UCSP Module 9
UCSP Module 9
UCSP Module 9
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Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I
All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the copyright owners.
Management Team:
SHS
Understanding Culture, Society & Politics
Module 9:
Concept, Characteristics and Forms of
Stratification Systems
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Target
In the previous lesson, you have examined the functions and importance of
educations in the society. You have learned that education is an essential part of
any society because this is the primary way of enlightening an individual with each
aspect of life. It is therefore a must that the school system delivers to society
individuals whose abilities have been developed sufficiently so that they are able to
assume positive and productive societal roles. Moreover, for the preservation and
enhancement of knowledge and the development of character within our given form
of society which will best prepare the individual for the conditions of extreme
novelty the near future is bringing.
This lesson will provide you with information and various activities that will
help you understand the concept, characteristics and forms of stratification
systems using sociological perspective.
After going through this lesson, you are expected to examine the concept,
characteristics and forms of stratification systems using sociological perspective.
Before going on, answer the activities below to check on what you
know about the topic. Have fun and good luck!
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Jumpstart
Discover
In all societies people differ from each other on the basis of their age, sex
and personal characteristics. Human society is not homogeneous but
heterogeneous. Apart from the natural differences, human beings are also
differentiated according to socially approved criteria. Society is divided based on
economic, social, religious and other aspects. Heterogeneity in society is called
social stratification.
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Sociologists use the term social stratification to describe the system of social
standing. There are various meanings of social stratification and is defined as
follows:
• It refers to what sociologists call it as “ institutionalized inequality” of
individual or “social injustice” due to social categories (Ariola, 2012).
• It is an institutionalized pattern of inequality in which social categories
are ranked on the basis of their access to scarce resources Brinkerhoff
& White, 1988).
• It is the way people are ranked and ordered in society (Cole, 2019).
• It is a system whereby people rank and evaluate each other as superior
or inferior and, on the basis of such evaluation, unequally reward one
another with wealth, authority, power, and prestige. One result of each
differentiation is the creation of a number of levels within the society.
(Hebding & Glick, 1992)
• It is the hierarchical arrangement and establishment of social
categories that evolve into a social group together with statuses and
their corresponding roles. (Panopio el al., 1994)
• It is the differentiation of a given population into hierarchically
superposed classes. It is manifested in the existence of upper and lower
social layers. Its basis and very essence consist in an unequal
distribution of rights and privileges, duties and responsibilities, social
values and privations, social power and influences among the members
of a society (Sorokin, 1927).
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There are some people that are treated in another way because of the social
status, power, income, prestige and among others that they hold in their society
(Arcinas, 2016).
The individual’s position in the social structure is called status. The higher
or lower positions that come about through social stratifications are called
statuses. Statuses are not the same. One may get different statuses in different
ways. They can be ascribed or achived. Ascribed statuses are assigned or given by
the society or group on the basis of some fixed category, without regard to a
person’s abilities or performance. These include sex, family background, race, and
ethnic heritage. You did nothing to earn these statuses; you have no control over
these characteristics and no opportunity or chance to choose your family, your sex,
and your race. In the Philippines, the children of Ayala’s and the Zobel’s have
ascrived statuses (Zulueta, 2006). Whereas, achieved statuses are earned by the
individual because of his or her talent, skills, occupation and persevernace. These
include, degree or educational attainment, promotion, position, earned wealth and
the like. For example, Nora Aunor has moved up in the social ladder because of her
beautiful voice and singing talent. Prestige refers to the evaluation of status. You
have prestige according to your status. For example, being the president of the
Supreme Student Government of your school, you have the prestige of a president
whether or not you perform and carry out well the duties and responsibilities of
SSG president (Baleña et.al., 2016).
According to Max Weber, most societies would favor those with power,
prestige, status, wealth or class. According to Weber’s Component Theory on Social
Stratification, these three would determine a person’s standindig in his/her
community:
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wages, private relief, among others. Wealth is everything that is owned
by a person. Inherited wealth is acquired since birth and without effort.
Acquired wealth is achieved through ones effort either by talent, income
or by marriage. Income refers to the amount of money a person
receives.
Generally, there are three (3) known types of social stratification: open
systems, closed systems and ethnic systems ( Ariola, 2012).
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Sociologists distinguish between two types of systems of stratification –
open system and closed system. For the anthropologists, they include ethnic system
as another type of social stratification.
A. Open System
General
Categories
Characteristics
The class structure 1. Upper Class – The people in this class have great
is an open system. It wealth and sources of income. They constitute the
encourages people to elite wealthy group in the society. They have high
strive and achieve reputation in terms of power and prestige. They live in
something. People exclusive residential area, belong to exclusive private
belonging to one clubs, and may have strong political influence in the
social class have system of government. They own several cars and
similar opportunities, properties and their children may study in exclusive
similar lyfestyles, schools.
attitudes, behavior
and possibly similar 2. Middle Class – The people in this class may belong to
socio-economic the upper-middle class which is often made up of
positions. highly educated business and professional people
It is based on with high incomes, such as doctors, lawyers,
aachievement, allow stockbrokers, and CEOs or to the lower-middle class
movement and often made up of people with lower incomes, such as
interaction between managers, small business owners, teachers, and
layers and classes. secretaries. Aside from generally command of high
One person can move income, people belonging to the upper-middle class
up or down to class often have college education, live in comfortable
through homes, own properties, have some money savings,
intermarriages, and active in community activities. People in the
opportunities, or lower-middle class have not achieved the same
achievement. People lifestyle of the upper –middle class but somehow have
have equal chance to modest income and live in simple life.
succeed. Whether
people do something 3. Lower Class –The lower class is typified by poverty,
to improve their lives homelessness, and unemployment. The people in this
or not this greatly class belong to the bottom of socio-economic ladder.
depends on them. They may be categorized into two: upper-lower class
and lower-lower class. In the upper-lower class,
people are considered as the working class or
laborers. They have acquired little education, little
time to be involved in civic and community activities.
Some of them are underemployed, have many
socioeconomic problems, with lttle or no luxuries at
all. The people in the lower-lower class are
unemployed, or no source of income except by
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begging or dependent from private and government
relief. Many of them live in squatter areas, under the
bridge, in street corridors, or with no house at all.
Many of them are liabilities of society because they
may be involved in drug addiction and criminaliities.
B. Closed Systems
General
Categories
Characteristics
Closed system 1. Caste System – It is regarded as closed stratification
accommodates little system in which people can do little or nothing to
change in social change their social standing. Social contact is rigid
position. They do not and clearly defined. People are born and die in their
allow people to shift
caste. Contact between and among the caste is
levels and do not
minimal and governed by a set of rules – especially
permit social
relationships between those who belong to the lower degree, as this will tend
levels. to bring them down.
We do not practice caste sytem in the
Philippines. It existed 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).
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Social Stratification and Social Mobility
Social mobility refers to the movement within the social structure, from one
social position to another. It means a change in social status. All societies provide
some opportunity for social mobility. But the societies differ from each other to
extent in which individuals can move from one class or status level to another.
Thus, people in society continue to move up down the status scale. This movement
is called ‘social mobility’. For example, the poor people may become rich, the bank
peon may become bank officers, farmers may become ministers, a petty
businessman may become a big industrialist and so on. At the same time a big
businessman may become a bankrupt and ruling class may be turned out of office
and so on.
In a democratic state like the Philippines, a person can improve his social
status but the degree of mobility varies. In an open system, every individual is
provided equal opportunities to compete for the role and status derived regardless
of gender, race, religion, family background and political inclination. There are
three (3) types of social mobility: social mobility, geographical mobility, and role
mobility.
3. Role Mobility is the individual’s shifting from role to role. Every member
of a society has roles to play. Different situations call for enactment of
various roles. For example, the father is the bread earner of the family
but may be a teacher in school, or the leader at home or a follower in the
school or office. A daughter may be submissive at home but very active
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and active as a campus student leader. A teacher may have varied roles
such as being a mother, a wife, a guidance counselor, a community
leader and many more (Ariola, 2012).
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oppressing those at the bottom. At a minimum, they can heavily influence the law,
the media, and other institutions in a way that maintains society’s class structure.
Explore
Enrichment Activity 1
Directions: Complete the table by listing down the assumptions of the three
theoretical perspectives (Structural – Functionalism, Conflict Theory,
SymbolicInteractionism) on social stratification. Write your answer in a separate
sheet of paper.
Theoretical
Assumptions
Perspectives
Structural -
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Functionalism
Conflict Theory
Symbolic-Interactionism
Enrichment Activity 2
Directions: Differentiate the three social classes under open system by completing
the graphic organizer below .Write your answer in a separate sheet of paper.
Great job! You have understood the lesson. Are you ready now to
summarize?
Deepen
Activity 1
Directions: Answer the following questions briefly but substantially. Write your
answer in a separate sheet of paper. Your answers will be scored based on the
rubrics below.
Criteria Score
Content 2
Mechanics 2
Neatness 1
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1. How is social stratification differ from social differentiation?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. How is open system of social stratification differ from closed system of social
stratification?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Activity 2
Directions: Look for a person (a local figure) whom you consider very successful
today, that is he/she started as a poor person until he/she succeeded in life
(political, education, business, religious field). Write his/her success story. Use a
separate paper for your output. You will be graded based on the rubrics below.
Criteria Score
Content 2
Mechanics 2
Neatness 1
PHOTO
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Process Questions:
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Gauge
Directions: Read very carefully the questions below and choose the letter that
corresponds to your answer. Write your answers in a separate sheet of paper.
2. Which of the following best describes how social class is related to social
stratification?
A. Each layer has many layers of social stratification
B. Each layer of social stratification constitutes a social class
C. The terms social stratification and social class mean the same thing
D. Social stratification exists in caste systems, whereas social classes only
exist in noncaste systems
3. What is the key distinction between a caste system and a class system?
A. a marriage within a specific group
B. occupational prestige
C. educational opportunity
D. social mobility
4. What is Social Stratification?
A. The division of society into categories, ranks, or classes.
B. The unequal sharing of scarce resources and social rewards
C. A social structure in which classes are determined by ascribed status.
D. A social structure in which classes are determined by achieved status.
5. The unequal sharing of scarce resources and social rewards is known as _____.
A. Social Inequality
B. Social Mobility
C. Social Sharing
D. Social Stratification
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A. People can only move intergenerationally
B. People can move vertically, but not horizontally
C. Social status is inherited and cannot be changed
D. Social status can be changed by education and hard work
7. A factory worker's son earns his way through college and eventually becomes a
physics engineer. This is an example of _______
A. Horizontal mobility
B. Intergenerational mobility
C. Role mobility
D. Vertical mobility
9. Which of the following perspective states that "inequality exists because some
people are willing to exploit others"?
A. Conflict perspective
B. Structural-Functionalist
C. Social Exchange
D. Symbolic-interactionist
10. A politician describes inequality as a motivator of people to fill the different and
necessary positions in society. He is using example of _________.
A. Conflict theory
B. Social Exchange theory
C. Structural-Functionalist theory
D. Symbolic-interactionist theory
11. Which of the states that stratification assures that the most qualified people fill
the most important positions, that these qualified people perform their tasks
competently, and that they are rewarded for the effort?
A. Conflict theory
B. Structural-Functionalism
C. Symbolic interactionism
D. None of the choices
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12. Which of the following best describes the structural-functionalist theory of
social stratification?
A. Inequality exists because some people are willing to exploit others.
B. Social stratification will eventually be eliminated when the workers revolt.
C. Children are taught that a person's social class is the result of their talent
and effort.
D. The inequality of social classes helps assurre that the most qualified people
fill the most important positions.
14. Which describes a society where people frequently can, by acquiring skills and
working hard, move from one level of social stratification to a higher level of
social stratification.
A. closed system
B. open system
C. ethnic system
D. estate system
15. The child of an office clerk becomes a physician. This is an example of _______.
A. Geographical mobility
B. Intergenerational mobility
C. Social mobility
D. Role mobility
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Answer Key
False 10. . A 10
True 9. . A 9
False 8. . A 8
True 7. . D 7
False 6. . C 6
True 5. . C 15 . A 5
False 4. . B 14 . A 4
True 3. C 13. . A 3
False 2. . D 12 . B 2
True 1. . B 11 . D 1
Activity 1 Assessment 1
Jumpstart Gauge
References
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Printed Materials
Arcinas, Myla M. (2016). Understanding Culture, Society and Politics. The Padayon
Series. Quezon City, Philippines: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.
Ariola, Mariano M. (2012). Sociology and Anthropology with Family Planning.
Manila, Philippines: Purely Books Trading and Publishing Corp.
Baleña, Ederlinda D. et.al. (2016). Understanding Culture, Society and Politics for
Senior High School. Quezon City, Philippines: Educational Resource
Corporation
Brinkerhoff, David B. and White, Lyn K. (1988). Sociology. St. Paul: West
Publishing.
Cole, Nicki L. (2019). What Is Social Stratification, and Why Does It Matter??
retrieved on October 18, 2020 (https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-
socialstratification-3026643)
Davis, Kingsley, and Moore, Wilbert E. (1945). “Some
Principles of Stratification.” American Sociological Review
10(2):242–249. Retrieved October 16, 2020
(http://www.jstor.org/stable/2085643)
Glick, Leonard and Hebding, D. E. (1980). Introduction To Social Problems,
Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley
Kerbo, Harold R. (1991). Social Stratification and Inequality. New York:
McGrawwHill Book Company
Panopio, Isable S. et.al. (1994). General Sociology, 3rd Edition. Quezon City: Ken
Inc.
Sorokin, Pitirim A. (1927). Social Mobility. New York: Harper
Zulueta, Francisco M. (2006). Anthropological and Sociological Concepts and
Perspectives. Mandaluyong City, Philippnes: National Bookstore
Website:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopenintrotosociology/chapter/
introduction-to-theoretical-perspectives-onstratification/
https://opened.cuny.edu/courseware/lesson/153/overview
https://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/chapter/8-1-systems-of-stratification/
https://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/chapter/8-2-explaining-stratification/
https://www.mcgill.ca/iris/files/iris/Panel8.2Haller.pdf
https://www.scribd.com/document/318148460/Meaning-and-Nature-of-Social-
Stratification
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