Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A social cleavage refers to a division or divide within a society that separates groups of people based on social, economic, or political factors. This division can lead to differences in opinions, values, and voting patterns.
Related terms
Political Ideology: Political ideology refers to a set of beliefs, values, and ideas about politics and governance that guide an individual's understanding of political issues. It often aligns with specific social cleavages as people with similar ideologies tend to support certain policies or parties.
Ethnicity: Ethnicity is the identification or classification of an individual or group based on shared cultural characteristics such as language, traditions, ancestry, or nationality. Ethnic cleavages can significantly influence political behavior as people from the same ethnic background may vote similarly due to shared experiences and concerns.
Socioeconomic Class: Socioeconomic class refers to the categorization of individuals based on their income level, occupation type, education level, and other socioeconomic indicators. People belonging to similar socioeconomic classes often share common interests and concerns which can shape their political preferences.