This document discusses social stratification and the concepts of social class, status, social desirables, and social mobility. It defines social stratification as a society's categorization of people into socioeconomic layers based on occupation, income, wealth, status, and power. There are generally considered to be three main social classes: the upper class, middle class, and lower class. Status refers to one's position in the social hierarchy, and can be ascribed based on attributes like gender or achieved through education and career. Social mobility refers to movement between social classes, which can occur through either horizontal movement within a class or vertical movement between classes in open or closed class systems.

1. SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION
MODULE 5:

2. Tell me the difference

3. Tell me the difference

4. Tell me the difference

5. Tell me the difference

6. What is Social
Stratification?
- a society’s categorization of
people into socioeconomic
strata or layer, based on their
occupation and income,
wealth and social status, or
derived power (social and
political).

7. 1. Upper Class
Three Social Classes
refers to a group of individuals
who occupy the highest place
and status in society. These
people are considered the
wealthiest, lying above the
working and middle class in the
social hierarchy.

8. 2. Middle Class
Three Social Classes
- these are mostly professional
people like lawyers, doctors,
manager, owners of small
businesses, executives, etc. They
value education most since
education to them is the most
important measure of social status.

9. 3. Lower Class
Three Social Classes
- these are the office and clerical
workers, skilled and unskilled
craftsman, farm employees,
underemployed, indigent families,
etc. They depend on their
paycheck.

10. STATUS
It is the individual’s position in the social structure. The
higher or lower positions that come about through social
stratification are called statuses.
•Ascribed statuses are assigned or given by the
society or group on the basis of some fixed
category. Examples are sex, family background,
ethnicity, etc.
•Achieved statuses are earned by the individual.
Examples are honors received in school, good job,
award for winning a competition, etc.

11. SOCIAL DESIRABLES
Any rational individual will always aspire for things that
give wealth, power, and prestige. The ability of an individual
to realize such aspiration is constrained by situations
where one is born into.
POWER: refers to the ability to influence other people. It is
getting what they want despite the unwillingness to give in
their desires.
1
PRESTIGE: refers to the evaluation of status. You have prestige
according to your status
2
WEALTH: refers to the amount of resources that you have.
3

12. SOCIAL MOBILITY
It is the act of moving from one social status to another.
OPEN CLASS SYSTEM:
means that individuals can change their social class
in the society. People are free to gain a different level
of education or employment than their parents. They
can also socialize with members of other classes,
which allow people to move from one class to
another.
1
Social Mobility Systems:

13. CLOSED-CLASS SYSTEM:
- people can do little or nothing to change their social
standing. People are born into their social standing
and will remain in it. People are assigned occupations
regardless of their talents, interests, or potential.
Social Mobility Systems:
2

14. TYPES OF SOCIAL MOBILITY
HORIZONTAL MOBILITY – It is the movement of a
person within a social class level. For example,
a factory worker who finds a new job as a
construction worker.
1
VERTICAL MOBILITY – It is the movement of a
person between social class levels or another
class. For example, a factory worker who enrolls
in college and becomes a businessman.
2