Precious Johannah Acosta, Julianne Denise Ico & Nathalie Rose Malinao

G11- VERTEBRA

Topic: Social and Political Stratification

What is Social Stratification?

Social stratification is a form of inequality. It is a process wherein the members of the society
are ranked in terms of their superiority. Members are divided into different strata or layers that
fall in a hierarchy. Members of the same rank have similar identities and lifestyles.

Social Desirables
Social standards vary in every society. However, according to Max Weber, most societies would
favor those with power prestige or status and wealth or class. According to Weber’s three
component theory on social stratification, these three would determine a person’s standing in
his/her community.
 Power- refers to the ability to influence other people. It is getting what they want despite
the unwillingness of others to give in to their desires.
 Prestige- refers to the person’s position in society. This refers to having a certain status
that enables you to have resources or opportunities that others without your status
cannot have.
 Wealth – refers to the amount of resources that you have.

Social Mobility System

Social mobility is how people manage to change their social position over a period of time.
There are two types of movement: vertical and horizontal.
 Vertical mobility refers to how people would move up and down the social hierarchy.
 If a person were to move in an equally ranked position, it is called horizontal mobility.
Societies differ on how socially mobile their members are. There are two types of systems
based on their social mobility.
 Open Class System- a person’s statues is based on their achievement. They can easily
move up or down the social ladder based on their actions. Example: In some societies,
having an increase in wealth or fame can garner you more privileges and a higher social
standing.
 Closed Class System- In these societies people are born into their classes and they will
usually remain in their ascribed status for the rest of their life. Example: In India, there
exists a caste system. You are born into a caste, this will indicate your social standing
for the rest of your life regardless of your achievement.
Social Inequality
People having unequal access to various resources and privileges in society. They may be
deprived of economic stability, political influence, education and many more. They may not
receive the same resources and privileges as other people because of their economic standing,
ethnicity and gender.
Social inequality is characterized by three factors: wealth, power and prestige.
 Wealth refers to the amount of material resources a person has access to.
 Power refers to the ability of a person to make others follow him/her.
 Prestige is a person’s influence and status in a society.

Inequality in the access to social, political and symbolic capital

 Social capital- the ability of a collective to act together to pursue a common goal.
 Political capital- refers to the trust, good will, and influence possessed by a political
actor, such as politician, to mobilize support toward a preferred policy outcome.
 Symbolic capital- refers to the resources that one possesses which is a function of
honor, prestige, or recognition, or any other traits that one values within a culture.

Gender Inequality
In some societies, the gender and sex of a person can affect their social standing. It is
characterized by having some people deprived of privileges (such as some occupations, equal
pay, education, rights, etc.) that others enjoy due to their sex or gender.

Ethnic Minorities
There will always be groups of people in a society that will be classified as minorities. Their civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights are sometimes violated because they are
discriminated due to their ethnicity. Ethnic inequality is present throughout the globe. Inequality
is said to affect two groups of minorities: those who have settled in a community for a long
period of time (who have been present in a location for generations) and those who are new to
the area.

Other Minority Groups

A person’s religion, disabilities and beliefs can affect their influence and position in society. For
example, some companies may prevent people with disabilities to work for them.

Global Inequality
Inequality and discrimination exists in societies across the globe. The significant practices in
these communities can cause significant alarm in a global scale.
Two Main Figures Affecting International Activities
 Non- state actors: individuals or organizations that have powerful economic, political or
social power and are able to influence at a national and sometimes international level
but do not belong to or allied themselves to any particular country or state.
 State is classified into three categories:
- Weak State: usually former colonies that failed to convert into a possible nation-
state. Countries like these usually have terrorist groups challenging the established
government and have NGOs handle the issues of development and many more.
- Modernizing State: characterized by the NIC-Eurasia group as “firmly sovereign.”
Nationalism is a tool of the state and minorities that cause trouble are often subdued.
They tend to be democratic or autocratic and are “centralized and highly
bureaucratic, with the national government involved in management of the
economy.” Examples are Brazil, Russia, India and China.
- Developed/Post-Industrial State: This make the distinction between domestic and
foreign affairs disappear, so that mutual interference and surveillance among states
becomes the norm. This type of relationship may even be employed by states as a
means of outsourcing foreign policy.