Topic: The system and patterns of social stratification developed in the pre-emancipation period are still evident in the modern Caribbean. Using relevant sociological theories and empirical studies, outline the extent to which you would agree with this statement in relation to named Caribbean country.

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Name of essay – The changes within the social stratification system in Trinidad from the

pre-emancipation period to post-emancipation period.

In discussing social stratification, a key concept is that of social status. By social status we

mean a position within a system of expected patterns of action, essentially, a social status

is a set of duties and prerogatives. The sum total of a person’s statuses at a given time

constitutes his station in life. ‘Social Stratification refers to the division of society into a

pattern of layers or strata made up of a hierarchy of unequal social groups. These stand in

relations of advantage and disadvantage to one another in terms of features such as

income, wealth, occupational status, race, or sex, depending on the stratification system.

Those at the top of the stratification hierarchy will generally have more in society than

those at the bottom’ – Browne 1992. Most people dream of an egalitarian society in which

all members are equal and no one is categorized as being rich or poor. However, every

society, and every group within a society, is structured in the sense that power and prestige

are unevenly distributed amongst its members. Ascriptive factors such as race and the

colour of one’s skin have contributed significantly in determining the life chances of

Caribbean peoples. Max Weber’s view on social stratification can be seen here due to the

fact that he suggested there are several dimensions to the inequality that exists in a society.

Further, Weber saw stratification as resulting from a struggle for scarce economic

resources, prestige and power. For a better understanding on the social stratification

structures in the Caribbean over the years, one may focus on the country of Trinidad where

it is easily seen that the stratification system and patterns, which were evident in the

pre-emancipation period, has drastically changed from then to now.

If one takes a view of society, stratification is well embedded in Trinidad’s rich history. It

can be noted that Africans came to this island as slaves and they were regarded as the

lower class in society. Africans were not allowed to learn to read nor write during slavery.

When the indentured laborers came it is often argued that they had higher ranks in society

than blacks because they did not have to go through many of the conditions that the

Africans had to endure. The whites were always the ruling class and upper class