TYPES OF SOCIAL

STRATIFICATION AND
THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
AGUILOS, HANNA M.
GRADE 12 ABM – GARA
GENERALLY, THERE ARE THREE (3) KNOWN
TYPES OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION:, OPEN
SYSTEMS CLOSED SYSTEMS AND ETHNIC
SYSTEM (ARIOLA, 2012).
SOCIOLOGIST DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
TWO TYPES OF SYSTEMS OF
STRATIFICATION – OPEN SYSTEM AND
CLOSED SYSTEM. FOR THE
ANTHROPOLOGIST, THEY INCLUDE
ETHNIC SYSTEM AS ANOTHER TYPE OF
STRATIFICATION.
A. OPEN SYSTEM
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
- THE CLASS STRUCTURE IS AN OPEN SYSTEM. IT
ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO STRIVE AND ACHIEVE SOMETHING.
PEOPLE BELONGING TO ONE SOCIAL CLASS HAVE SIMILAR
OPPORTUNITIES, SIMILAR LIFESTYLES, ATTITUDES, BEHAVIOR
AND POSSIBLY SIMILAR SOCIO-ECONOMIC POSITIONS.

CATEGORIES:
1. UPPER CLASS - THE PEOPLE IN THIS CLASS HAVE GREAT
WEALTH AND SOURCES OF INCOME. THEY CONSTITUTE THE
ELITE WEALTHY GROUP IN THE SOCIETY. THEY HAVE HIGH
REPUTATION IN TERMS OF POWER AND PRESTIGE. THEY LIVE
IN EXCLUSIVE RESIDENTIAL AREA, BELONG TO EXCLUSIVE
PRIVATE CLUBS, AND MAY HAVE STRONG POLITICAL
INFLUENCE IN THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. THEY OWN
SEVERAL CARS AND PROPERTIES AND THEIR CHILDREN MAY
2. MIDDLE CLASS - THE PEOPLE IN THIS CLASS MAY BELONG TO THE
UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS WHICH IS OFTEN MADE UP OF HIGHLY EDUCATED
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE WITH HIGH INCOMES, SUCH AS
DOCTORS, LAWYERS, STOCKBROKERS, AND CEOS OR TO THE LOWER-
MIDDLE CLASS OFTEN MADE UP OF PEOPLE WITH LOWER INCOMES,
SUCH AS MANAGERS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, TEACHERS, AND
SECRETARIES. ASIDE FROM GENERALLY COMMAND OF HIGH INCOME,
PEOPLE BELONGING TO THE UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS OFTEN HAVE
COLLEGE EDUCATION, LIVE IN COMFORTABLE HOMES, OWN
PROPERTIES, HAVE SOME MONEY SAVINGS, AND ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY
ACTIVITIES. PEOPLE IN THE LOWER-MIDDLE CLASS HAVE NOT ACHIEVED
THE SAME LIFESTYLE OF THE UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS BUT SOMEHOW
HAVE MODEST INCOME AND LIVE IN SIMPLE LIFE.
3. LOWER CLASS - THE LOWER CLASS, CHARACTERIZED BY POVERTY,
HOMELESSNESS, AND UNEMPLOYMENT, IS A SUBSET OF THE UPPER-
LOWER CLASS, WHICH INCLUDES LABORERS WITH LIMITED EDUCATION
AND INVOLVEMENT IN CIVIC ACTIVITIES. THEY OFTEN LIVE IN SQUATTER
AREAS, LACK HOUSING, AND MAY BE INVOLVED IN DRUG ADDICTION AND
CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.
B. CLOSED SYSTEMS
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
- CLOSED SYSTEM ACCOMMODATES, LITTLE CHANGE
IN SOCIAL POSITION. THEY DO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO SHIFT
LEVELS AND DO NOT PERMIT SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
LEVELS.
CATEGORIES:
1. CASTE SYSTEM - IT IS REGARDED AS CLOSED STRATIFICATION
SYSTEM IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN DO LITTLE OR NOTHING TO
CHANGE THEIR SOCIAL STANDING. SOCIAL CONTACT IS RIGID
AND CLEARLY DEFINED. PEOPLE ARE BORN AND DIE IN THEIR
CASTE. CONTACT BETWEEN AND AMONG THE CASTE IS
MINIMAL AND GOVERNED BY A SET OF RULES ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE LOWER DEGREE, AS THIS WILL
TEND TO BRING THEM DOWN.
- WE DO NOT PRACTICE CASTE SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES. IT
WASTED FOR CENTURIES IN INDIA AND THIS INCLUDES THE
BRAHMANS WHO ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRIESTHOOD, THE
KAHATRYIAS (THE WARRIORS), THE VAISHYUS (THE
BUSINESSMEN AND TRADERS), AND THE SHUDRUS (THE
SERVANTS)
2. ESTATE SYSTEM - IT IS SOMEWHAT A CLOSED SYSTEM IN
WHICH THE PERSON'S SOCIAL STANDING IS BASED ON
OWNERSHIP OF LAND, BIRTH, OR MILITARY STRENGTH
INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE BORN INTO ONE OF THE ESTATES
REMAINED THERE THROUGHOUT LIFE BUT IN EXTREME CASES
THERE IS SOCIAL MOBILITY, THAT IS PEOPLE COULD CHANGE
THEIR STATUS. IN THE MIDDLE AGES THERE ARE THREE (3)
MAJOR ESTATES IN EUROPE NOBILITY, CLERGY, AND THE
PEASANTS.
C. ETHNIC SYSTEM
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
- THIS TYPE OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IS BASED ON
NATIONAL ORIGIN, LANGUAGE AND RELIGION. ETHNICITY SETS
SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY APART AND EACH GROUP HAS A SENSE OF
IDENTITY. PEOPLE INTERACT MORE FREELY WITH THOSE PEOPLE
BELONGING TO THE SAME ETHNIC CATEGORY. DURING THE
SPANISH AND AMERICAN COLONIAL SYSTEMS IN THE PHILIPPINES,
THE COLONIZERS PERCEIVED THEMSELVES TO BE OCCUPYING
THE UPPER SOCIAL CLASS THAN THE FILIPINOS OR THE NATIVES
WHOM THEY CALLED AS INDIOS. IMMIGRANTS USUALLY BELONG
TO A LOWER STATUS THAN THE INHABITANTS. THE GADDANGS,
ITAWIS, ITUWERAW, ILONNGOTS, AND OTHER ETHNIC MINORITY
GROUPS ARE CONSIDERED INFERIOR THAN THE OTHERS.
THANK YOU 