"Differentiation" is a word of Latin origin. It denotes the difference, dissimilarity, division and stratification of the whole into different parts, stages and forms.
Social differentiation - what is it?
Social differentiation is a social concept that defines the division of society into groups of people who differ in their social status.
Research shows that social stratification is inherent in any social order. For example, in primitive tribes, society was divided according to age, gender, and each of them had their own privileges and responsibilities. On the one hand, the tribe was headed by a respected and influential leader with his entourage, on the other hand, outcasts who lived “outside the law”.
With the development of society, social stratification increased more and more and became more obvious.
Types of society differentiation
The society distinguishes between political, economic and professional differentiation.
Political differentiation in any modern society occurs due to the division of the population into rulers and governed, into political leaders and the rest of the people.
Economic differentiation indicates the difference in incomes of the population, their living standards, distinguishes the rich, middle and poor strata of the population.
Occupation, type of human activity determine the professional differentiation of society. At the same time, there are professions that are more and less prestigious, depending on their economic subsidies.
We can say that social differentiation is not just the division of society into some groups, but it is also a kind of inequality of these groups in terms of their social status, rights, privileges and, accordingly, responsibilities, influence and prestige.
Can inequality be eradicated?
The elimination of social differentiation in society can be viewed from various points of view.
Marxist teaching shows that it is necessary to eliminate inequality between people as the most striking social injustice. This requires a change in economic relations and the elimination of private property. Other theories argue that social stratification is unavoidable, although it is evil, but it must be accepted as inevitable.
From another point of view, social differentiation is considered a positive phenomenon, since it makes each member of society strive for self-improvement. The homogeneity of society will lead to its destruction.
Recent studies show that in the developed countries today, social polarization is decreasing, the middle class of the population is increasing and, accordingly, the groups of the extremely poor and the most wealthy segments of the population are decreasing.
