What is social class? Describe the class structure-patterns of rural classes.

Social class is a principal type of social stratification found especially in the modern civilized countries. If the caste system is found to be unique to India, this class is universal.

Social class

The word ‘class’ is sometimes used to represent groups of professors, artist, engineers, doctors, students etc. The word ‘class’ is also used to refer the quality of the things whether good, better, best and so on. But the concept ‘social class’ is more used in sociology that representing a kind of social stratification than anything else.

Definition 

Some definitions cornering social class are mention below

According to Ogburn and Nimkoff “A social class is the aggregate of persons having essentially the same social status in a given society”

According to Max Weber “Social classes a aggregates at individuals who have the same opportunities of acquiring goods, the same exhibited stand of living.’

Characteristics of Social Class

 Class is a status group.

 Class has achieved status not ascribed status.

 The class system is universal.

 Social class is an open group.

 Mode of felling and living

 Class consciousness.

Thus it is clear that social class is a segment of society with all the members of all the ages and both the sexes who share the same general status. As MacIver says- where social interiors is limited by the consideration of social status by distinction between higher and lower, there exists a social class. 

Class structure patterns of rural classes

Illustrations of the class system are to be found in various societies in the World. 

General classification on the basis of occupation 

 Upper Class

 Administrative people.

 Middle class

 Petty/cultivators.

 Lower class

 Working class.

For instance, the class system of the U.S.A is said to contains the general classes

 Lower-Upper Class-1.5%

 Upper-Middle Class-10%

 Lower-Middle class-28%

 Upper –Lower Class-34%

 Lower-Lower Class-25%

[Ref: Biesanz, 1904. P. 193]

Structural Classification 

On the basis on structure there are 4 classes

i. Land owner/ land lord class.

       Superior position.

ii. Cultivator class

       Peasant/farmer/tenant class

iii. Merchant Class

       Caller 

iv. Other Classes

       Goldsmiths/ Washes men  

Hindu Class Structure

There are 4 types:

1. Brahmin- Teaching and Worshipping.

2. Kshatriya- Warriors 

3. Vaisha - Traders 

4. Sudra – Producer or Working class

There are also 4 types of class

1. White man – Moghul 

2. Pathans – Solider 

3. Sheikh- Learned man.

4. Sacred / sayed

Father illustrations of class system in society are to be find in Latin –American Countries and in some near-east Asian societies which have a fivefold classification:-

1. The Elite 

2. Moderate size, land holder;

3. Non-agricultural society;

4. Small land operations

5. The ordinary fellahin.

In the U.S.S.R., “Classless Society” actually contains of the following major classes identified in 1950 by Alex Inkeles-

 The ruling elites

 The Superior intelligentsia.

 The general intelligentsia.

 The White colour group.

Working class was also differentiated into

 The working class aristocracy 

 The rank and file workers

 The disadvantaged workers.

And, the present in rural areas although relatively homogeneous was also sub-divided into distinguished groups:

 The well-to-do peasants

 The average peasant 

[Inkeley, 1950, quoted in Chinoy, P-186]