SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

Social stratification is a phenomenon that still exists in the 21st century. Historically and sociologically, there is no classless society. All societies have forms of ranking in which their members are categorized into positions as the driving force is competition for a better life. As a result, there is social mobility with a constant movement of units between individual layers, as well as a desire to preserve the higher positions. A profession is not only a way of earning money but also a display of style and prestige, as in advanced societies professions are associated with social status and remain the most widely used measure of the class system of stratification. Wealth is the total worth of an individual or family, including income and investments, and prestige includes the social respect, admiration and recognition with a certain social status that gives rise to feelings and power by which others are compelled to do what they would not normally want to do, they do. High positions are less pleasant or desirable to occupy, but more important to the survival of society and require more special abilities and talents. Therefore, society must create a certain reward system that it can use to induce members to take certain positions.

Keywords

• social categorization and differentiation
• social class
• quality of life
• social inequality
• social mobility