Social stratification refers to a system that ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. It is a universal trait of society that is passed down generations and involves inequality as well as beliefs. There are three main systems of social stratification - caste, class, and meritocracy. Caste is based on ascription or birth alone and allows little social mobility. Class systems consider both birth and individual achievements, allowing some choice and mobility. Meritocracy ranks people based on personal merit. In medieval Britain, there was a caste-like system with the clergy, nobility, and commoners comprising the three estates.

1. Prepared by: Ms. Frencis Joy Panerio
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

2. WHAT IS SOCIAL STRATIFICATION?
A system by which a society ranks categories of
people in a hierarchy (Machionis, 2007)
 Internal division into a hierarchy of distinct social
groups, each having specific life chances, and a
distinctive style of life (Panopio&Raymundo, 2004)

3. FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES:
• Social stratification is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual
differences – Neither rich nor poor people create social stratification but
the system shapes the lives of them all.
• It carries over from generation to generation
• It is universal but variable
• It involves not just inequality but beliefs as well

4. Social differentiation
Refers to the distinct conditions of individuals which
does not necessarily imply unequal treatment or
ranking in society.

5. Social inequality
Is the condition of unequal access to
what is valuable in a society

6. continuation
• The distinction of social rank is
based on wealth, biological
characteristics, social skills, or
money.
• This differentiation is inevitable

7. The caste system
 Is a social stratification based
on ascription, or birth.
• A pure caste system is closed
because birth alone
determines a person’s entire
future, with little or no social
mobility based on individual
effort.

8. The class system
Social stratification based on both birth and individual
achievements
• Work is no longer fixed at birth but involves some
personal choice.
• Greater individuality also translates into more freedom
in selecting a marital partner.

9. Meritocracy Refers to social stratification
based on personal merit
• Caste societies define merit
in terms of loyalty to the
system – that is, dutifully
performing whatever job
comes with a person’s birth.

10. CASTE AND CLASS: THE UNITED KINGDOM
 England had castelike system
of there estates during the
Middle Ages.

11. First Estate
The Clergy – who were thought to speak with the
authority of God

12. Second Estate
Hereditary nobility, making perhaps 5 percent of the
population.

13. Third Estate
Commoners – most commoners were serfs who worked
the land owned by nobles or the church.

14. Basic components of social
stratification
• Social Class
• Status – is the social standing of a person within
a social class or in the entire social stratification
system.
• Roles – pertains to the expected behaviour
patterns that corresponds with a status

15. Social mobility
This refers to the movement of
individuals or groups within a small
system wherein a degree of
openness or closeness exists.
Social mobility is a continuous
process that involves:
• motivation
• cooperation
• competition
• conflict

16. Horizontal Mobility
Which is the movement from one position to another
with the same ranking.
Vertical Mobility
 Which is upward or downward change in
rank