2. WHAT IS SOCIAL STRATIFICATION?
A system by which a society ranks categories of
people in a hierarchy (Machionis, 2007)
Internal division into a hierarchy of distinct social
groups, each having specific life chances, and a
distinctive style of life (Panopio&Raymundo, 2004)
3. FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES:
• Social stratification is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual
differences – Neither rich nor poor people create social stratification but
the system shapes the lives of them all.
• It carries over from generation to generation
• It is universal but variable
• It involves not just inequality but beliefs as well
4. Social differentiation
Refers to the distinct conditions of individuals which
does not necessarily imply unequal treatment or
ranking in society.
5. Social inequality
Is the condition of unequal access to
what is valuable in a society
6. continuation
• The distinction of social rank is
based on wealth, biological
characteristics, social skills, or
money.
• This differentiation is inevitable
7. The caste system
Is a social stratification based
on ascription, or birth.
• A pure caste system is closed
because birth alone
determines a person’s entire
future, with little or no social
mobility based on individual
effort.
8. The class system
Social stratification based on both birth and individual
achievements
• Work is no longer fixed at birth but involves some
personal choice.
• Greater individuality also translates into more freedom
in selecting a marital partner.
9. Meritocracy Refers to social stratification
based on personal merit
• Caste societies define merit
in terms of loyalty to the
system – that is, dutifully
performing whatever job
comes with a person’s birth.
10. CASTE AND CLASS: THE UNITED KINGDOM
England had castelike system
of there estates during the
Middle Ages.
11. First Estate
The Clergy – who were thought to speak with the
authority of God
13. Third Estate
Commoners – most commoners were serfs who worked
the land owned by nobles or the church.
14. Basic components of social
stratification
• Social Class
• Status – is the social standing of a person within
a social class or in the entire social stratification
system.
• Roles – pertains to the expected behaviour
patterns that corresponds with a status
15. Social mobility
This refers to the movement of
individuals or groups within a small
system wherein a degree of
openness or closeness exists.
Social mobility is a continuous
process that involves:
• motivation
• cooperation
• competition
• conflict
16. Horizontal Mobility
Which is the movement from one position to another
with the same ranking.
Vertical Mobility
Which is upward or downward change in
rank
