MODULE 12

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL

STRATIFICATION
“ Often times, when you ask a
Filipino if he or she is rich, you
will receive responses such as
“medyo mayaman”, “may kaya”,
and “ayos lang”. ”
These criteria enable the creation of systematic
hierarchies that position individuals in either
powerful or marginalized capacities. This unequal
access to values and resources promotes social
and political stratifications that perpetuate the
problem of inequality.
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
 Implies the division or classification of members of society
into different strata
 Thus, promoting the development of hierarchy among social
groups
 Each group is characterized by a shared common identity
and lifestyle that are brought upon by the status ascribed to
its members
 Hence, the “may kaya” (middle class) Filipinos practice a
different set of values and beliefs from those who belong to
the “walang-wala” (subsistence poor)
 The disparity in practices and beliefs between social groups
from different ranks of society intensifies in-group and out-
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
 The creation of hierarchies in human groups is
associated with the development of complex economic
systems that required the specialization of labor
 Technologically simple societies that are based on
foraging minimally practice social stratification, if not
at all
 At the advent of agricultural revolution, human groups
started creating social categories that can support the
new economic system
 The production of surplus resources created economic
elites who were later accorded political ascendancy as
they controlled the forces of production
 SOCIAL
DESIRABLES
SOCIAL DESIRABLES
Social desirables refer to factors that
are somewhat accepted or desired in a
certain society. These may be
associated with social status,
popularity, acceptance, or approval.
These factors can be considered as
qualities that make individuals appear
as socially desirable in the community.
WEALTH
Wealth pertains to the accumulated
economic capital of an individual or
group. The event of the amassed wealth
of an individual or groups usually
determines its capacity for influence in
decision-making in society. Marxist
perspective argues that the
differentiation in wealth creates social,
economic, and political inequality , which
ultimately promotes social suffering
POWER
Dahl (Curtis,2001) defined power as the capacity of
an individual to influence another person to perform
an act that he or she would not otherwise do. This is
associated with wealth, as economic capital permits
selected members of society to determine the norms
that are often more beneficial for the elite than for
the majority who are bound to follow them. Power
involves benefits and privileges. The power to
determine the course of policies and economy can
provide an individual with distinct advantage as
composed with those who cannot wield influence on
PRESTIGE
This serves as the result of the two previous
elements in prestige. Wealth combined power
that leads to prestige. Sociologists define the
prestige as a level of honor in human society
attached to different groups with reference to
the group's occupation. The measurement of
occupational prestige depend on social
standing and desirability. The level of prestige
depend on the job professionalism of
individuals in relation to training rather than
SOCIAL MOBILITY
SYSTEM
SOCIAL MOBILITY
Social mobility is the shift in social status or
rank of an individual within the frame of a social
structure. Individuals who gain position in a
certain social class may progress to a higher
status. The forms, nature and direction of social
mobility are highly dependent on social
stratification of every society, which may
change from time to time. For instance a
country or community where agriculture is
predominant indicates a lower social mobility as
compared with other countries.
VERTICAL MOBILITY
Social mobility may be vertical or horizontal.
Vertical mobility involves the upward and
downward mobility, which means a
progression of social status related to class,
power, and prestige. It can be from higher to
lower or vice versa.
HORIZONTAL MOBILITY
On the other hand, horizontal mobility refers
to the movement from one status to another
within the same social category. It may be a
transfer of position to another area but with
no other changes in position. For instance, a
government employee at a certain level may
transfer to another government organization
on the same level of position.
SOCIAL MOBILITY
Aside from the above mentioned types that
affects status, class, and position, social
mobility may also affect generation resulting
in two types: intergenerational and
intragenerational. The former occurs when
changes take place from one generation to
another, whereas the latter illustrates
changes within the same generation
FOUR TYPES OF
STRATIFICATION
SYSTEMS
CLASS
Class system denotes the classification of an
individual or group of person having explicit
social status based on acquired characteristics.
In 17th century Europe, the main qualification
to be a member of a certain hierarchal class
depends mostly on three things: Wealth,
economic occupation, and power. Nonetheless,
this qualification changes over time, reliant on
the existing societies especially those societies
that consider legal differentiation as the basis
of social classes.
CLASS
Class may also be characterized in different
ways, but the term status is always
associated with it. Status in a class system
is not ascribed, but its is rather achieved in
many different ways. Class and status differ
according to their accustomed mode of
behavior, which include lifestyle,
recreation, and culture, the standard of
living, preference, taste, and mode of dress
is reflected on lifestyle and behavior.
CLASS
Vertical social mobility
 seenas a movement in the class system
because it represents an open system,
wherein an economic is the main concern
rather than economic groups or divisions.
 involves subjective criteria such as social
class consciousness, solidarity, and
identification, whereas wealth, property,
income, occupation, and education serves
as the objective criteria
CLASS
Class system is merely class conscious
and characterized by relations of each
individual member toward other
members within their classes and other
classes.
CLASS
The traditional perspective presents class a
three-fold classification consisting of the
following: upper class, middle class, and
lower class. The upper class is composed of
elite group (e.g.., institutional leaders,
capitalists). The middle class consist of
scientific and technical individuals of the
society (e.g.., engineers, accountants and
lawyers). The lower class comprises the
working class (e.g.., laborers). and the poor.
CLASS
Pitrim Sokorin, a 20th sociologist, identified
three major types of social stratification:
economic, political, and occupational.
(Sorokin, 1947). In more industrialized
societies, these categories are expanded
to include subcategories. For example,
middle class can be divided into lower and
upper categories.
CASTE
The caste system is related to the concept of
Hindu practice, tradition, and culture, which
is rooted in divine sanction and custom. The
term caste is derived from the Spaniards
meaning “breed”. Thus, caste also means
“race” in society. The Sanskrit word for caste
is varna meaning “color”.
HINDU
CASTE
SYSTEM
CASTE
The caste system was created to ensure the
continuity and preservation of Indian culture
from the earliest generation up to the present
one. However, it has been one of the main
reasons why alienations, division, and
discrimination are present. It is because of the
different positions in the caste system, which
ate linked to specific standards and criteria,
that some individuals enjoy superiority and
privileges more than others.
ESTATE SYSTEM
The estate system is identical to the practice of
feudalism. It has its roots in pre-Revolution france,
where individuals were ranked according to three
categories: clergy, nobility, and commoners. The
final authority in this system was the king. The
estate system was based on existing legal
structures that defined members status right, right,
and duties. The broad division of labor was also
present in his system including specific functions.
Like feudalism, the estate system related to political
group participation and possessed powers.
SLAVERY
The system is the most extreme form of
inequality in society. For instance, slaves
are often maltreated by their owners. In
most cases, slaves have no rights at all
and, deprived of everything because it is
believed that they are created to work only
for others.
SLAVERY
Ancient Greeks and romans allowed various
forms of slavery of non Greek or non roman
individuals. This system persisted in
Western countries such as United States,
which formally abolished the practice in
1865, through an amendment in the US
constitution but with much resistance from
slave owner and their supporters.
 SOCIAL
INEQUALITY
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Social inequality is one of the dimension of
stratification that concerns the gap between the
rich and the poor. In the united states social
inequality in more rampant than in other
countries because of their higher economic
capacities and capabilities. Social capacity is
visible in many other social institution affecting
social aspects such as gender, capital, (social,
political and symbolic), ethnic minorities and
other minorities (e.g., persons with disabilities)
ACCESS TO SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND
SYMBOLIC CAPITAL
According to Pierre Bourdieu, capital "is a
force inscribed in objectivity of things so that
everything is not equally possible and
impossible." The existing social world is
innate and depends on the structure of
capital. There are three fundamental types of
capital: economic, symbolic, and cultural
capital.
 Form Resources Mechanism Characterization
Economic Assets Class • Convertible to money
• Institutionalized in the
(Marx) form of property
rights

Symbolic/Social Commands, access, Power, hierarchy • Convertible to

(organizational control, favors economic capital
social networks) • Institutionalized in the
form of educational
(Weber) qualifications

Cultural/Knowledge Distinction, authority Status, recognition • Social obligations

and connections
(Bourdieu) • Convertible to certain
conditions
• Institutionalized in the
form of title and
nobility
ACCESS TO SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND
SYMBOLIC CAPITAL
These forms of capital are present in every
human society, affecting social stratification
and inequality. The access of these forms of
capital is limited on one social status. People
and groups in higher positions enjoy more and
unlimited resources because of their wealth and
power. Most of these people are popular and
noble, allowing them to gain power in society in
the form of having position in politics or
ETHNIC MINORITIES AND PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES
Social exclusion is the concept of alienating or
dividing individuals or a group in a certain society.
Race and Ethnicity have also been the basis of
social division of the whole world. Racial and
ethnic differences entail widespread conflict which
can be economic, political, social, and cultural.
Racial identity is the main concern of ethnic
inequalities. For instance, African Americans often
suffer from racial discrimination, making them feel
alienated from other societies. Again, this is a
visible example of social inequality.
ETHNIC MINORITIES AND PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES
Other minorities also experience inequalities
and social discrimination due to specific
differences they possess as compared of
other individuals or groups. Minorities such
as Person with disabilities (PWD's) suffer
from social exclusion and discrimination
because of their disabilities. From social
policies to infrastructure, the exclusion of
(PWD's) can be observed.
 GENDER
INEQUALITY
GENDER
Another widespread form of inequality. This
has been a major issue and problem around
the world. Gender has always been a
sensitive topic in every argumentation.
Violence against women and children
rapidly increase everyday. Gender
discrimination among LGBTQI continues
even if several organization have already
developed advocacies and means to
eliminate discrimination in every society
GENDER
 Dowry Deaths are responsible for the murders of
thousands of women every year especially in
south Asia.
 Honor killings continue to take place in Pakistan,
Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran,
Yemen, Morocco and other Mediterranean and
Gulf countries.
 Physical and sexual abuse of girls is a serious
concern across all regions.
GENDER
 Child marriage continues to put young girls at
the great risk for too early pregnancy and
other sexual and reproductive health issues.
 Female genital cutting or Mutilation (FGC/M)
causes serious injury to millions of young
women every year.
 The rate of femicide (murder of women and
girls) has significantly escalated over the last
few years.
INEQUALITY
INEQUALITY
One of the most debated issue in the world is that
the global inequality. This type of inequality refers
to the unequal distribution of scarce resources and
values across territories. The divide between
resource-rich territories and those that face the
challenge of ensuring basic needs and care have
been conceptualized in dichotomized terms such
as developing versus developed countries, first
world versus third world, and, more recently,
global south versus global north. In all these
dichotomies, the prevalent theme is the unequal
access to world resources among countries.
INEQUALITY
These Global inequalities can also be
observed in micro its perspective. In fact,
economic inequality is commonly
observed in both economic poles. The
divide between social classes is especially
observed in industrialized and urbanized
societies. Geographic mapping often
shows the clustering of the rich in one
area that exclude the poor.
THEORIES ON
INEQUALITY
 Inequalityhas been analyzed
by sociologists because it is
present in every human society
CONFLICT THEORY
 Kael Marx’s idea of conflict theory is based on modern
society which is divided into two classes: Proletariat and
Bourgeoisie
 Proletariat – workers or the working class
 Bougeoisie – landlords and owners of production
 ForMarx, proletariats are being exploited by the
bourgeoisie
 Exploitation occurs without the workers noticing it
 Marx predicted that a revolution would happen between
the proletariat and bourgeoisie I
 Marx’s hypothesis failed
 Insteadof exploitation, labor laws and the
protection of working class were exploited
 For
Max Werber, there are other factors and
elements to consider including power, wealth and
prestige
 Hebelieved that as people acquire more wealth,
prestige or popularity, they also acquire more
power
FUNCTIONALISM
 Summary of Davis and Moore’s Principles of
Stratification
The main function of stratification is “placing and
motivating individuals in the social structure”
1. Each society must (a) place individuals in social
positions and (b) motivate them to work
2. Some positions are more functionally important than
others and/or require more training or talent than others
3. Societies place appropriate people in three positions
and motivate them to work by connecting these
positions and to better rewards.
4. Thus, the resulting stratification system is functional for
society
On the contrary, Tatum argues that
gender and family income is more likely
a determinant of social stratification
Men have higher place in social
stratification.
A wealthier family has higher capacity of
accomplishing their roles because of its
higher income
HUMAN DIGNITY, RIGHTS and
the COMMON GOOD
 Theright of individuals to quality
education is often tampered by political
arguments contesting that it should be
reserved to those who can afford it.
 Thepervading issued in the Philippine
educational system that promotes unequal
learning opportunities between private
and public school is one of the negative
impacts of inequality.
 Thestructural and institutional sources of
inequality promote social dynamics that
perpetuates the oppression of the
marginalized groups.
 The unequal access to resources has the
capacity of making several sectors of society
vulnerable to disease and criminality, as
people use their bodies and other
mechanisms to secure basic needs such as
food, clean water, education, and shelter.
this rings us to the topic of human dignity,
which is continuously threatened by the lack
 The pursuit of the common good is a primary
challenge among societies with diverse
population. As each sector clamors for its
perceived rights, the scarcity of available
resources poses a continuous threat to the
attainment of common good.
 In
developing societies, the need for inclusive
growth has been brought in stakeholder
consultations.
Humans have the predisposition to
be simultaneously inclusive ad
exclusive. Humans often create
groups that would ensure the
achievement of their goals and their
survival.
Common good can only be truly
attained if individuals are allowed to
access scarce resources and values