Social stratification based on life chances: operationalization for mass surveys

Abstract

The present paper operationalizes one of the oldest concepts in the sociological literature about social stratification. Although the concept of life chances is well studied, its operationalization for purposes of stratification studies is not a trivial task, which needs a broader and deeper discussion. To fill this gap in the literature, the author considers life chances in terms of Weber’s idea of positive and negative privileges. The author proposes a bipolar ‘map’ of life chances in key areas of life such as economic conditions, work situation, human capital accumulation, and consumption and leisure activities.