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Sociology Write short notes.

Social Stratification · Maharashtra Board STD 11 Commerce / Arts (MSBSHSE - English Medium). 6 questions.

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Question 14 Marks
Types of mobility.
Answer
1. Horizontal Mobility : It refers to change of residence or job without status change. Under this type of social mobility, a person changes one’s occupation but the overall social standing remains the same. Certain occupation like doctor, engineer and teacher may enjoy the same status but when an engineer changes one’s occupation from engineer to teaching engineering there is a horizontal shift from one occupational category to another but no change has taken place in the system of social stratification.

2. Vertical Mobility : Vertical mobility refers to any change in the occupational, economic, political status of an individual or a group which leads to change of their position. Vertical Mobility stands for change of social position, either upward or downward.

3. Intergenerational Mobility : This type of mobility means that one generation changes its social status in contrast to the previous generation. However, this mobility may be upward or downward. For e.g., people of lower caste or class may provide facilities to their children to get higher education, training and skills, with the help of which the younger generation may get employment in higher position.

4. Intragenerational Mobility : This type of mobility takes place in the lifespan of one generation. A person may start one’s career as a clerk and after acquiring more education, becomes an IFS Officer. Here the individual moves up and occupies a higher social position than previously.

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Question 24 Marks
Characteristics of caste according to Dr. G.S. Ghurye.
Answer
Dr. G.S. Ghurye a well known Sociologist and Indologist defines caste in terms of its essential characteristics. They are as follows:
1.Segmental division by society : Society is divided into various castes. The membership of castes are determined by birth. Therefore, mobility from one caste to another is impossible.

2. Hierarchy: Castes or segments are arranged in terms of hierarchy. According to Dr. Ghurye, castes are graded and arranged into a hierarchy on the basis of the concept of ‘purity and pollution’.

3. Restriction on feeding and social intercourse : This fact of separation is reinforced by the notion of ‘purity and pollution’. Each caste imposes restrictions on its members with regard to food and social intercourse.

4. Differential civil and religious privileges and disabilities : In a caste society there is an unequal distribution of privileges and disabilities among its members. The higher castes enjoy all privileges and lower caste suffer from all kinds of disabilities.

5. Lack of unrestricted choice of occupation : Choice of occupation is not free under caste system. Occupations are hereditary and the members of the caste are expected to follow their traditional occupation.

6. Endogamy : Endogamy is the essence of caste system. Every caste of sub-caste insists that its member should marry within the group.

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Question 34 Marks
Principles of social stratification.
Answer
  1. Stratification is social: Social stratification is not determined by biological differences but it is governed by social norms and sanctions.
  2. Social stratification persists over generations : In all society’s parents confer their social status on their children. Thus, the pattern of inequality stays same from generation to generation.
  3. Social stratification is universal but variable : Social stratification is found everywhere. At the same time the nature of inequality varies. ‘What’ is unequal and ‘how’ unequal, changes within the context of a society.
  4. Social stratification involves inequality : Any stratified system not only gives people more resources but also justifies this arrangement and defines them as fair.
  5. Social stratification is consequential : Stratification affects every aspect of life of all individuals. Social life is affected because of the position of an individual in the social hierarchy. Some experience positive consequences, while others face negative consequence of the hierarchy in a particular society.
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Question 44 Marks
Characteristics of class.
Answer
1. Wealth and Income: Possession of substantial amounts of wealth is the main characteristics distinguishing the upper class from the other class groups in society. Persons having more wealth and income generally have higher social position and respect in society.
2. Occupation : Occupation is an exceedingly important aspect of social class. It is another determinant of class status. It is a well known fact that some kinds of work are more honourable than others, e.g., doctors, engineers, administrators, professors and lawyers hold a higher position than people who are in labour-intensive professions.
3. Education : There is a close reciprocal relationship between social class and education. Higher education gives opportunities for upward mobility. Thus education, is one of the main levers of social class.
4. Prestige : It refers to the respect and administration with which an occupation is regarded by society. Besides wealth, occupation and education, there are certain other criteria which help a person to gain prestige and subsequent higher social status in the society, e.g., family background, kinship, place of residence, etc.
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Question 54 Marks
Types of social stratification.
Answer
Social stratification is of two types – Closed stratification and Open stratification.
1. Closed stratification is one in which individuals or groups do not enjoy the freedom of changing their social strata. The individual who gets a social strata by birth can never change it in one’s lifetime. In this type of social stratification there is no scope for social mobility. Example – The Varna system and the caste system in India are examples of closed stratification.
2. Open stratification is one in which individuals or groups enjoy the freedom of changing their social strata, i.e., in this type of social stratification there is scope for social mobility. Example – The class system in modern industrial society is an example of open stratification, The criteria of open stratification are power, property, intelligence, skills, etc.
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Question 64 Marks
Gender stratification.
Answer
1. Gender stratification refers to social ranking, where men typically inhabit higher statuses than women. A common general definition of gender stratification refers to the unequal distribution of wealth, power and privilege between the two sexes.
2. Throughout the world, most societies allocate fewer resources to women than men. Almost all societies are characterized by sexism. Sexism is the belief that one sex is superior than the other.
3. Although, societies have been believing in the superiority of men over women and therefore have been dominating women. This male dominance is supported further by patriarchy.
4. The process of socialization is gendered and creates gender hierarchy. E.g., Boys are given toy cars or legs sets or bat and ball to play whereas girls are given household sets, medical sets, dolls, etc.
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