Stratification and Mobility
1. How do sociologists construct gender in their analysis on social inequality? (2022)
2. Social stratification is claimed to contribute to the maintenance of social order and stability in society.
Critically assess. (2022)
3. Discuss social mobility in open and closed system. (2022)
4. Critically examine Max Weber’s theory of Social Stratification. (2021)
5. Explain the growing salience of ethnicity in the contemporary world with illustrations. (2021)
6. Explain the concept of social mobility. Describe with suitable illustrations how education and social
mobility are related to each other. (2021)
7. How are Hierarchy and Exclusion the major impediments in the transformation of societies? Discuss.
(2020)
8. Critically assess social mobility in closed and open systems. (2020)
9. What is affirmative action? Substantiate theoretical positions on affirmative actions with examples.
(2019)
10. Davis and Moore made it clear that social stratification is a functional necessity and also an
unconscious device. Discuss. (2019)
11. Compare and contrast the contributions of Marx and Weber on social stratification in capitalist society.
(2019)
12. Modernisation presupposes class society however, caste, ethnicity and race are still predominant.
Explain. (2019)
13. Present a sociological review on the 'new middle-class'. (2019)
14. Differentiate between 'Life-chances 'and' Life-style 'with suitable examples. (2019)
15. Why is gender a dimension of social stratification? How does gender intersect other dimensions of
inequality based on caste, class, race and ethnicity? (2019)
16. What is the difference between natural and social inequality? Give examples from caste and class
dimensions. (2018)
17. Evaluate if social stratification is functional for society. (2018)
18. Is social mobility possible in closed systems of stratification? Illustrate from research work. (2018)
19. Can we equate 'poverty' with 'poor living' ? Elaborate your answer. (2017)
20. What is Weberian critique of Marxist notion of social stratification ? (2017)
21. Examine gender, ethnicity and race as major dimensions of social stratification. (2017)
22. "Vertical mobility brings structural change even in a closed social system." Comment. (2016)
23. Elucidate the basic premises of Davis' structural-functional theory of social stratification. How far is it
relevant in understanding contemporary Indian society ? (2016)
24. Discuss the relationship between poverty and social exclusion. (2016)
25. “ No society can either be absolutely open or absolutely closed.” Comment. (2015)
26. Differentiate between Marxian and Weberian theories of Social Stratification ? (2015)
27. What do you understand by gender ? How does it shape ‘male identity’ ? (2014)
28. “According to Max Weber, ‘class’ and ‘status’ are two different dimensions of power.” Discuss. (2014)
29. For Marx, class divisions are outcomes of ‘exploitation’. Discuss, (in about 150 words) (2014)
30. Critically examine the functionalist tradition in Sociology. (2013)
31. How are open and closed systems of stratification undergoing transformation in the emergence of new
hierarchical social order in societies ? (2013)
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32. Distinguish between people being socially excluded and people excluding themselves socially in
societies. (150 words) (2013)
33. Analyse the gender bias in the present society with examples. (150 words) (2013)
34. How do Karl Marx and Max Weber differ in terms of their analysis of social stratification ? (2013)
35. Write short note on the following from a sociological perspective: Stratification of class. (2012)
36. In our society Hierarchical relations are influenced by social mobility. Explain how? (2012)
37. Write short note on The problem of Gender. (2011)
38. What is Class ? Do you think that Weber’s contributions to social stratification are different from that of
Marx ? (2011)
39. What do you mean by social mobility ? Discuss the major sources and causes of mobility ? (2011)
40. Write short note on Ethnicity and Development. (2010)
41. Examine how open and closed systems of stratification are undergoing transformation in the
emergence of new hierarchical social order in societies. (2010)
42. Distinguish between people being socially excluded and people excluding themselves socially in
societies. (2010)
43. What are the reasons for calling Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore’s theory of social stratification a
functional theory ? (2009)
44. How does hierarchy get built into the systems of natural and social inequalities ? (2008)
45. Write short note : Social mobility in open and closed systems. (2008)
46. Write short note : Role-conflict and its resolution. (2007)
47. Write short note : Caste-system as a principle of social stratification. (2006)
48. Write short note : Vertical social mobility. (2006)
49. How is vertical and horizontal social mobility problematic in society ? Suggest solutions. (2005)
50. ‘Socialisation and social control are complementary to each other in maintaining social order.’ -
Elucidate you answer with appropriate illustrations. (2004)
51. Write short note : Class within Caste and Caste within Class. (2004)
52. Briefly discuss the Conflict Perspective on social stratification and examine the view that social
inequality in India is the function of rigid social stratification system. (2004)
53. Examine the conceptual distinction between social inequality and social Stratification. How do the
nature and forms of the social stratification system determine the patterns of social mobility? (2003)
54. Explain Melvin Tlimin’s critique related to the theory of social stratification. (2002)
55. Write short note : Social Mobility and social change. (2002)
56. Write short note : Inter-generational mobility. (2000)
57. Write short note : Role conflict. (2000)
58. Discuss the nature and characteristics of social mobility. Can the nature and the rate of social mobility
be treated as an index of economic development ? Comment. (1999)
59. How would you distinguish between the stratified and the unstratified social positions? What
explanation would you prefer for the universal existence of the social stratification in human society ?
(1999)
60. Write short note : Role conflict as a source of deviation Analyze critically the functional theory of social
stratification. (1999)
61. Write short note : Caste as a class . (1998)
62. Write short note : Vertical and horizontal mobility (1998)
63. Write short note : Types of mobility. (1997)
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64. Write short note : Role-Conflict and its resolution. (1996)
65. Write short note : Social class and social status. (1995)
66. Write short note : Social class and vertical mobility (1993)
67. ‘Social inequality is the device by which societies ensure that the most important positions, are filled by
the most qualified persons.’ Explain this view point and state the grounds on which it is refuted. (1992)
68. Elaborate the concepts of ‘status-consistency’ and status-inconsistency. State the factors responsible
for status-inconsistency’ in modem societies. (1992)
69. Write short note : Functional theory of stratification. (1991 )
70. Write short note : Intergeneration mobility. (1991)
71. Write short note : Status inconsistency. (1990)
72. Write short note : Open and Closed Models of Mobility (1989)
73. Write short note : Functional theory of stratification. (1988)
74. Write short note : Intergenerational mobility in a caste society. (1986)
75. Write short note : Social Mobility. (1985)
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