SOCIAL AND

POLITICAL
STRATIFICATION
OBJECTIVES
Within the week, the students are expected to:
• Discuss the concept of social stratification and its
characteristics;
• Examine the different perspectives of social
stratification through graphic organizer;
• Cite concrete examples of social stratification
present in their community;
• Discuss social mobility and social inequality; and
• Demonstrate an understanding of social and political
inequalities in the society.
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
A
Concept and Characteristics

B
Systems of Social Stratification

C
Theoretical Perspectives
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

D
Social Mobility

E
Social Inequality
C
 ON A SHEET OF PAPER,
MAKE AN ILLUSTRATION
OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY
PRESENT IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
CONCEPT
AND
CHARACTERSITICS
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
•It refers to the division of large social
groups into smaller groups based on
categories determined by economics.
•Social exclusion refers to the process by
which individuals are cut off from full
involvement in the wider circles of society
SYSTEMS OF
STRATIFICATION
 Complete the concept web as we
discuss
STRATIFICATION

CLOSED System OPEN System

CLOSED SYSTEM
•imposes rigid boundaries between social
groups and limit interactions among
members of who belong to different social
groups or occupy different levels in the
social hierarchy
CLOSED SYSTEM
•Caste system is a closed stratification
because people are unable to change their
social standing (e.g. Hindu caste tradition)
•It promotes: belief in faith, destiny, will to of
higher spiritual power than the promotion of
individual freedom—this promotes social
inequality.
OPEN SYSTEM
•On the other hand, it is based on
achievement, allowing more flexibility and
social roles, increased social mobility and
better interaction among social groups and
classes.
OPEN SYSTEM
• Class system is based on the ownership of resources
and the individual’s occupation or profession.
• Exogamous marriage—marriage between people
who come from different social class.
• Endogamous marriage—marriage between people
who come from the same social class, but these
unions are not imposed.
OPEN SYSTEM
•Meritocracy is another system of
stratification that is determined by personal
effort and merit.

In this system, social standing and advancement is

determined by how well a person performs his or her
social role.
THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES of
STRATIFICATION
1. FUNCTIONALISM
• This perspective examines how the different aspects
of society contribute to the meaning to ensuring its
stability and continued function.
• Functionalists believe that each part or aspect of
society serves an important purpose.
2. CONFLICT THEORY
• This takes a critical view of social stratification and
considers society as benefitting only a small segment.
• Conflict theorists believe that stratification
perpetuates inequality.
• According to Marx, social inequality is influenced by
economic forces and that relationships are defined by
the factors of production.
2. CONFLICT THEORY
• Society is being divided into two groups:
–Bourgeois/capitalists: own the factors of production
–Proletariat: the workers providing manual labor to
produce goods.
• The inequalities brought about by social stratification
lead to class conflict.
3. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
• This perspective examines stratification from a
microlevel perspective and attempts to explain how
people’s social standing affects their everyday
interactions.
• Symbolic interactionalists believes that social
stratification leads people to interact with others
within their own social class.
Answer the Assessment,
letter A on p. 119, of the
prescribed textbook.
•Bring pictures or news clippings of
affluent and impoverished sections
of a community.
SOCIAL
MOBILIT Y
 SOCIAL MOBILITY
• It is the ability of individuals or groups to change their
positions within a social stratification system.
–UPWARD MOBILITY
–DOWNWARD MOBILITY
–INTRAGENERATIONAL MOBILITY
–INTERGENERATIONAL MOBILITY
SOCIAL MOBILITY

MOBILITY MOBILITY

Lowering of an
Upward movement
individual’s social
in social class class
 SOCIAL MOBILITY
INTRAGENERATIONAL INTERGENERATIONAL
MOBILITY MOBILITY

It focuses on the It refers to the changes

experience of people in social standing
who belong to the experienced by
same generation individuals belonging to
different generations.
SOCIAL
INEQUALIT Y
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Social Inequality and POVERTY
• Social classes are derived from the inequalities brought
about by possession and control of resources, as well as
access to opportunities for education and employment.
• Status is defined by Max Weber as the esteem or “social
honor” given to certain individuals or groups.
• The concept of class is evident in many industrialized
societies which are generally divided into three (3)
Upper Class Middle Class Lower or
Working Class
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Social Inequality and POVERTY

• UPPER CLASS
–rich, well-born,
powerful, or
combination of these.
–they wield political
power
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Social Inequality and POVERTY

• MIDDLE CLASS
–A group of people who
fall socioeconomically
between the lower and
upper classes
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Social Inequality and POVERTY

• LOWER CLASS or
WORKING CLASS
–Refers to those
employed in low-
paying wage jobs
with very little
economic security
Also called as Blue-collar workers
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Social Inequality and POVERTY

• The term UNDERCLASS is also utilized to refer to

the segment of society that is not only affected by
poverty but is also subject to social exclusion.
• Factors that define social inequality:
– Income
– Influence
– poverty
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Social Inequality and POVERTY

TYPES OF POVERTY:
1. ABSOLUTE POVERTY—refers to the lack of
basic resources.
2. RELATIVE POVERY—applies to those who may
be able to obtain basic necessities but are still unable
to maintain an average standard of living compared to
the rest of the society.
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Social Inequality and POVERTY

TYPES OF POVERTY:
3. SUBJECTIVE POVERTY—a type of poverty that
is defined by how an individual evaluates his or her
actual income against his or her expectations and
perceptions.
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
GENDER INEQUALITY
• Gender inequality is another important aspect of social
inequality.
• GENDER ROLE refers to the specific tasks and behaviors
expected of a person by virtue of his or her sex.
• GENDER IDENTITY refers wo how a person identifies
himself or herself as belonging to a particular gender.
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
GENDER INEQUALITY
• Gender inequality is another important aspect of social
inequality.
• GENDER refers to the culturally-imposed characteristics
that define the masculinity and feminity.
• SEX refers to biological and anatomical differences that
distinguish males from females.
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
GENDER INEQUALITY
• In most societies, male individuals identify with the male
gender and perform roles associated with it.
• Certain individuals deviate from conventional gender roles
and behaviors (e.g. cross dressers, homosexuals, and
transgender individuals)
• Patriarchy refers to the socially sanctioned and systematic
domination of males over females.
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
GENDER INEQUALITY
• Women are MOST vulnerable to gender inequality
• BUT Filipino women has shown a great progress with
addressing this issue.
• Many women have taken jobs to support their family.
• Women have also been involved in the political arena.
(E.g. Corazon Aquino, Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo, Miriam
Defensor Santiago )
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
GENDER INEQUALITY
• The increased awareness of gender inequality also gave rise
to studies that proposed varied views on the nature of
gender inequality.
 Liberal feminism—social and cultural attitudes
 Radical feminism—believes that men are responsible for
exploitation of women through patriarchy”
 Black feminism—identified essential factors to understand
oppression experienced by white women.
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Ethnicity and Race Issues
• ETHNICITY is the affinity or loyalty towards a particular
population, cultural group or territorial area.
• RACE refers to a group of people who share a common
ancestry
• RACISM refers to set of attitudes, beliefs and practices used
to justify the superior treatment of one racial or ethnic group
and the inferior treatment of another racial or ethnic group.
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Ethnicity and Race Issues

• PREJUDICE involves “holding stereotypes”

preconceived views that are often based on faulty
generalizations.
• DISCRIMINATION refers to actions or behaviors of
members of a dominant social group that negatively
impacts other members of the society that do not belong
to the dominant group.
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Ethnicity and Race Issues

• Two psychological mechanisms associated with prejudice

and discrimination:
1. Displacement—feelings of hostility is directed against
objects that are not the real origin of these anxieties
2. Scapegoating
• Racial inequality and discrimination is most prevalent in
modern multicultural societies.
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
OTHER MINORITIES

Persons with disabilities (PWDs)

SOCIAL INEQUALITY
OTHER MINORITIES

THE ELDERLY
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
OTHER MINORITIES

Communities living in isolated areas

SOCIAL INEQUALITY
OTHER MINORITIES

Include:
–Persons with disabilities (PWD)
–The elderly
–Certain religious groups
–Communities living in isolated areas.
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
OTHER MINORITIES

Include:
–Persons with disabilities (PWD)
–The elderly
–Certain religious groups
–Communities living in isolated areas.
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY
GLOBAL INEQUALITY

This refers to the unequal distribution of

wealth, power, and prestige on a global basis,
highlighting patterns of social inequality and
resulting in people having vastly different lifestyles
and opportunities both within and among the
nations of the world.
• Discuss with each other on the most
effective way of addressing social inequality
in the Philippines.
• Present it in a form of skit.