Social stratification in the Shire of Roebourne W.A.

Abstract

This inquiry sets out to examine the social stratification system of five settlements in the Roebourne Shire in the North of Western Australia. Chapter I provides an historical background to the study. Chapter II examines seven basic issues relevant to a study on stratification and compares Australian and Overseas literature. Chapter III outlines the methods and design of the inquiry. In Chapter IV results of the inquiry are presented within Weber's tripartite framework of class, status and power. In Chapter V the results are discussed in terms of the three dimensions, and a number of general conclusions are drawn and presented together with direction for future studies. This inquiry indicated that differences in stratification systems were apparent, this being most evident between the old and new settlements. The older settlements were stratified along traditional lines, with status being the more dominant of the three dimensions. The new settlements were developed by large mineral companies and their stratification systems were noted to parallel the company hierarchy. The class structure in these towns was noted to overlap with both the status and power systems. Class conflict was apparent between Staff/Wages or non-manual/ manual groups. Staff employees were noted to be more class conscious than Wages. This was explained in terns of the non-manual groups solidifying in their claims to status where their legitimacy and authority was frequently under challenge by the manual groups.