Lesson 11 - Social Stratification.pptx

1. UNDERSTANDING
CULTURE, SOCIETY
AND POLITICS
Sir Joel M. Butial

3. OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the learners will:
1. Analyze the concept of social stratification and ;
2. Adopt an open and critical attitude towards the
implications of social stratification in the Philippine
scene.

5. LAYERS

6. Social stratification is defined as a systematic
categorization of individuals and institutions in a
society based on their roles or functions and
statuses. Each individual is accorded with specific
tasks or ascribed with a particular role to play in
society.

7. Thus, categorization based on family relations, occupational status, and,
in some cases, status of wealth and prestige are valued as shown in
diverse class structures or occupational differentiation in various
cultures (e.g. caste system in India).

9. On the other hand,
political stratification is
defined as a systematic
categorization of
individuals and
institutions in society
based on power
relations and status of
power in the State.

10. SOCIAL DESIRABLES
Refers to factors that are somewhat accepted or
desired in a certain society.
PRESTIGE
May be associated with social status,
popularity, acceptance, or approval.

11. SOCIAL DESIRABLES
POWER
PRESTIGE
WEALTH

12. SOCIAL DESIRABLES
WEALTH – Pertains to the accumulated
economic capital of an individual or a group.
The extent of the amassed wealth of an
individual or group usually determines its
capacity for influence in decision-making in
society.

13. SOCIAL DESIRABLES
POWER – As the capacity of an individual to
influence another person to perform an act
that he or she would not otherwise do.

14. SOCIAL DESIRABLES
PRESTIGE – As a level of honor in human society
attached to different groups with reference to the
group’s occupation.

15. FEUDALISM
Feudalism has been introduced in
the Philippines by the Spaniards
during the colonization of the
country since 1521. This set-up
has been institutionalized further
in 1821 with the introduction of
bureaucracy; the governor-
general being the main
administrator. Feudalism
subdivided the country into
different levels of administration,
from the province headed by a
provincial governor, cities,
municipalities to the smallest
political unit, the barrio.

16. In the traditional Philippine
setting, which is feudal in
orientation, wealth is
primarily measured by
ownership of agricultural
land. The social relationship
between the landlord (who
owns the land) and tenants
(who work for the land) also
mirrors the social
stratification between the
rich and the poor in
Philippine society.

17. Social mobility, is an individual's ability to move from
one place to another along the stratified positions of
society (Haviland, Prins, Walrath, and McBride, 2008).

18. OPEN SOCIETY
A society is considered open when
stratification is based on social
classes, where people’s social
position or status is determined by
economic wealth and income. An
open system facilitates social
mobility based on personal efforts
and individual achievements (Kottak,
2000). People live and succeed in an
open society by achieving their goals
and improving their condition in life.

19. CLOSE SOCIETY
A society is considered closed when changes or shifts in social
positions or social mobility are limited; and in some societies
even prohibited. In a closed society, prevailing cultural norms,
laid down through laws (both secular and religious), prohibits a
person from moving upward on the social ladder. In some
societies, laws governing mobilization are codified and
considered as conventional standards. Any violation to such
norms is punishable by death.
E.G.: Caste System

20. In a caste system, people are born into their social classes
(inherited from their parents) and remain there for the rest of
their lives (Newman, 2012).

21. Types of Social Mobility
Social mobility can take different forms, and people
can experience different types of mobility in
different stages of their lives. The types of
mobilities are independent of one another and can
often overlap. They are only distinguished for the
purpose of analysis.

22. 1. Horizontal mobility
This occurs when a person changes their occupation but
their overall social standing remains unchanged. For
example, if a doctor goes from practicing medicine to
teaching in a medical school, the occupation’s changed
but their prestige and social standing likely remain the
same. Sorokin describes horizontal mobility as a change
in religious, territorial, political, or other horizontal shifts
with no change in the vertical position.

23. 2. Vertical mobility
This refers to a change in the occupational, political, or
religious status of a person that causes a change in their
societal position. An individual moves from one social stratum
to another. Vertical mobility can be ascending or descending.
Ascending involves an individual moving from a group in a
lower stratum to a higher one or the creation of a similar group
with a higher societal position, instead of side by side with its
existing group. Descending mobility occurs, for example, when
a businessman incurs losses in his business and is forced to
declare bankruptcy, resulting in a move to a lower stratum of
society.

24. 3. Upward mobility
This 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.
When a person moves upward, they often need to leave
behind familiar surroundings such as family and places.
They may also need to change their way of thinking and
behavior. The individual will need to adapt to the new
environment as a result of their upward movement and
adopt different behaviors in the new society.

25. 4. Downward mobility
Downward mobility takes place when a person moves from
a higher position in society to a lower one. It can occur
when someone is caught performing a wrongful act that can
result in the loss of the position they currently hold.
Downward mobility can be extremely stressful for people
who face a rapid decline in their social status. They may
find it hard to adapt to the new environment, as it is not
similar to the standard of living they are used to. Downward
mobility is an example of the extent to which a society
values equal opportunity and structure.

26. 5. Inter-generational mobility
Inter-generational mobility happens when
the social position changes from one
generation to another. The change can be
upward or downward. For example, a
father worked in a factory while his son
received an education that allowed him to
become a lawyer or a doctor.

27. 6. Intra-generational mobility
The intra-generational 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. For example, an individual starts their
career as a clerk and through their life moves on
to a senior position such as a director. One
sibling may also achieve a higher position in
society than their brother or sister.

28. Social inequality refers to the unequal access to
social, political and symbolic capital of individuals
in society. This phenomenon exists every time
individuals and institutions are categorized or
differentiated into classes or distinct groups, or
socially constructed as disparate entities.

29. GENDER STEREOTYPING
Members of society are socialized
into being boys or girls and men or
women. Sex and gender inequality is
not just about placing or designating
gender labels; it is also a form of
negative socialization in a stratified
society. (Newman, 2012). Any form
of deviance becomes subject to
ridicule, stereotyping, and even
bashing or discrimination.

30. Sexism is a system of beliefs, rooted in the
assertion that men and women are naturally
different. It promotes the perceived superiority of
one sex and tolerates gender discrimination
(Newman, 2012). Sexist ideas construct the image
of a male as strong and superior and treat the
female as weak and inferior. Sexism heightens cases
of male brutalities against their wives and promotes
a macho culture that espouses male domination

31. INEQUALITY BASED IN RACE AND ETHNICITY
occurs when the inborn biological features of people
(such as their skin color, hair texture, and eye
shape) are used as a basis of their social status.
Meanwhile, ethnicity is a grouping of people whose
common identity is determined according to their
nonbiological traits like language, culture, history,
etc (Newman, 2012).

32. Racism is also a type of social inequality. Racism also added to
the inequalities present in the society. This term refers to “the
belief that humans are subdivided into distinct groups so
different in their social behavior and mental and physical
capacities that they can be ranked as superior or inferior (Marger,
1994 in Newman, 2012:377)… it exists not just in the minds and
actions of individuals but in a cultural belief system that both
justifies the domination of some groups over other groups
(O’Sullivan-See & Wilson, 1998 in Newman, 2012:384).”

33. QUIZ NO. 04
1. How power, wealth, and prestige interrelated as social
desirables?
2. What is social stratification?
3. How is social inequality produced?