👑

👤

The Stratification Machine

Inequality • Class • Caste • Status • Power • Mobility • Exclusion

Core Question

WHY ARE PEOPLE LOCATED IN UNEQUAL SOCIAL POSITIONS?

Societies distribute resources, opportunities, status, power and prestige unequally. These inequalities can become structured, reproduced, justified, challenged and transformed.

The Learning Arc

DIFFERENCE

→

INEQUALITY

→

HIERARCHY

→

STRATIFICATION

→

POWER

→

PRIVILEGE

→

EXCLUSION

→

REPRODUCTION

→

MOBILITY

→

TRANSFORMATION

The Inequality Matrix

Ontology of Social Positions & Power

06.01

Social Differentiation

Social differences & Categories
Role, Occupational, Age, Gender
Difference ≠ Inequality
Inequality ≠ Stratification

06.02

Social Inequality

👤

💰

Unequal distribution of resources
Income, Wealth, Education, Health
Status, Prestige, Power
Opportunities & Life chances

06.03

Social Stratification

Structured, institutionalized inequality
Hierarchy and Layering of social positions
Durability → Transmission → Reproduction

06.04

Systems of Stratification

⛓️

🏰

🔒

🪜

Slavery & Estate systems
Caste & Class systems
Status, Racial, Ethnic, Gender hierarchies

06.05

Social Class

👤

👔

Economic class (Property, Occupation, Income)
Class position & Life chances
Class consciousness & culture

06.06

Marx & Class

🔨

🎩

Bourgeoisie vs Proletariat
Relations of production & Exploitation
Alienation & Surplus value
Mode → Relations → Conflict → Change

06.07

Weber & Stratification

💰

👑

🚩

Class (Economic) + Status (Social) + Party (Power)
Life chances & Market position
Social closure & Authority

06.08

Status & Prestige

👑

Honour and Recognition
Status groups & Hierarchy
Status inconsistency & Symbols
Lifestyle distinction

06.09

Caste

🔒

Varna and Jati
Hierarchy & Hereditary membership
Endogamy & Occupational association
Purity, pollution & social distance

06.10

Caste in India

Dominant caste & Caste councils
Sanskritization & Westernization
Caste mobility, identity & politics
Discrimination & Untouchability

06.11

Class ↔ Caste

🔒

Overlap, difference, and interaction
Economic position vs Social status
Do not reduce caste to class.
Transformation of boundaries

06.12

Power

👤

✊

👤

Capacity to influence outcomes
Domination, Coercion, Consent
Political, Economic, Social power
Symbolic power

06.13

Authority

👑

→

Traditional, Charismatic, Legal-rational
Legitimacy & Obedience
Bureaucracy
Links to Realm 05: Institutions

06.14

Privilege

🚶

Unearned & Institutional advantage
Social, Economic, Cultural privilege
Gender, Class, Caste privilege

06.15

Social Exclusion

Marginalization, Discrimination, Stigma
Segregation & Spatial exclusion
Educational, Political, Digital exclusion

06.16

Poverty

Absolute vs Relative poverty
Multidimensional deprivation (Material/Social/Capability)
Working & Intergenerational poverty

06.17

Wealth & Income

Income vs Wealth (Property, Assets, Debt)
Economic security & Inequality
Intergenerational wealth transfer

06.18

Life Chances

✦

Access to education, health, employment
Housing & Social security
Intergenerational mobility outcomes

06.19

Social Mobility

Vertical, Horizontal, Upward, Downward
Intergenerational vs Intragenerational
Structural & Exchange mobility
Open System: greater movement
Closed System: stronger barriers

06.20

Social Closure

Monopolization & Exclusion
Boundary maintenance (Credential/Caste)
Occupational & Professional closure

06.21

Gender Stratification

♂

♀

Patriarchy & Gender division of labour
Wage, Property, Political inequality
Care work, Unpaid labour, Glass ceiling
Links to Realm 12

06.22

Racial & Ethnic

Race, Ethnicity, Racialization
Discrimination & Segregation
Majority-minority relations

06.23

Intersectionality

Multiple identities & Overlapping inequalities
Class + Caste + Gender + Race
Intersecting advantages and disadvantages

06.24

Social Reproduction

Intergenerational transmission of resources
Economic, Cultural, Social, Symbolic capital
Habitus, Field, Distinction (Bourdieu)

06.25

Ideology & Legitimation

Justification of inequality (Meritocracy)
Naturalization & Cultural beliefs
Dominant ideas, Symbolic power, Hegemony

06.26

Elites

Political, Economic, Bureaucratic, Cultural
Power elite & Elite reproduction
Circulation of elites (Pareto)

06.27

Discrimination

👤

Prejudice & Stereotype
Direct vs Indirect discrimination
Institutional & Structural discrimination
Systemic inequality

06.28

Equality & Justice

Equality vs Equity
Redistribution, Recognition, Inclusion
Equal opportunity & Substantive equality

06.29

Affirmative Action

👤

Positive discrimination & Reservations
Addressing historical disadvantage
SC/ST/OBC representation in India
Debates surrounding access and opportunity

06.30

Digital Society Stratification

👤

Digital divide & Access inequality
Algorithmic inequality & Data power
Digital capital & Online visibility
Economic inequality → Digital opportunity

THE STRATIFICATION MAP

CLASS
↓
Economic Position
+ Wealth

CASTE
↓
Status
+ Social Boundary

GENDER
↓
Role
+ Power

RACE / ETHNICITY
↓
Identity
+ Hierarchy

ALL → INTERSECTIONALITY → LIFE CHANCES

Thinker Chamber

KARL MARX

Class & Exploitation.
Alienation & Conflict.

MAX WEBER

Class, Status, Party.
Life chances & Closure.

ÉMILE DURKHEIM

Division of labour.
Solidarity & Integration.

PIERRE BOURDIEU

Capital & Habitus.
Field, Reproduction, Distinction.

LOUIS DUMONT

Caste hierarchy.
Homo Hierarchicus.

M. N. SRINIVAS

Sanskritization.
Dominant caste & Social change.

B. R. AMBEDKAR

Caste & Social exclusion.
Equality & Social justice.

ELITE THEORISTS

Pareto: Circulation of elites.
Mosca: Ruling class.
Mills: Power elite.

Indian Stratification Universe

Varna • Jati • Dominant caste • Sanskritization • Caste mobility • Untouchability
Dalit identity • Tribal marginalization • Reservation • Affirmative action • Social justice

THE NEXT GATE: REALM 07 — THE POWER OF PLACE

01 ANIMAL → 02 RULEBOOK → 03 CULTURE → 04 PERSON → 05 INSTITUTIONS → 06 STRATIFICATION → 07 PLACE