This document discusses social stratification and inequality. It begins by outlining lesson targets on conceptual perspectives, the relationship between stratification and inequality, and addressing social inequalities. It then provides examples of social desirables like wealth, prestige and power that determine social position and access to opportunities. The document discusses the concepts of equality, social exclusion and capability deprivation. It outlines theoretical perspectives on stratification from structural functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism. It concludes by defining types of stratification systems between closed and open systems.

1. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
STRATIFICATION

2. LESSON TARGETS:
By the end of this lesson, you are expected to
be able to:
 Determine conceptual and theoretical
perspectives on social stratification;
 Explain the relationship of social stratification
and inequality; and,
 Suggest ways to address social inequalities.

3. Think about it:
- Gelo and Anna grew up in the slum area of Tondo where they were
exposed to extreme poverty. As they graduate from high school, a
non-government organization offered a college scholarship to them.
Thinking that he did not want his future children to experience the
same poverty, Gelo strived hard to finish his studies. On the other
hand, Anna chose to drop out of school after deciding to form a
family with her boyfriend. Several years later, Gelo is now a lawyer,
and is living in a gated subdivision in Makati City, while Anna still
lived an impoverished life in Tondo.

4. Think about it:
- A common belief assumed that it is not anyone’s choice
to be born poor, but one is at fault when he or she dies
poor.
 Do you believe this?
 What role do you think does society play in maintaining
or breaking the cycle of poverty?

5. Think about it:
- As you may have observed, not all people
are born equal.
- Most of the people around the world live in
poverty, while a small percentage has
accumulated wealth enough to sustain the
world’s population.

6. Social Stratification
- The division among the people of the world is
called social stratification.
Social Stratification & Inequality
- Members of society are categorized into various
sections or classes, usually on the basis of their
access to and control of basic resources.

7. Social Stratification & Inequality
- These basic resources are known as social
desirables.
 The more of an individual possesses these
social desirables, the better his/her position is
in society. Such social position makes for
more opportunities and privileges.

8. Social Desirables
The following are examples of social desirables (Weber):
Wealth All assets, investments, and properties
owned by an individual.
Prestige Acclaim/appreciation given to someone.
Power Capacity to influence a person, group,
organization, etc.

9. Social Desirables & Inequality
- When an individual gets very limited access
to these social desirables as compared to
others, he or she experience inequality.
How about ‘equality’?

10. Concept of ‘Equality’
The concept of equality is composed of two principles,
sameness and fairness.
“Sameness” “Fairness”
state in a society where
people enjoy the same
rights, social status, and
other privileges.
quality where diversity is
recognized and people are
provided with the things
that they need in the
society

11. Social Stratification & Inequality
- Social stratification is also induced in society by
ranking individuals on other socio-political factors
such as: gender, race, religion, occupation,
and family.

12. Social Exclusion
- Social stratification legitimizes the idea that there
will be privileged and underprivileged people.
Worse, those who do not have total access to
resources and social desirables could be
considered socially excluded.

13. Social Exclusion
- Social exclusion has a conceptual connection
to poverty and inequality. Most traditional
definitions would characterize poverty as a
shortage of income (cf. threshold).
- Social exclusion, then, can be thought of as a
form of capability deprivation.

14. Social Exclusion & Capability Deprivation
- When one is restricted from participating in the life of the
community, his or her very deprivation to freely interact with
others becomes a form of social exclusion.
- Furthermore, being excluded from social relations may
lead to other deprivations that limit opportunities for
employment, which in turn, would lead to other forms of
deprivation such as undernourishment.

15. Social Exclusion & Capability Deprivation
Active Social Exclusion Passive Social Exclusion
- Purposive or deliberate
deprivation of capability
- Deprivation comes from
social processes in which
there is no deliberate attempt
to exclude
Ex. disallowing a newly
transferred student to participate
in school elections
Ex. unemployment caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic

16. Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification
Structural-
Functionalism
Stratification is necessary to induce people with
special intelligence, knowledge, and skills to enter
the most important occupations. For this reason,
stratification is necessary and inevitable.
Conflict Stratification results from lack of opportunity and
from discrimination and prejudice against the poor,
women, and people of color. It is neither necessary
nor inevitable.
Symbolic
Interactionism
Stratification affects people’s beliefs, lifestyles, daily
interaction, and conceptions of themselves.

17. Types of Social Stratification
- Social stratification exists in all societies across times.
These stratifications systems exist in different types and
vary on their degree of social mobility, or the chances of
an individual to rise or fall down the stratification ladder.
- In closed-systems, the society imposes rigid rules to resist
social mobility, and limits interaction between individual from
different strata (ex. Caste systems, slavery).
Open-systems allow changes in an individual’s social class, mainly
based on one’s personal achievements (ex. Class systems/SES).