opportunities explain most of the movement into and out of poverty, as opposed to 
shifts in values. 
 
Merton - In modern societies, poverty is generally relational of which he talks about in his 
reference group theory.  
 
Marx - Pauperization, by which he means increasing mismatch between exchange value of 
labour and use value of labour.  
 
Functional perspective endorses to such inequalities & calls it a social necessity. 
 
Condition of poverty generally entails  
- Lack of opportunities  
- Lack of mobility 
- even in most open of societies 
 
Oscar Lewis – Culture of Poverty - the poor are not only lacking resources but also acquire a 
poverty-perpetuating value system. Happens because of the worldview, aspirations, and 
character of the children who grow up in it. 
 
Feminisation of Poverty – Diane Pearce –  
Women represent disproportionate percentages of the worold poor. Not a consequence of lack 
of income. But deprivation of capabilities and gender biases.  
Reasons –  
- Labour Market inequalities 
- Lack of Income 
- Gap of Income 
- Men migrate, leaving single women household behind 
- Inequality in the access to public services or in their quality