Social stratum refers to all social members who are divided into different social groups according to certain grade standards. Members of the same social group have similarities in attitudes, behaviors, patterns and values. There are differences among members of different groups.
Jilbert and Kahl divide the factors that determine social class into three categories: economic variables, social interaction variables and political variables. Economic variables include occupation. Income and wealth; Social interaction variables include personal prestige, social connection and socialization; Political variables include power, class consciousness and mobility.
1. occupation
In most consumer studies, occupation is regarded as the most important indicator of a person's social class. A person's work will greatly affect his lifestyle and give him corresponding prestige and honor.
2. Achievements
The higher the personal achievement, the higher the honor and respect. Personal performance or performance also involves non-work activities. Perhaps a person's professional status is not high, but he or his family can still win the respect of society by being enthusiastic about community undertakings, caring for others, and being honest and kind, thus gaining a higher social status.
3. Social interaction
Most people are used to interacting with people with similar values and behaviors. In sociology, the interaction between group qualification and group members is the basic force to determine a person's social class.
4. Property
Property is a kind of social symbol, which conveys information about the owner's social class to people. The amount of useful property and the nature of property also reflect a person's social status.
5. Value orientation
Personal values and beliefs are another important indicator to show which social class they belong to. As members of the same class communicate more frequently, they will form similar and * * * the same values.
6. Class consciousness
Class consciousness refers to the degree to which people in a certain social class realize that they belong to a unique group and have the same political and economic interests.