Class 12 Sociology - ISC
Social Stratification
The chapter 'Social Stratification' explores how society is divided into hierarchical layers based on factors like wealth, power, prestige, race, and gender. For Class 12 ISC Sociology students, this chapter is crucial as it forms the foundation for understanding inequality, social exclusion, and mobility. Board exams frequently test your ability to differentiate between systems like caste and class, and to analyze how these structures impact individual life chances and social cohesion in contemporary India.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Social Stratification
A system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy based on access to valued resources like wealth, power, and status.
Caste System
A closed system of social stratification based on ascribed status, birth, and ritual purity, traditionally prominent in Indian society.
Class System
An open system of social stratification primarily based on achieved economic status, wealth, and occupation, allowing for social mobility.
Social Mobility
The movement of individuals, families, or groups through a system of social hierarchy, which can be upward, downward, horizontal, intergenerational, or intragenerational.
Sanskritisation
A concept coined by M.N. Srinivas describing the process by which lower castes try to elevate their social status by adopting the customs and rituals of upper castes.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the ISC Class 12 Sociology board exams, this chapter typically carries around 8 to 12 marks. Questions usually include 2-mark definitions, 4-mark short answers comparing systems like caste and class, and 6-mark long analytical questions on social mobility or the changing nature of stratification in modern India.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between caste and class?
Caste is a closed system based on ascribed status (birth) and ritual purity, whereas class is an open system based on achieved status (wealth and occupation) with greater potential for social mobility.
Can social mobility happen in a caste system?
Traditionally, individual mobility is nearly impossible in a caste system. However, collective mobility can occur over generations through processes like Sanskritisation or structural changes like urbanization and education.
Why is social stratification considered a universal phenomenon?
It is found in virtually all societies because societies must distribute resources, motivate individuals for different roles, and maintain social order, though the specific criteria and rigidity vary widely.
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