Stratification and

ITS IMPACT TO
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Chapter 7

By Samaheer Gomez
SOCIAL & POLITICAL STRATIFICATION

SOCIAL INEQUALITY
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
It is defined as a systematic categorization of
individuals and institutions in a society
POLITICAL STRATIFICATION
It is defined as a systematic categorization of individuals
and institutions in society based on power relations and
status of power in the state.
 Lesson 1
SOCIAL DESIRABLES
AND STRATIFICATION
Max Weber's Theory of Stratification
A person's status, or position within a
stratified social system, is determined
by their relative power, prestige, and
wealth.

Wealth encompasses the properties

owned by an individual as well as their
Maximilian Karl Emil material assets and investment capital
Weber like money.
Feudalism in the Philippines
In the Philippines, wealth is primarily measured by
ownership of agricultural land. The relationship between the
landlord and tenants also mirrors the social stratification
between the rich and poor in the Philippines.

But recently, wealth is measured on the number of

successful professionals in the household, specifically
those who went from rags to riches, and the OFWs.
Feudalism in the Philippines
Feudalism was introduced by the Spaniards during the
colonization of the Philippines. This was institutionalized
further in 1821 along with bureaucracy.

Feudalism subdivided the country into different levels of

administration, from the province headed by a provincial
governor, cities, municipalities to the smallest political unit, the
barrio.
Gobernadorcillo
He held administrative duties concerning these armed
forces, finance, justice, and lands. The feudal administrators
abused their special positions of power and exploited the
natives.

Overall, feudalistic relations resulted to an unequal,

oppressive, and exploitative form of social relations and
production.
AMERICAN COLONIZATION
Feudalism in the Philippines intensified when the
American Colonized the country. There was an
unrestricted entry of American products in the
Philippines, and the natural and human resources
of the Philippines were exploited.
"FEUDAL WORK SYSTEM AND POVERTY:
THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE"-
BONIFACIO S. MACARANAS
While recognizing the importance of land reform, the colonial administration
adopted a modern land law but ensured, through the prerequisites of land
titling, that it would be almost impossible for small farmers to title their
parcels. It was the rich and educated classes who could take advantage of a
manipulated land registration system and managed to have certified titles to
their landholdings. At the end of the United States’ occupation, the small
farmers were in the same condition they were in during the Spanish era.
After the Americans left the country, wealthy landlords and the elites
continued to practice feudalism. Farmers remained poor and
landless while the landed elite enjoyed power.
Feudal relations remains dominant in the Philippine society because
of the local elites retaining their land owner privileges, wealth, and
benefits after the colonizers left the country.

Inequality and poverty can also be attributed to feudalism. The powerful control
of the landed elite on the livelihood of most Filipinos and local business and
industries result to the unfair distribution of wealth and opportunities.
Poor people remain poor.
POWER
Power is defined as the capacity to influence or control the behavior of
individuals and institutions, whether by persuasion of coercion.
also considered the ability to exercise one's will over others.
power is a potent element that strongly causes or contributes to inequality.

Local politicians can influence decision-making in governance that oftentimes

favors the rich over poor. They can use public funds or government projects for
the personal benefit instead of using the funds for public service.
They can use their positions of power to maintain and expand their existing
domain.
PRESTIGE
Defined as esteem, respect, or approval for culturally valued acts or
qualities.
Can also be a cause of inequality in society.

Individuals gained power and wealth through their popularity as celebrities.

Prestige can be the cause of inequality in society, for example was the APEC
summit held in Manila 2015. The government tried to hide the inequality and
portray a developing country. Instead of showing the "ugly" side or the poverty
of the country, they only showed the "beautiful" side of the country.
PRESTIGE
In the Southeast Asian context, wealth, power, and prestige are
rolled into one especially for those who hold traditional authority in
society. Kings, rajahs, and sultans enjoyed these attributes to
legitimize their leadership. Money or wealth literally is a bulwark of
political power. Power and prestige are also wielded through the use
of force, fear, and violence. In traditional Philippine politics,
statesmanship and public service are entirely out of the picture; the
extravagant use of wealth, power, and prestige prevail.
 Lesson 2
Social Mobility
System
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
AND SOCIAL MOBILITY
Social stratification is the arrangement of groups of
people along a continuum of differing categories,
such as statuses and roles or functions that indicates
differences in unequal life rewards and life chances.

Social mobility is an individual's ability to move from

one place to another along the stratified positions of
society.
OPEN SOCIETY
An open society is when stratification is based on
social classes, where people's social position or status
are determined by economic wealth and income.
It facilitates social mobility based on personal efforts
and individual achievements.

By achieving their goals and improving their

condition in life, the people will live and succeed in
an open society
OPEN SOCIETY
Education plays a vital role in social mobility. It allows
people at the lower strata of society to move upward in
the social order.

Open society privileges include the freedom to move

from the bottom of the social ladder to the top through
individual efforts and success. However, attributes like
race and gender affect the availability of educational,
political, social, and employment opportunities of people.
CLOSED SOCIETY
A closed society is when changes or shifts in social positions
or social mobility are limited; and in some societies even
prohibited.
In a closed society, prevailing cultural norms, laid down
through laws, prohibits a person from moving upward on the
social ladder.

In some societies, laws governing mobilization are codified

and considered as conventional standards. Any violation to
such norms is punishable by death.
CLOSED SOCIETY
The caste system is an example of a closed system. This is
where people are born into their class and remain there for
the rest of their lives.
In general, caste system promotes inequality because
individuals are classified according to their occupational
statuses, which are difficult to shift through time.

Another example is the Spartan society of of Ancient Greece.

Military men have the higher stratum while others below are
not given a chance to move forward.
Lesson 3
SOCIAL
INEQUALITY
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
Refers to the unequal access to social, political and symbolic capital
of individuals in society.

This phenomenon exists every time individuals and institutions are

categorized or differentiated into classes or distinct groups, or socially
constructed as disparate.
People can experience social inequality because of their race, sex, and
gender, among others.
Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination result from social inequality,
and may be experienced through personal interactions or through
institution.
SOCIAL INEQUALITY BASED ON
SEX AND GENDER
Sex and gender inequality is not just about placing or
designating gender labels; it is also a form of negative
socialization in a stratified society.
Any form of deviance becomes subject to ridicule,
stereotyping, and even bashing or discrimination.
Gender stereotyping are generalizations about what
men and women are like
SOCIAL INEQUALITY BASED ON
SEX AND GENDER
Sex roles dictate gender roles as well. This is now being
challenged by feminist frameworks in recent years, which
calls for women empowerment at home and workplace.

Sexism also results to social inequality. Sexism is a system

of beliefs, rooted in the assertion that men and women
are naturally different and that one sex is superior,
tolerating gender discrimination
SOCIAL INEQUALITY BASED ON
SEX AND GENDER
Gender inequality occur mostly in a patriarchy or
male-dominated society. This occurs when males
assume more power than women.

Double standards prevail over monogamous

relationships; stereotypes of women as mere
subject, properties, and sex toys are popular.
SOCIAL INEQUALITY BASED ON
RACE AND ETHNICITY
This occurs when the inborn biological features
of people are used as a basis of their social
statuses. Meanwhile ethnicity is a grouping of
people whose common identity is determined
according to their nonbiological traits like
language, culture, history, and etc.
SOCIAL INEQUALITY BASED ON
RACE AND ETHNICITY
Xenophobia or "fear of other cultures or foreign
interventions" is the worst manifestation of ethnocentric
tendencies.

Racism is also a type of social inequality. Racism refers to

the belief that humans are subdivided into distinct groups
so different that they can be ranked as superior or inferior.
Racism also added to the inequalities present in the
society.
GLOBAL INEQUALITY
Global inequality includes the concentration of resources in
certain powerful countries while other countries are left
behind affecting the opportunities and lives of people
impoverished and less powerful countries.

Globalization creates unbalanced outcomes. While wealth

is created in powerful economies and countries because of
globalization, some countries and people are unable to
enjoy the benefits of globalization.
THANKS
FOR
LISTENING
Questions are welcome!

Samaheer H. Gomez