What is It

Meaning of Stratification
Social stratification is the classification of people into socioeconomic class, based upon their
occupation and income, wealth and social status. Stratification is the relative social position
of people within a social group, category, geographic region, or social unit. Social stratification
is distinguished as three social classes: the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class;
in turn, each class can be subdivided into strata: the upper-stratum, the middle-stratum, and
the lower stratum. Social stratum can be formed upon the bases of kinship or caste, or both.

Social desirables are resources considered valuable by societies. These resources may be
tangible or intangible. Sociologist may focus on any of these resources as the basis of their
theoretical perspective on social inequality. In short, the recognition of the existence of these
social desirables is what brings together the sociological camps.
Generally, prestige, power, and wealth are three important social desirables. It describes the
social standing of individuals relative to others. Social standing reflects persons’ worth and
access to social, political, and symbolic capital. Sociologists have different vies as to what
constitute social class. Karl Marx looked at it in terms of wealth produced in relation to the
ownership of the means of production. Wealth may refer to money, properties, and similar
tangible resources.
Max Weber, on the other hand, differentiates them into three: wealth, power, and prestige.
Individual’s social standing can be measured, all at once, based on their relative access to
these three.

Bases of Class According to Karl Marx and Max Weber

KARL MARX MAX WEBER

ECONOMIC STATURE POWER WEALTH PRESTIGE

Material prosperity, ownership Political or social Material Widespread respect

of the means of production authority or prosperity and admiration felt
control, for someone due to
especially that his or her
which is achievements or
exercised by a quality
government

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Social mobility refers to changes of individuals, families, households, or other
categories of people within or between social class in a society. It is a change
in social status relative to one's current social location within a given society.

Types of Social Mobility

1. Horizontal mobility
This happen when a person changes their occupation but their overall social standing
remains unchanged.

2. Vertical mobility
It is a change in the occupational, political, or religious status of a person that causes
a change in their societal position. A person or social object moves from one social
class to another.

3. Upward mobility
It is when a person moves from a lower position in society to a higher one. It can also
include people occupying higher positions in the same societal group. However,
upward mobility, while seen as a good thing, can also come at a cost for individuals.

4. Downward mobility
It takes place when a person moves from a higher position in society to a lower one. It
happen when someone is caught performing a wrongful act that can result in the loss of
the position they currently hold.

5. Inter-generational mobility
This happen when the social position changes from one generation to another. The
change can be upward or downward.

6. Intra-generational mobility
Change in societal position occurs during the lifespan of a single generation. It can
also refer to a change in position between siblings. One way is when a person climbs
up the corporate ladder in their career.

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 Some Issues Relative to Social Stratification

Wealth and Income Ethnicity Gender and People with

Sexual Disabilities
Orientation (PWD)
In the Philippines, there are Ethnic groups Woman have These people are
92.3 million Filipinos lives below are also facing always been also discriminated
poverty line because of the discrimination. coerce by and their physical
country’s economic and social Aside from societies that impairments
inequality. According to the cultural have a structural become basis of
ASEAN Trade Union marginalization bias because of denial and equal
Council, the Philippines has the that they suffer cultural beliefs. opportunity in
highest rate of economic and from the Men are seen in employment. They
social inequality in Southeast dominant many cultures as do not enjoy the
Asia, and unless action is taken, cultural natural leaders benefits that abled
the gap will continue to widen. majorities, and conformed persons receive.
The 4 major causes of income where their more social and
inequality in our country are: cultural political rights.In
practices are some culture,
1. the rising proportion of subjects of women cannot
urban households ridicule and own property,
2. age distribution changes their physical and they cannot
3. increasing number of appearances drive their own
highly educated and demeanor car. Woman also
household ear for them experienced
4. wage rate inequality. over forms of harassment in
discrimination the work place
through and become
stereotypes and victim of sexual
end up as harassment and
victims of violence. A
development similar situation
aggression. is being
Their ancestral experienced by
land are either lesbian, gay,
forcibly taken bisexual, and
away from them transgender
in the guise of (LGBT) people.
development They are often
projects like subjected to
government discrimination
infrastructures and ridicule by a
or dumping site society that
for toxic waste. considers them
aberrations or
forms of deviancy.

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 RECAP
WORD CRUSH!
Directions: Highlight a group of three or more words and concepts that belong in
one group and concept. Then, defend the reason why they are under the same
concept. Write your answer in your activity notebook.

Learning
Elementary No age limit Non-formal
differences

Learning
Vocational Secondary Formal
disabilities

Technical Special Education Tertiary Giftedness

TESDA DepEd CHED Inclusion

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LESSON

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL STRATIFICATION

What do you think of these two individuals:

(1) The first individual inherited his or her wealth;
(2) the second individual worked hard to earn a
lot of money and reach for his or her dreams, who
deserve more wealth? Why do you say so? Answer
it (Crash Course 2017).

Source: istockphoto.com

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Is it difficult to answer? Yes, because this is a matter of social stratification.

Meaning and Nature of Social Stratification

Social stratification deals with the inequality, this is a system that

categorizes people and ranks them in a hierarchical arrangement (Panopio 1989).
The social standing depends on the occupation, wealth, income, race, education, and
power. (Sweeney 2017) Social stratification is the way it characterizes the society,
not the individual differences. Age, intelligence, gender, physical appearance, and
family are some of the human differences (San Juan and Centeno 2011). Like for
instance, Person A, who is from a wealthy family is more likely to go to college and
finish his or her education, unlike Person B, who is from a poor family. Just so you
know, there are notable people who experienced poverty and now they are successful.
These are some of the individual inequalities and systematic inequalities. It’s the
matter of superiority and inferiority, haves and have-nots. The social stratification
persists across generations with different life chances. The social role may be
achieved or ascribed. The social inequalities, economic inequalities, and beliefs are
some of the driving forces of social stratification. Lastly, beliefs are what systems of
social stratification work (Crash Course 2017).

Source: Mind Map of Social Stratification (Created by Ma. Kathleen S. Adona, Social
Stratification, September 05, 2020, Coggle, Pasig City, Philippines,
https://coggle.it/diagram/X1OTK6qiwzuDVx2l/t/social-stratification)
 Now, what means to deserve wealth, success, or power? You may go back to
the first question and reflect on your answer.

The Components of the Social Stratification

The components of social stratification are social class, social status, and
social role.

Social Class
The social class refers to the category of persons based on their socio-
economic privileges. It is divided into three classes namely: the upper class, the
middle class, and the lower class. The upper class experiences the luxury standard
of living, which is the highest standard of living. Rich and famous are part of this
level. Next, the middle class refers to the professionals, skilled workers,
entrepreneurs whose incomes provide a comfortable lifestyle. They experience the
decency and comfort living. And, the last is the lower class, it refers to the unskilled
and lowly paid workers who experience bare living and poverty living.

Fig. 1 The nine social classes in the Philippines, (San Juan and Centeno
2011):
upper-
upper
class
middle-
upper class

lower-upper class

upper-middle class

middle-middle class

lower-middle class

upper-lower class

middle-lower class

lower-lower class

Social Status
The social status refers to the social standing of a person or group within the
social stratification system. It is divided into two, the ascribed status and the
achieved status. The ascribed status is acquired since birth. The best example of this
is the caste system. While the achieved status is acquired by choice, personal
development, personal efforts, talents, and achievements. For instance, getting a
master’s and doctoral degree in the course of your choice is an achieved status.

Social Role
The social role refers to the expected and actual behavior of the person which
corresponds to his or her status. It is based on the individual’s rights, privileges,
responsibilities, and obligations. For example, the teacher and his or her
responsibility as a public servant. His or her role is not only to teach but also to
uphold the growth and development of his or her learners.

Why is there a social stratification? From the said principle earlier, ideology is
one of the driving forces of the social stratification. The ideology is the set of cultural
attitudes, beliefs, and values in organizing society.

The Three Paradigms (Perspectives)

These three perspectives help us understand, why we have social

stratification.

1. Structural-Functionalism
This argues that stratification is functional for society. According to Kingsley
Davis-Wilbert Moore Thesis that there should be greater economic and social rewards
for the socially important and difficult jobs in the society. Not all jobs are important
and necessary hard to learn or come with pay. Like for instance, who is more
functional, your teacher, or your favorite artist?

2. Social Conflict
This argues the macro-perspective of society. This is the understanding of
society like the division of labor by Karl Marx. Karl Marx and Melvin Tumin consider
stratification unjust and unnecessary. For example, the poor needed to perform
hazardous jobs but underpaid, while there are businessmen sell goods and services
to the poor. Marx emphasizes a classless society. He defends workers through a
greater work organization in the form of unions whose goals are the following: (1)
good working condition; (2) higher pay; and (3) control; and greater legal protection:
(1) compensation; (2) insurance; and (3) social security. Max Weber on the other hand
criticized Marx’s perspective that it was too simplistic. He simply added the three
dimensions that can be seen in the social conflict paradigm: (1) economic class; (2)
social status; and (3) social power (Sweeney 2017).

3. Symbolic Interactionism
This tells about the society looks like in everyday life. This paradigm
hypothesizes a closer view of the societal movement. For instance, is the product you
consume describes you. You like Korean pop songs, these are sign vehicles that make
statements about your social position. Another example, you are a fan of owning
well-known designer bags, shoes, accessories, and the like. This is a way of how other
people will categorize you and will interact with you at the same time. In other words,
the things you prefer symbolizes you.

Systems of Social Stratification

1. Open Class System

This system has more opportunity to move up and move within the social
class. The social positions are acquired by the qualifications, individual and social
achievements. Meaning, people having the same socio-economic status, education,
and occupation belong to this system. (San Juan and Centeno 2011) This is
interpreted as “equality in opportunity” because everyone has a chance to improve
and achieve their positions.

2. Closed or Caste System

This system is on ascribed status. It means that this is determined at birth,
family origin, and other ascribed characteristics. Members in this society have a low
chance to move up the ladder or the hierarchy. It has no opportunities. The popular
example is Old India and the South African Apartheid system. The Caste believed in
fate, destiny, and will of a higher power. (Sweeney 2017) although the caste system
in India (with Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and untouchables) has a
decreasing importance, it cannot hide the history and the experiences are carried
over in most of rural India. Another example is Old Europe, they also had their
division of society: the nobility, clergy, and commoners.

3. Meritocracy
This is an ideal system wherein it is acquired based on individual talents and
achievements. No society only considers personal worth.

Social Inconsistency
See the mixed system of stratification in Modern
Britain: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge married
commoner Kate Middleton and now the Duchess of
Cambridge. This also shows social inconsistency. Another
instance is, Sunny didn’t finish her study in college. But,
she worked hard, then started her own business and she
earned a lot of money. There are inconsistencies between
Sunny’s educational attainment, occupation, and wealth
(Lumen Learning).
Image 1 Prince William and Duchess Kate Catherine,
on their April 29, 2011, wedding day, © Reuters, AFP

ACTIVITIES
CONNECTION + EFFECTIVITY = CONNECTIVITY
Direction: Use the three words or concepts to make significant statements.

1. How can you compare yourself to some learners in the Philippines facing the
same mode of learning (blended learning) today?