ABSTRACT
This chapter provides research on stratification and inequality in France as it may be of most relevance to sociolinguistic analysis. It presents an international sociological perspective, focusing upon the measurement of stratification through occupations when using large-scale data resources. Sociologists typically use the term 'social inequality' to describe differential access to valued resources, services or positions, and the term 'social stratification' to describe structures of substantial social inequalities and the social processes which lead to their endurance and reproduction through time. Individual-level measures of position in the social stratification structure are frequently based upon occupations, since occupational records are relatively easy to collect, and represent relatively stable and influential aspects of most individuals' lives. France has been shown to be in a broadly middle-range position when compared with other Western countries in, for example, indicators central to understanding social stratification, such as the prestige ranking of occupations.
