Unit 7 Social Stratification and Social Inequality

Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of this chapter, the students are expected
to:
1. Define Social Stratification.
2. Differentiate between the views on social stratification.
3. Distinguish among the kinds of stratification system.
4. Explain the elements of Stratification by Karl Marx.
5. Understand the different issues on social inequalities.

7.1 Definition of Social Stratification

- Social stratification involves inequality, arising either from the actual functions
performed by the persons involved or from the superior power and control of
resources possessed by certain individuals or groups, or both societal systems of
stratification.
- All the, although differing greatly in degree of emphasis on achievement or ascription,
are never identical with an objective system of functional differentiation or social
contribution.
- It is important to emphasize at the outset, that social stratification does not simply
refer to individuals.
- It is a way of ranking large groups of people into a hierarchy that shows their relative
privileges.

7.2 Views on Social Stratification

In complex societies, inequality is viewed in terms of the distribution of scarce

goods. This is basically known as social stratification, meaning that "the society is
divided into a number of strata or layers" (Perry and Perry, 1993:140).

People are ranked according to:

a) Wealth-how much of the resources of society are owned by certain
individuals.
b) Prestige-the degree of honor one's position evokes.
c) Power-the degree to which one directs, manages or dominates others (Perry
and Perry, 1993:140).

An individual who has wealth eventually acquires the other characteristics, i.e.,
prestige and power. It is also possible, however, that a person has wealth but not prestige.
If wealth was acquired illegally, he may have the power but not prestige. This is true in
the case of drug lords, of scarce smugglers, and leaders of organized crime who have
access to scarce resources and have power but do not evoke prestige. People do not have
a high regard for them. Similarly, not all political leaders in the Philippines possess all
these three characteristics. They may have wealth and power but the prestige which
accompanies the position may be withheld for various reasons. This is true of those
corrupt officials whose wealth was accumulated through the abuse of power. There are
non-political leaders in small communities, however, who are respected and have more
power than the elected officials because of their wealth and good deeds.

Wealth, which includes income and property, is an element of social stratification,

whereas prestige is an element of status. Thus, class, status, and power are dimensions
of social stratification (Perry and Perry, 1993:140). Because social stratification is a matter
of economics, the ways of understanding how resources and surpluses are distributed
differ from society to society. There are various views on social stratification.

A. The Conservative View

Stratification divides people into haves and have-nots. Think have been concerned
with why differentiation or classification of people occurs in society. The classical view
maintains the position the differentiation is inevitable and deeply rooted in the law of
nature. By nature, human beings are perceived to be selfish and greedy. Society must step
in to minimize such traits to bring order. It is basically the social institutions that promote
inequality, and society must pay the price in order to maintain peace and order.

B. The Liberal View

From the liberal point of view, society has been responsible for corrupting people
because it allowed them to struggle and compete with others for scarce resources. It has
an ill effect in that it results in the differentiation of people, with those successful exerting
dominance over the unsuccessful. The dominant groups use their power, enabling them
to impose their will on others. Thus, stratification and inequality become inevitably (Perry
and Perry, 1993:140)

7.3 Elements of Social Stratification

A. Class
Karl Marx defined class as the division of people in society by their relationship to
the means production: those who own a large portion society's wealth, ie, tools and
capital vital in the production of wealth, and those who exercise control over other people
who have less in life. His approach to the explanation of class is economics. Thus, he
viewed class as composed of those who have, those who need to maintain privileged
positions, and "those have-nots who eventually revolted against the exploitation and
oppressions imposed on them by the haves" (Perry and Perry, 1993:143).

B. Status
Status refers to the social position that an individual occupies society. There are,
however, occupations in the Philippines which accord honor and prestige to the holders.
For instance, teaching is regarded as an honorable profession, in spite of the fact that

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teaching is the lowest paid occupation in the Philippines. This is compensated by the title
accorded to teachers, such as Professor or Doctor, depending upon their educational
attainment. Filipinos are status-conscious. For instance, an engineering graduate is
invariably addressed as Engineer so-and-so. To the Filipinos the acquired status is given
more recognition than the ascribed one.

In addition, residence in exclusive villages affordable to the affluent enrollment in

elite schools, membership in exclusive clubs, and even the types of vehicles owned
determine status.

C. Power
Power refers to the ability of an individual to get other people to do "what he
wants them to do with or without their consent" (Perry and Perry, 1993:146). From
Weber's point of view, power implies political rather than economic superiority.

Two Divisions of Power:

1. Personal power- refers to the individual's freedom to direct his own life
as he chooses.
2. Social power- on the other hand, is the ability of an individual to make
decisions that can affect the entire community.

When consent of society is sought to exercise social power, it is called authority

(Perry and Perry. 1993:147). Social power can also be exercised without the consent of
society, as in the case of organized crimes. In effect, social power can be both legitimate
and illegitimate, predicated on whether consent of the members of society is sought.

Of the elements of social stratification, power is considered most important,

particularly in determining the distribution of goods and services. It is closely linked to
status and class. In the Philippines, for instance, only those who occupy a high status or
who belong to the upper class, get elected to positions of power. Only those who control
capital control business. Thus, most of their decisions are self-serving, i.e., to protect their
business interests.

7.4 Kinds of Stratification System

1. Closed Society

In this type of society, power, class and status are ascribed. In a closed society,
individuals are born into a specific stratum and therefore one's occupation is determined
by the family affiliation. An individual has no opportunity therefore for socio-economic
mobility. The most common example of this is the caste system found in India. Members
of particular castes perform specific services. Both religion and tradition prohibit
members of one caste from interacting with members belonging to another caste.

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2. The Estate System

The estate system was "the economic and social system of feudal Europe and, in
different forms, has characterized a number of nations in Asia (Perry and Perry,
1993:148). The estate system resembles the caste system in that social positions are
ranked according to their functions. Nobility, clergy, and the peasants constitute the main
estate.

3. The Open Society

Philippine society approximates the open society. The open society has the
following characteristics:
a. Though classes exist, they are not institutionalized, as in the case of the caste and
estate systems:
b. Though class boundaries are unclear and people do not show excessive class
consciousness, inequality due to class division is apparent
c. Though status is usually achieved, there is evidence however, that status tends to
be ascribed to the lowest and the highest social classes; and
d. Social mobility is possible and it frequently occurs (Perry and Perry, 1993:149)

7.5 Definition of Social Inequality

Social Inequality refers to the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for
different social positions or statuses within a group or society. (Dictionary of Sociology)

7.6 Inequalities of Gender

Gender stratification refers to men’s and women’s unequal access to power,

prestige and property. Most often than not, the terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ are used
interchangeably. What is the difference between the two?
1. Sex is a biological characteristics distinguishing males and females, primarily,
based on organs related to reproduction.
2. Gender is a social characteristic which varies from one society to another,
referring what the group considers proper for its males and females.

7.7 Definition of Minority Group

Minority groups are people singled out for unequal treatment and who regard
themselves as objects of collective discrimination.

7.8 Women as Minority

Since gender discrimination pervades most aspects of social life, women are
referred to as a minority even though they outnumber men. Some sociologists argue that
biological factors (two X chromosomes in females, one X and one Y in males) result in
differences in male (more aggressive and domineering) and female (more comforting and
nurturing) conduct.

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7.9 Prejudice and Discrimination

1) Discrimination is an action, unfair treatment directed toward someone.

Discrimination can be based on many characteristics, such as race, age, sex, sexual
preference, religion, and politics.

a. Individual Discrimination is the negative treatment of one person by

another on the basis of that person’s characteristics. It focuses only on one
individual treating another badly.

b. Institutional Discrimination is the negative treatment of a minority group

that is built into a society’s institutions; it focuses on human behavior at
the group level.

2) Prejudice is an unfavorable attitude toward any category or group of people based

on one or an elaborate series of negative traits assumed to be uniformly
distributed among the people toward whom he is antagonistic. Prejudice is usually
regarded as a characteristic of the majority. Prejudice exists wherever there is
hostility toward an out-group.

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