SOCIAL

STRATIFICATION AND
MOBILITY
The Caribbean

Diversity and Similarity

Common History and culture

Common System of Stratification (race, colour, class)
Pyramidal Structure comprising:
White Upper Stratum (plantation owners &
managers)
Brown Middle Stratum (Skilled and Semi-Skilled
workers, traders, petit-bourgeoisie)
Lower Stratum of mostly blacks (manual, unskilled
workers)

Diversity and Similarity contd.

Wide disparities in wealth, status and power between

individuals & groups within levels of stratification

Differences in ethnic/racial composition (Belize, T&T,

Guyana)

Differences in economic development of countries

Diversity and Similarity contd.

East Indians (former Indentured Servants) in Guyana and

T&T have risen tremendously in the social, economic &
political hierarchy

They have challenged the traditional political dominance

of Afro-Trinidadian and Afro-Guyanese (UNC, PPP)
Guyanese E.I Prime Minister
Former Trinidadian PM

Diversity and Similarity contd.

In T&T, East Indians are a powerful voice within the

society.
Have been able to ensure public observances of
religious festivals and holidays such as Eid ul Fitir and
Divali
Successful business owners, controlling the agriculture
sector, hardware and lumber, trucking and heavy
equipment operations, sugar cane operations
Successful professionals - doctors, lawyers

Diversity and Similarity contd.

For Afro-Caribbean peoples, education has been a

significant influence. It has been the major avenue by
which many have filled the Middle Classes.

Have distinguished themselves in political office

Management of Banking and Financial operations
Management of Public Service
Operators in Local & International Music Industry

The OECS
Osoba and Steele note the following:

Class is dominant system of social stratification

Some status groups exist somewhat outside the class structure

White expatriate owners of hotels & businesses in tourist
sector
East Indian, Syrian/Lebanese group of store owners, factory
owners & owners of small hotels
In T&T, for eg., Syrian/Lebanese not seen as alien in the way
they might be perceived in some of the smaller islands

Derek Gordon - Class, Status and

Social Mobility in Jamaica

Considerable increase in opportunities for upward mobility

by expansion in occupational positions

Great deal of inequality of opportunities for some groups

Jcans. Whose parents were agricultural labourers,
domestic & unskilled manual workers had virtually no
chance of ending up at the top of the middle strata

Derek Gordon - Class, Status and

Social Mobility in Jamaica
(Contd.)

Women with these background had virtually non-existent

chances

Men, hardly any better

4:1000 males with agricultural labouring origins were likely
to end up in the middle strata, despite expansion of
educational system & opening up of new positions
Offspring of small farmers were in essentially same position

Derek Gordon - Class, Status and

Social Mobility in Jamaica
(Contd.)

7:1000 males & 4:1000 females with small farming

backgrounds became higher professionals or managers

Jcans. From homes of industrial workers fared little better in

absolute terms as only 2% males & 2.4% females reached the
top.

What of Gordons Findings?

Bear little surprise to those familiar with data on living

conditions, poverty and welfare

Mobility virtually non-existent among certain occupational

groups

Low level of Human Capital of working age population (1564) in poverty

Vast majority having attained up to 1st Cycle Secondary
level

What of Gordons Findings?

(Contd.)

Working poor category - 68.7% of poor were employed in

1998 (Employed where? or Doing what?)

Skilled Agricultural/Fishery; Sales Workers/Shop/Market

Sales; Elementary; Craft & Related Trades
Many Own Account Workers & Private Sector Employees

What of Gordons Findings?

(Contd.)

Issues of poverty & lack of ed. or low levels of ed. are at

the crux of non-existent upward mobility for many

Quality of education/School type are also critical to

upward mobility

Today, as well, geographical location can also be at the

crux of non-existent opportunities for upward mobility

What of Gordons Findings?

(Contd.)

Introduction of social programmes & economic policies

aimed at poverty eradication & fostering human capital
growth, has led to improvements in numbers accessing
higher level education & attaining upward social mobility
(NPEP, NAP, ROSE, SFP, FAP, SSTP, PATH)

Harsh economic climate could, however, lead to the

reduction or wiping away of gains made

Emerging & Emerged Middle

Class / Nouveau Riche

Gordon & Stone highlighted the newly emerging middle

classes:

persons who through certain occupations have enjoyed MC

status &/or position
Hairdressers, cosmetologists, taxi drivers, truck drivers,
ICIs, DJs, Chefs/Cooks