Social Stratification

Stratification
 A system whereby people rank and evaluate each other as
superior or inferior.
 Hierarchical arrangement and establishment of social categories
that evolve into a social group
 together with statuses and their corresponding roles.
 Institutionalized pattern of inequality.
 Social inequality and social ranking.
Stratification is viewed as a:
 Social structure – perceived as the differentiation of statuses
and social roles into ranked orders or a system of layered
hierarchy of social relationships.
 Social process – division of society into social categories that
develop into social groups, which are cooperating, competing,
and/or conflicting with one another for social change.
 Social problem – involves bitter feelings of discontent and
strong demands for equality or social justice.
Basic principles of social stratification
1. Social stratification is universal in nature.
2. The existence of a social stratification system has many
consequences for individuals and groupings.
3. Social stratification is characteristics of society.
4. Social stratification persists through generations.
5. Social stratification is supported by patterns of belief.
Importance of social stratification
1. An individual will exert great effort in competing with others
to attain a status that commands power, respect, privileges,
and opportunities.
2. Knowledge of social stratification may enable an individual to
adapt to his/her social environment.
3. The standard of living is improved.
4. It can effect economic development in a society.
5. A harmonious and stable society is attained.
Types of social stratification system
• Caste System
• Estate system
• Open class system
• Caste System – a system of social stratification based on
ascription. In other words pure caste systems are closed, with
no social mobility at all. Ex. Indian Caste system
a. Brahmins – this group is composed of priests and scholars.
b. Kshatriya – this is the class of nobles and warriors.
c. Vaishya – this group is composed of merchants and farmers.
d. Sudra – the unskilled laborers belong to this group.
• Estate system – relatively closed and rigid but with possible
mobility through marriage and the enactment of laws. It
comprises of 3 major feudal groupings:
a. Nobility – consisted of sovereign or king, the nobles, and the
military aristocracy.
b. Clergy – composed of high – ranking religious leaders as well
as low ranking officials of the church.
c. Peasantry – composed of farmers laborers, as well as serfs.
• Open class system – an individual’s class position within the
society is determined by his/her personal effort and ability
rather than by factors relating to birth.
An open class society encourages competition among individuals,
and rewards are based on achievement rather than ascription.
Most often, occupation, education, income, etc. determine one’s
position. Ex. Manny Pacquiao / Nora Aunor / Henry Sy
 Theoretical Perspectives of
Stratification
1. Structural-Functional Analysis – an approach recognizes that
all societies maintain some form of social stratification, and
therefore, social stratification must have important functional
consequences.

1945 – Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore proposed a theory of

social stratification that remains influential and controversial up
to this day. Inequality of members in a society based on their
social classes is functional necessary and constructive.
2. Conflict Perspective – this theory views inequality as neither
important nor advantageous to the welfare of most members of
society.
- There’s a sharp division between classes, which are in constant
struggle and opposition.
- Conflict theorists view stratification as an unjust system inflicted
on society by people with monopoly power and wealth to
safeguard their own interests, advantages, and power.
Karl Marx – one of the proponents of the conflict theory, claimed
that the two major social classes arise from two basic relationships
to the means of production: owning productive property, and
laboring for others. He maintained that class conflict is inevitable.
Consequences of social stratification
1. Stratification affects life chances.
2. Stratification affects lifestyles.
3. Stratification affects prestige.
• Social class is a term refers to a group of people having a similar social rank. (Garcia, 1992)
• SoSocicategory of people who share roughly the same class, status, and power, and who have a sense of identification with one another. (Brinkerhoff & White,

Social class is a term refers to a group of people having a similar

social rank.(Garcia, 1992) ass
• Social class is category of people who share roughly the same
class, status, and power, and who have a sense of identification
with one another. (Brinkerhoff & White, 1988)
• Social class defined as a group of people sharing a similar
position or status. (Stark, 1987)
• Social class or stratum refers to a set of families that share
equal or nearly equal prestige according to the criteria of
evaluation in the system of stratification. (Weber, in
Barber,1952)
• s a term refers to a group of people having a similar social rank. (Garcia,
1992 Social class is a term refers to a group of people having a similar social
rank. (Garcia, 1992 ocial class defined as a group of people sharing a
similar position or status. (Stark, 1987)
• Social class or stratum refers to a set of families that share equal or nearly equal prestige according to the criteria of evaluation in the system of stratification. (Weber, in Barber,1952)

• Social class is a term refers to a group of people having a similar social rank. (Garcia, 1992)
• Social class is category of people who share roughly the same class, status, and power, and who have a sense of identification with one another. (Brinkerhoff & White,
Determinants of Social Class
1) Education- It is one of the most important factors in
determining one’s social class.
2) Income- A family’s income determines the lifestyle of its
members.

3) Intelligence- Intelligent people are usually recognized in the

society.

4) Occupation- The quality of education, training, and work

experience are determining factors in one’s social class based
on occupation
Social Class as Viewed by Karl Marx
• Karl Marx believed that there are only two social classes
arising from the economic set-up of the society as follows:
1. Bourgeoisie (Capitalists)- these are the people who own the
means of production such as lands, factories, and machines.
2. Proletariat (Workers)- They constitute the exploited laboring
class. The members this class do not have anything except their
labor.
3 Dimensions of Stratification by Max Weber:
1. Class – individuals are ranked from high to low based on
their wealth and economic ranking.
2. Status – refers to ranking by means of social prestige and
honor bringing each group to have frequent contact with
one another out of friendship, similar values, attitudes and
ways of living.
3. Power – aking use of one’s own will against the resistance of
others.
Social Classes in the Philippines
1. Upper –comprises 3% of the total population; characterized by
great wealth and economic power e.g. owners of corporations &
government officials
2. Middle – 25 % of the total population composing of mobile
intellectuals/ technocrats, civil servants, teachers, merchants
who receives a modest income
3. Lower – 72% of the total population who earn low incomes
with simple living and have little or no savings e.g. laborers,
clerks, drivers ets.
Social Mobility
• is the movement of an individual or a group from one social
class or social stratum to another. (Theodorson, 1969)

• the process of changing one’s social class. (Brinkerhoff, 1988)

• a change in one’s social class or social status.

2 Types of Mobility:

1) Vertical Mobility- the upward or downward movement from

one class level to another refers to vertical mobility.

2) Horizontal Mobility- this refers to a change in position that

does not involve any real change in class rank.
Other Concept of Social Mobility
1) Intragenerational social mobility- this refers to a change in
social position occurring during a person’s lifetime.
2) Intergenerational social mobility- this is the upward or
downward social mobility of children in relation to their
parents
Factors that affect social mobility
1) Level of economic development of the country
2) Level of industrialization and urbanization
3) Availability of opportunities
4) Competition
5) Education
Indicators of Social Mobility
1) Power- according to Marx, power is the ability to attain goals,
control events, and influence other people, even in the face of
opposition.

2) Prestige- consists of the approval and respect an individual or

a group receives from other members of society.
3) Wealth- the total economic assets of an individual
Consequences of Upward Mobility:
1) People tend to break under pressure of striving for success.
2) It involves loosening of family ties and detachment from old
friends.
3) Adaptation to new lifestyles
4) Making new but casual friends
5) Relocating or transferring to a new place of residence.
Consequences of Downward Mobility:
1) Loss of self-confidence
2) Social isolation
3) Desperation
4) Diverse emotional changes
5) Social and cultural maladjustment
6) Loss of self-confidence
7) Social isolation
8) Desperation
9) Diverse emotional changes
10)Social and cultural maladjustment
Rebellion
• Involves rejection of both society’s goals and the expected
means of achieving them and the formation of a new society
that has different goals and values.
• Rebellion