Concept,

Characteristics
and Forms of
Stratification
Systems
Society is composed of different groups with different
social structures, that is some groups are higher or
lower than other groups. All societies of any size, large
or small have a social structure. Though, as societies
grow larger, more often different groups are formed
within them. Social stratification results when one
group has a functional importance in the community
while others do not.
INEQUALITY
In all societies people differ from each other on
the basis of their age, sex and personal
characteristics. Human society is not
homogeneous but heterogeneous. Apart from
the natural differences, human beings are also
differentiated according to socially approved
criteria. Society is divided based on economic,
social, religious and other aspects.
Heterogeneity in society is called social
stratification.
 Meaning and Nature of Social
Stratification
It refers to what sociologists call it It is an institutionalized pattern of
as “ institutionalized inequality” of inequality in which social categories
individual or “social injustice” due are ranked on the basis of their
to social categories. access to scarce resources.

It is the way people are ranked

and ordered in society.
 Social Stratification is Distinguished
from Social Differentiation
Social differentiation refers to how
people can be distinguished from
one another. People in a group may
differ in skin color, hair color, race,
mental and physical ability, and the
like.
Social Stratification is Distinguished
from Social Differentiation
Social stratification refers to the ranking of people in a
society. In closed stratification, people cannot change their
ranks while those in open social stratification, people can
change their ranks. In short, social stratification is the
separation of people into social categories and these
categories are ranked as higher or lower.
Indicators of Social
Stratification
Status
The individual’s position in the social structure
is called status. The higher or lower positions
that come about through social stratifications
are called statuses. Statuses are not the
same. One may get different statuses in
different ways. They can be ascribed or
achieved.
 Ascribed status Achieved status

are assigned or given by the society or are earned by the individual because
group on the basis of some fixed of his or her talent, skills, occupation
category, without regard to a person’s and perseverance. These include,
abilities or performance. These include degree or educational attainment,
sex, family background, race, and ethnic promotion, position, earned wealth
heritage. You did nothing to earn these and the like. For example, Nora Aunor
statuses; you have no control over these
has moved up in the social ladder
characteristics and no opportunity or
because of her beautiful voice and
chance to choose your family, your sex,
singing talent.
and your race.
Indicators of Social
Stratification
Prestige

refers to the evaluation of status. You have prestige according to your status.
For example, being the president of the Supreme Student Government of
your school, you have the prestige of a president whether or not you perform
and carry out well the duties and responsibilities of SSG president (Baleña
et.al., 2016).
Indicators of Social
Stratification
Power

refers to the ability to influence other people. It is getting

what they want despite the unwillingness of others to give
in to their desires.
Indicators of Social
Stratification
Wealth

refers to the amount of resources that a person has.

As mentioned by Ariola (2012) in his book, one may be viewed as belonging to the
upper social strata or lower social strata depending on the following dimensions:

1. Sources of income- There are different sources of income. These are the
inhereted wealth, earned wealth, profits, professional fees, salaries, wages,
private relief, among others. Wealth is everything that is owned by a person.
Inherited wealth is acquired since birth and without effort. Acquired wealth
is achieved through ones effort either by talent, income or by marriage.
Income refers to the amount of money a person receives.

2. Occupation- What people do for a living determines, to a large

extent, the social position of the person. Occupation may be
classified into professionals, non-professionals (clerks, drivers, etc)
proprietors of small business, skilled workers, semi skilled workers,
and unskilled workers.
As mentioned by Ariola (2012) in his book, one may be viewed as belonging to the
upper social strata or lower social strata depending on the following dimensions:

3. Education- Educational attainment of a person may be categorized as

masteral or doctoral degree holder, college graduate, high school graduate,
elemetary school drop-out, among others. Possession of the person of any of
these educational backgrounds may characterize the person’s status in the
community.

4. Types of house dwellings- Dwellings can be categorized as permanent

house (concrete and excellent in appearance), semi-permanent house
(semi-concrete and very good in appearance and construction), temporary
house (wood and fair in appearance and construction), and poorly
constructed house (houses found in squatter areas, or those considered
below-the-bridge houses).
As mentioned by Ariola (2012) in his book, one may be viewed as belonging to the
upper social strata or lower social strata depending on the following dimensions:

5. Location of residence- Power, prestige and wealth are also attached to the
location of residence. There is disparity of social status when one residence
is located in Forbes Park, White Plains, squatter area, mountainous-rugged
area, in subdivision and non-subdivision area.

6. Kinship of family- n the Philippines, when a person belongs to the

Ayala’s, Soriano’s, Zobel’s, Villar’s, that person is regarded as belonging
to the upper class (rich) status. Children of sultans and datus are hgihly
regarded as rich. If a person is from a family whose house is situated in
the squatter’s area, that person is regarded as poor or belonging to
lower class status.
 Types of Social Stratification
Open System Closed System Ethnic Systems

It encourages people to strive Closed system This type of social

and achieve something. People accommodates little change in stratification is based on
belonging to one social class social position. They do not national origin, laguage and
have similar opportunities, allow people to shift levels and religion. Ethinicity sets
similar lifestyles, attitudes, do not permit social segments of society apart
behavior and possibly similar relationships between levels. and each group has a sense of
socio-economic positions. identity.
Open System
1. Upper Class – The people in this class have great
wealth and sources of income. They constitute the elite
wealthy group in the society. They have high reputation in
terms of power and prestige. They live in exclusive
residential area, belong to exclusive private clubs, and
may have strong political influence in the system of
government. They own several cars and properties and
their children may study in exclusive schools.
Open System
2. Middle Class – The people in this class may belong to the
upper-middle class which is often made up of highly educated
business and professional people with high incomes, such as
doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers, and CEOs or to the lower-
middle class often made up of people with lower incomes, such
as managers, small business owners, teachers, and secretaries.
Aside from generally command of high income, people
belonging to the upper-middle class often have college
education, live in comfortable homes, own properties, have
some money savings, and active in community activities.
Open System
3. Lower Class –The lower class is typified by poverty, homelessness,
and unemployment. The people in this class belong to the bottom of
socio-economic ladder. They may be categorized into two: upper-
lower class and lower-lower class. In the upper-lower class, people are
considered as the working class or laborers. They have acquired little
education, little time to be involved in civic and community activities.
Some of them are underemployed, have many socio- economic
problems, with little or no luxuries at all. The people in the lower-lower
class are unemployed, or no source of income except by begging or
dependent from private and government relief. Many of them live in
squatter areas, under the bridge, in street corridors, or with no house
at all.
Social Mobility
Social mobility refers to the movement
within the social structure, from one
social position to another. It means a
change in social status. All societies
provide some opportunity for social
mobility. But the societies differ from
each other to extent in which
individuals can move from one class or
status level to another.
 Kinds of Social Mobility
Social Mobility Geographical Mobility Role Mobility

refers to the movement Closed system This type of social

upward or downward among accommodates little change in stratification is based on
the social positions in any social position. They do not national origin, laguage and
given social stratification. It allow people to shift levels and religion. Ethinicity sets
may be upward (vertival) do not permit social segments of society apart
mobility and downward relationships between levels. and each group has a sense of
(horizontal) mobility. identity.
Social Mobility
Vertical mobility refers to the movement of people
of groups from one status to another. It involves
change in class, occupation or power. For example,
the movement of people from the poor class to the
middle class. Horizontal mobility is a change in
position without the change in status. It indicates a
change in position, within the rage of the status. A
change in status may come about through one’s
occupation, marrying into a certain family and others.
Geographical Mobility
is otherwise known as physical mobility. It
may be a voluntary movement of people
from one geographical area to another
due to change in residence, commuting
from home to office, making business
trips, and voluntary migration from one
country to another.
Role Mobility
is the individual’s shifting from
role to role. Every member of
a society has roles to play.
Different situations call for
enactment of various roles.