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hat is It

Read the discussions below.

CONCEPT OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Have you ever wondered why people don’t have the same status in life when they were born? Why are there rich and
poor people in the society? Have you ever thought this idea wondering what if you were born rich? On the other hand, what if you
were born poor? What if the society is some kind of Utopia where everything is just perfect and equal?
Yet, whatever social class one belongs to in a society, it is hope that one may find reasons to still be grateful, and live a
life that is full of opportunities.
The idea of rich and the poor may be too familiar to everyone. It can be seen in Pinoy teleseryes or Korean dramas that
you watched back then, and it can be seen in reality just like in the society where you are belong. The activities that you
encountered a while ago introduced you to the new lesson which is about categorizing individuals or group of people based on
factors such as power, wealth and prestige. This is called Social Classes and the layering of these social classes from higher to
lower class is called Social Stratification. Social stratification is defined as the hierarchical arrangement and establishment of
social categories that may evolve into social groups together with statuses and their corresponding roles in the society (Cordero-
McDonald, et al., 1995, 380). Let’s take a look on the pyramid of social classes shown below:

Social stratification is divided into three social classes. At the top of the pyramid is where the Upper Class. This class in
the society is described by the sociologists as elite individuals or group of people that are most prolific and successful in their
respective areas. These people may be stockholders and investors in very huge well-known companies from different industries
here and abroad. In the second activity earlier, Henry Sy, Sr. and Lucio Tan, Sr. are both considered elite who belong to the upper
class of social stratification. According to the “List of 50 richest Filipinos in 2014” of Pinoy Money Talk website (as cited by
Lanuza and Raymundo 2016, 109), Henry Sy, Sr. and his family had a net worth of $12.7 billion, while Lucio Tan, Sr. and his
family had a net worth of $6.1 billion. These people may own big companies and huge mansions here and abroad, mingle with the
same class, own fancy cars, and value wealthy heritage.
Dividing the upper class and lower class is the Middle Class. Middle class are mostly professional individuals or groups
of people like lawyers, doctors, managers, owners of small businesses in the locality, and executives who work in the corporate
world, etc. They are able to meet both their needs and wants without even worrying about their finances because of the job and
salary they have. They live in spacious houses and situated in best suburbs. Their income can afford them a comfortable lifestyle.
They value education the most since education to them is the most important measure of social status.
Last but not the least, the lowest part of the pyramid of social classes is where the Lower Class situated. These are the
skilled and unskilled artisan, farm employees, underemployed, and indigent families. Because of the given status in life, these
people lack revenue or income and educational training or background. Without the proper education, some of them are jobless or
have difficulty to find a job in order to make ends meet. They also lack support network that could lift them up.
How did stratification system started? Remember the lesson about the earliest form of human societies. According to the
sociologists and anthropologists, in earliest societies, people shared a common social standing; there was no social class back
then.

As societies evolved and became more complex, it began to elevate some members of the society through land
acquisition and social status or social entitlement. In the earliest civilization, there were kings and priests as the upper class,
scribes, merchants and artisans as the middle class, and slaves as the lower class.

CHARACTERISTICS OF STRATIFICATION SYSTEMS

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 Imagine two extremely wealthy people. One of them inherited their money, acquiring it through the luck that comes with
being born to parents or owners of immense amounts of property and wealth, while the other person worked for what he/she had.
That person started at the bottom, and through years of hard work and strategic dealing in life was able to build a business empire
of their own.
Now, which one would you say deserves the wealth? Sociologically, the interesting aspect isn’t your answer to the
question; it’s the fact that different societies, in different times and places, have different answers because the question of what it
means to deserve wealth, success, or power, is a matter of social stratification.
Let’s take a look at the different characteristics of social stratification. Social stratification is:
1. Universal but variable. Social stratification is what we are talking about when we talk about social inequality and social
mobility. Society categorizes people and ranks them in a hierarchy. Everything, from social status, prestige, to the kind of
job one holds, or to the chances of living in poverty, is affected by social stratification. Stratification is universal but
variable because it shows up in every society in the world, but how exactly it looks like, how it divides and categorizes
people, and what the advantages or disadvantages are that come with that division - vary from society to society.
2. Not a matter of individual differences. People are obviously different from each other, so we might assume that
stratification is just a kind of natural outcome of differences, but in reality, it is not. We know we can see the effects of
social stratification on people regardless of their personal choices or traits. For example, children of wealthy families are
more likely to live longer and be healthier, to attend college, and to excel in school as compared to children born into
poverty. Moreover, they are more likely to be wealthy themselves when they grow up.
3. Persists across generations. Stratification serves to categorize and rank members of society across generations, resulting
in different life chances. Yet generally, society allows some degree of social mobility, or changes in the position within
the social hierarchy. People sometimes move upward or downward in social class, which is the basic concept of social
mobility.
4. A social beliefs. A society’s cultural beliefs tell us how to categorize people, and they define inequalities of a
stratification system as being normal, or even fair. If people don’t believe that the system is right, it won’t last. Beliefs
are what make systems of social stratification work and it is through these beliefs about social stratification that inform
what it means to deserve wealth, success, or power.

FORMS OF STRATIFICATION SYSTEMS

1. CLOSE SYSTEM OF STRATIFICATION

India’s Caste System is probably one of the best-known
forms of close system of stratification. While it is a social system of
decreasing importance, it still holds in parts of rural India, and has
a strong legacy across the country. The traditional caste system
contains four large divisions called Varnas. It consists of Brahmin,
or priests and academics in their native language, as placed at the
top of the hierarchy; followed by Khsatriya or the rulers (kings),
warriors, and administrators; then Vaishya or merchants and l
andowners; and last is the Shudra or the commoners, peasants
and servants.
The system required endogamy - marriage within your
own caste category. In everyday life, the caste system
determines whom one could interact with, and how, with
systems of social control, contact between lower and
higher castes is restricted. This whole system is based on
a set of strong cultural and religious beliefs that living within
your own category is a moral and spiritual duty - the reason why gods are on the top of the pyramid because caste system
is governed by religious beliefs of Hinduism.

2. OPEN SYSTEM OF STRATIFICATION

Class System is one of the best examples of open system of stratification and is not based solely on ascribed
status at birth alone. Instead, it combines ascribed status and personal achievement or achieved status in a way that
allows some social mobility. Statuses are not the same. We get different statuses in different ways and chances. Some are
ascribed statuses, which are assigned or given by the society or group based on some fixed category, without regard to a
person’s abilities or performance. Examples of ascribed status are sex, family background, race, and ethnic heritage or
wealth. A person did nothing to earn these statuses, nor has control over these characteristics and had no opportunity or
chance to choose family, sex, and race. On the other hand, achieved statuses are earned by the individual. The following
scenarios serve as examples.
A poor teenager becomes an actress-singer after winning in a television contest. A college graduate lands a good
job because the quality of his or her performance satisfied his or her employer. With achieved statuses, one establishes
which statuses he or she wants. Frequently, a person struggles and exerts more effort on others to get hold of them. Class
is the system of stratification we have in Philippine society. The main difference between caste and class systems is that
class systems are open, and social mobility is not legally restricted to certain people. It is possible that through hard work
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 and perseverance, a citizen can move up the social hierarchy, and achieve a higher-class standing. Instead of ancestry,
lineage, or race being the key to social division, the Philippine system of stratification has elements of meritocracy: a
system in which social mobility is based on personal merit and individual talents. Every Filipino’s dream is that anyone,
no matter how poor, can “pull himself/herself up” and become upwardly class mobile through hard work and
perseverance.

SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

1. FUNCTIONALISM. At the beginning, we may think of social stratification as merely only creating social inequality
among groups of people. In some aspects of social life, it is true. But social inequality brought by social stratification
base from wealth, prestige, and power of social groups, is indeed functional in the society according to Functionalist
Theory.
Every social class has its purpose or role to play a part in the society. We can’t expect the owner of a certain
business empire to do a construction works; but instead, he will hire someone to do it for himself. The upper class,
although they are getting richer because they have the capacity to exploit natural and man-made resources simply
because they have the money. Their role in the society could create job opportunities for other social classes below them.
In fact, there are jobs not requiring a college degree. In this sense, those who are not able to finish their studies can still
be hired. Those with college degree can be employed with a higher paid salary and good position in a company.

2. CONFLICT THEORY. This sociological perspective is the opposite of the latter. Karl Marx viewed social stratification
as creation of inequality between the rich and the poor, or the powerful versus the powerless. Let’s say for example: The
bourgeois capitalists owning high-producing businesses or factories and hire people who work for them. They can enjoy
the luxury of life because they earn billions of money. However, proletariats are the working class earned skimpy wages
and experiencing isolation to the society. The very essence of life is to enjoy it with loved ones. However, working class
did not experience this joy because they are isolated to do the labor for long hours each day to earn money at the end of
the month. Marx argued that proletariats were oppressed by the money-hungry bourgeois.

3. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM. Symbolic interactionism view social stratification on a micro level where
individuals affect others whom they have interacted because of their social class status. In most societies, people can only
interact only to those with the same social class status. For an instance, it is rare for a royal prince or princess to marry a
commoner because the commoner don’t have the same class status as to royal prince or princess. But now, there are royal
marriages already break this tradition.

THE PHILIPPINE PRE-COLONIAL SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Over the course of this lesson, you have informed about the concept, characteristics, and forms of stratification systems.
Did you know that before the Philippines were colonized by the Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese, the Philippine pre-colonial
society was already establishing social stratification through factors such as wealth, power, rights, privileges, entitlement and
achievements? Meet these groups of people one by one once again by reading the given description.

The TIMAWA. They were the majority of the barangay community. They were free. They could acquire property, have any job
they wanted, pick their own wives, and acquire an alipin. They were expected to support the datu and pay their taxes; hence, their
importance in the community was evident.

The MAGINOO. They were the ruling class, the educated class, the royal class, and the privileged class. It was from this class
which the datu came from. The datu was the head of the community called a barangay. He is synonymous to a monarch, rajah,
sultan, and king to other countries.

The ALIPIN. They had the least rights. They served their master who belonged to one of the classes that is above them. The
Alipin was likely his or her servant at home such as doing the household chores and cooking, or aided the timawa with their duties
at work.

The MAHARLIKA. They were well respected if not revered by the barangay. Unlike the timawa, they were not expected to pay
taxes. They would provide protection to the barangay and were responsible for providing and preparing the weapons at their own
expense.

Assessment

Direction: Read the following items carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer in your yellow pad.

1. Does social stratification persist across generations?

a. No, because everyone believes he or she belongs to a social class already.
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b. Yes, it serves to categorize and rank members of society across generations resulting in different life chances
c. Yes, because it shows up in every society in the world but how exactly it looks like vary from society to society
d. No, it does not affect any generation in any parts of the world

2. How do you describe a caste system?

a. It is an open system of stratification requiring the element of meritocracy for social mobility.
b. It is a close system of stratification in which an individual is restricted to his or her social class only.
c. It is an open system of stratification with a combination of achieved and ascribed status.
d. Caste system is universal in every society in the world.

3. What important factor is highlighted in class system for some social mobility?
a. Race b. Power c. Meritocracy d. Wealth

4. Which of the following groups belong to the upper class during the Philippine pre-colonial social stratification?
a. The Maharlika b. The Alipin c. The Timawa d. The Maginoo

5. Which of the following groups belong to the lower class during the Philippine pre-colonial social stratification?
a. The Maharlika b. The Alipin c. The Timawa d. The Maginoo

6. In class system, is social mobility possible?

a. Yes, because it has element of meritocracy based on personal achievements and talents of a person.
b. No, because a man, in any chances, can’t change his or her own social class.
c. No, because of social control restriction based on a set of strong cultural and religious beliefs.
d. No, because class system has no element of meritocracy resulting in an immense social inequality.

7. Why could social stratification be considered as a form of social belief?

a. Beliefs are universal in every society in the world.
b. Everyone believes that he or she belongs to a social class.
c. Beliefs about social stratification that inform people what it means to deserve wealth, success or power.
d. It continues from generation to generation in every society.
8. Which of the following is not considered as a social class?
a. Castaways b. Lower class c. Middle class d. Higher class

9. In caste system, is social mobility possible?

a. Yes, because it has element of meritocracy that is based on personal achievements and talents.
b. Yes, because a man, in any chances, can change his or her own social class.
c. No, because of social control restriction based on a set of strong cultural and religious beliefs.
d. Yes, because anyone can achieve greatness as long as he or she works hard for it.

10. How does social stratification started in the society?

a. As societies evolved and became more complex, it began to elevate some members of the society through land acquisition and
gaining social status.
b. It started when people think that they can afford to invest into material things.
c. It started when a person can buy a lot of foods and drinks for his family.
d. The elements of meritocracy that is based on personal merit and achievement of a person.

11. Which of the following choices best define the concept of social stratification?
a. It refers to people living in immense poverty.
b. It pertains to people in elite category
c. It refers to grouping of social classes based on the factors such as power, wealth, and prestige.
d. It is the study of indigenous people.

12. Which of these choices gives a broader differentiation between the upper class and lower class?
a. The upper class are those who have fancy cars while the lower class are those who are less fortunate individuals.
b. The upper class are those elite group of people while the lower class are those underprivileged who struggled to make ends
meet on a daily basis.
c. The lower class are those who seek financial help and support from the government while the upper class are those business
owners.
d. The lower class are those with nothing to invest from while the upper class are those who can travel the world without worrying
for financial stability.

13. Why is social stratification be considered as universal but variable?

a. Because everyone is entitled to be part of a social class
b. Because a man, in any chances, can change his/her own social class
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c. Because social stratification is based on the factors such as power, wealth and prestige
d. Because it shows up in every society in the world but how exactly it looks like vary from society to society

14. Which type of status is earned by an individual?

a. Single status b. Ascribed status c. Achieved status d. In a relationship status

15. Which of the following describes the upper class?

a. A person who can afford to buy clothes and shoes
b. A person who do not have enough money to make ends meet
c. A person who owned businesses, and is an investor
d. A person who can buy a lot of foods and drinks for his family

PERFORMANCE TASK 2
Listen to the song “TATSULOK” by Bamboo. In a short bond paper, make a poster (drawing) expressing the message
of the song and its relation to the topic. Follow the format below:

Name: ______________ Section: _____________

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

Performance Task 2

(PUT YOUR POSTER/DRAWING HERE)