Social and Political

Stratification
• Social stratification implies the division or classification of
members of society into different strata ( singular: stratum ),
promoting the hierarchy among social groups. Each group is
characterized by a shared common identity and lifestyle that
are brought about by the status ascribed to its members.
 Social Desirables
• - In a society where social stratification is present, social desirables
are inevitable.
• - Social desirables refer to factors that are somewhat accepted or
desired in a certain society.
• - Associated with social status, popularity, acceptance or approval.
These factors can be considered as qualities that make individuals
appear as socially desirable in the community.
• - most desired qualities in every society: wealth, power and
prestige.
• Wealth
-pertains to the accumulated economic capital of an individual or group.
• Power
-Dahl(Curtis, 2001) defined power as the capacity of an individual to
influence another person to perform an act or she would not otherwise do.
• Prestige
-The last social desirable that serves as the result of the two previous
elements is prestige.
 Social mobility System
• Social mobility is the shift in social status or rank of an individual
within the frame of a social structure.
• Social mobility may be vertical and horizontal. Vertical mobility
involves the upward anddownward mobility, which means a
progression of social status related to class, power, and prestige. It can
be from higher to lower and vice versa.
Vertical
Mobility
Higher Higher

Social status

Lower Lower
Upward Mobility Downward Mobility
 Class
• Class system denotes the classification of an individual or group of persons
having explicit societal status based on acquired characteritics.
-Certain hierarchical class depends mostly on this 3
1. Wealth
2. Economic Occupation
3. Power
 Caste
• Caste system is related to concept of hindu practice, tradition and culture,
which is rooted in devine sanction and custom.
• Term caste is derived from the Spaniards meaning “breed” thus, caste means
“ race in society “.
• Sanskrit word for caste is varna means “colors”.
- Hindu society is composed of four types of caste know as
Brahmin,Kshatriya, vaishaya, and shudra. Hindu caste system is a closed
system, as it does not allow for social mobility.
 GODS

Brahmin: Priest sand Aacademics

Kshatriya: Warriors and kings
Vaishya: peaMerchants and landowners
Shudra: Commoners, sants and servants

Untouchables: outcasts out of castles, street

sweepers and latrine weepers
• The caste system was created to ensure the continuity and preservation of indian
culture from the earliest generation upto present one.(social stratification, 2014)
However, this is one of the reason why alienation,division and discrimination are
present.
• In the precolonial period, the Philippines had an open caste system that divided the
society according to four categories:
1. Maharlika
2. Timawa
3. Aliping namamahay
4. Alipin sa guiguilid
-This was an open caste system, as it allowed for social mobility within the lifetime of
an individual
Estate System-
This is identical to the practice of feudalism. It has its roots
in pre-Revolution France, where individuals were ranked
according to three categories: Clergy, nobility, and
commoners. The final authority in this system was the king.
Slavery-
The system is the most extreme form of inequality in
society. For instance, slaves are often maltreated by their
owners.
 Social Inequality

This is one of the dimensions of stratification

that concerns the gap between the rich and the
poor (Neckerman and Torche,2007). In US,
social inequality is more rampant than in other
countries because of their higher economic
capacities and capabilities.
 Access to Social, Political and Symbolic
Capital
• According to Pierre Bordieu, capital “ is a force
inscribed in the objectivity of things so that everything
is not equally possible and impossible.” The existing
social worls is innate and depends on the structures of
capital. There are three fundamental types of capital:
economic,symbolic, and cultural capital.
Form Resources Mechanism Characterization

Economix (Marx) Assets Class Convertible to money

Institutionalized in the
form of property right

Symbolic/Social Commands, Access, Power, Heirarchy -Convertible to

(Organizational Favors economic capital
control, social -Institutionalized in the
networks) form of educational
(Weber) qualifications
Cultural/Knowledge Distinction, Authority Status, Recognition -Social Obligations and
(Bourdieu) connections
-Convertible to certaion
conditions
-Institutionalized in the form
of title and nobility
Ethnic Minorities and Persons with Disabilities

• Social Exclusion is the concept of alienating or deviding

individuals or a group in a certain society. Race and
ethnicity have also been the basis of social division in the
whole world. Racial and ethnic differences entail
widespread conflict which can be economic, political,
social and cultural.
 Gender Inequality
• Gender-
Another widespread form of inequality is gender inequality. That has been a
major issue and problem around the world. Gender has always been a sensitive
topic in every argumentation.
• Inequality-
One of the most debated issues in the world is that of global inequality. This
type of inequality refers to the unequal distribution of source resources and
values across territories.
 Theories on Inequality
• For the past years, inequality has been analyzed by sociologists because it is
present in every human society. This section provides various perspectives of
sociologists regarding social stratification and inequality.
Conflict Theory
Karl Marx’s idea of conflict theory is highly based on the modern society
which is devided into two classes: Proletariat and bourgeoisie. Proletariats are
the workers or the working class. On the other hand, the bourgeoisie are the
landlords and owners of production (Curtis, 1976)
Functionalism
Summary of Davis and Moore’s Principles of Stratification
The main function of stratification is “ Placing and motivating individuals in the
social structure.”
1. Each society must (a) place individuals in social positions and (b) motivate them
to work.
2. Some positions are more functionally important than others and require more
training or talent than others.
3. Societies place appropriate people in there positions and motivate them to work
by connecting these positions to better rewards.
4. Thus, the resulting stratification system is functional for society.
• According to Davis and Moore, each member of society
has specific roles and responsibilities to take and
accomplish. Each role has levels of difficulty, and a task
with higher level of difficulty entails more wealth, power,
and money. Davis and Moore also believe that the
unequal distribution of work among people enables them
to exert more effort toward the accomplishment of
societal rewards.
Human Dignity, Rights, and the common Good
• Although social groupings and stratification function in
promoting social order and organization, the impact that
they often have in human groups is unsettling due to the
issues that they create pertating to the achievement of
human dignity and rights.
• The structural and institutional sources of inequality
promote social dynamics that perpetuates the oppression
of the marginalized groups.
EDUCATION
• An individual learns his or her society’s values and beliefs through various
institutions. One of the most pervading is that of the educational system. In
sociology, education is viewed as a social institution.
• Formal education is the term used when a student learns inside the
classroom. A student follows a curriculum and being graded on his or her
performances. As a concept, nonformal education emerged in response to
the world crisis in education identified by Philip H. Coombs in 1967, who
argued that the formal education systems have failed to address the changing
dynamics of the environment and the societies.
• Notions on education change through history. Together with other public
issues in the contemporary world, education mainly concerns much of the
social;, economic, politic and cultural system. A sociological appreciation is
required to fully understand this matter.
Functions of Education that Affect society

• As british sociologist Herbert Spencer explains, function

are important to be performed as they make the society
whole. If each functions well, society attains progress.
• The functions of education are the following: (1) To
produce productive citizens, and (2) to develop self
actualizations.
 Productive Citizenry

• Educational systems enable citizens to be productive

members of society, as they are equipped with
knowledge and skills that could contribute to the
development of their society’s systems and institutions.
• Being a productive citizen requires critical thinking.
 Self Actualization

• Education develops one’s sense of self. As a huge part of

the discovery process of oneself, education encourages
having the vision to become self- actualized. It enables
one to see your strengths and maintain them. It enables
to determine weaknesses and adjust to thm. This helps
one reach full potential and establish oneself as a whole.
 According to Abraham Moslow, self actualization is the highest form of
human need. It was defines as “ to become more and more what one is, to
become everything that one is capable of becoming.”

Self-Actualization
Self-esteem
Love and belonging
Safety and security
Psychological need
 Primary Education as Human Right
• Primary Eduacation is essential to the early of human life. Humans need
education to enable them to adapt to the dictates of their society. UNESCO
declares that Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the
exercise of all other human rights.It promotes Individual freedom and
empowerment and yields important development benefits.
• Formal Education suggests studying in a school or university where
everything is systematic.
• Education is a powerful element to enable culture change.