11 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Understanding Culture,
Society and Politics
Quarter 4 – Module 9: Concept,
Characteristics and Forms of
Stratification Systems

NegOr_Q4_UCSP11_Module9_v2
Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Grade 11
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 4 – Module 9: Concept, Characteristics and Forms of Stratification
Systems
Second Edition, 2021

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writers: Lloyd S. Balingit JD and Joevan W. Alcala
Editors: Catherine A. Credo, Jane Consejo C. Pinuto
Reviewers: Gemma F. Depositario, Ed.D.
Illustrator: Typesetter
Layout Artist: Mila A. Reyes, Rommel P. Dayot
Management Team: Senen Priscillo P. Paulin, CESO V Rosela R. Abiera
Joelyza M. Arcilla, Ed.D. Maricel S. Rasid
Marcelo K. Palispis, Ed.D. Elmar L. Cabrera
Nilita L. Ragay, Ed.D.
Carmelita A. Alcala, Ed.D.

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education –Region VII Schools Division of Negros Oriental

Office Address: Kagawasan, Ave., Daro, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

Tele #: (035) 225 2376 / 541 1117
E-mail Address: negros.oriental@deped.gov.ph

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Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear learners, can continue your
studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions, directions, exercises, and discussions
are carefully stated for you to understand each lesson.

Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-step as you
discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.

Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in each SLM. This will tell
you if you need to proceed on completing this module or if you need to ask your facilitator or
your teacher’s assistance for better understanding of the lesson. At the end of each module,
you need to answer the post-test to self-check your learning. Answer keys are provided for
each activity and test. We trust that you will be honest in using these.

In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are also provided to our
facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they can best help you on your
home-based learning.

Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part of this SLM. Use
a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and tests. And read the instructions
carefully before performing each task.

If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering the tasks in this
module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.

Thank you.

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 What I Need to Know

Good day, dear learner!

Using this learning resource, you are ought to examine the concept, characteristics and
forms of stratification systems using sociological perspectives as reflected in the K-12
Most Essential Learning Competencies.

Specifically, at the end of this module, you are expected to achieve the following
objectives:

K: Identify the different forms of stratification systems;

S: Analyze the concept, characteristics and forms of stratification systems; and
A: Develop the value of equality in dealing with all types of people.

Henceforth, at the end of this topic, you will be able to examine closely the concept,
characteristics and forms of stratification systems using sociological perspectives particularly
in the Philippine setting.

What I Know

Directions: Arrange the following jumbled letters into words. Write your answers in your
notebook.

1. ationtificStra
2. weLor lasCs
3. ppeUr lascs
4. dleMid scsla
5. quaIlityne

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 What’s In

*In two sentences, express your

stand based on the picture and
write your answers in your notebook.
_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________
Process Questions: Write your answer
in your notebook.

*Which part of the pyramid has

large number of people? Why?

*Is there a balance in the distribution

of wealth and income? Why?

Proceed to the next activity

to learn more.

(Anakbayan 2016)

What’s New

(Leuenberger 2015)

*List as many social problems that you can relate in the picture.
*Based on the picture, is there a system of hierarchy that exist in our society?
Read more in order to answer your queries.

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 What is It

Sociologists use the term social stratification to describe the system of social
standing. Social stratification refers to a society’s categorization of its people into rankings of
socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power.
(Lumen Learning n.d.)

Types of Social Class in the Philippines

Three primary social classes exist in the Philippines: the low-income class, the
middle-income class, and the high-income class.

The latest Family Income and Expenditure Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA) shows that majority (58.4%) of Filipinos belong to the low-income class, while the
middle class comprises around 40% of the population. Only 1.4% fall in the high-income class.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the government’s socio-
economic policy think tank, notes that the low-income class has a bigger share of the
population because they tend to have larger families than other social classes.

The middle class is further classified into lower, middle, and upper middle-income
classes. In between the poor and the middle class is another social class called the low-
income class—they’re not middle class but not considered poor. And then there’s the upper-
income class in between the middle class and the rich. Although people in this social class
make six-digit figures monthly, they’re not considered among the elite group of the wealthiest
in the Philippines.

For policy-making and public service purposes, the Philippine government looks at the
per capita income (in relation to the poverty threshold) to classify the income level of its citizens
and to assess their standard of living.

The current official poverty threshold in the Philippines is PHP 10,481, which is the
minimum amount a family of five needs in a month to buy their basic food and non-food items.
If your family income is higher than the poverty threshold, the government doesn’t consider
you poor. Wondering what social class you’re in? Your guess might not match the
government’s definition of social classes.

Income Cluster Per Capita Income Monthly Income (for a family of

5)
Poor Less than the official poverty threshold Less than PHP 10,481

Low-income class (but Between the poverty line and twice the Between PHP 10,481 and PHP
not poor) poverty line 20,962
Lower middle-income Between two and four times the poverty Between PHP 20,962 and PHP
class line 41,924
Middle middle-income Between four and seven times the poverty Between PHP 41,924 and PHP
class line 73,367
Upper middle-income Between seven and 12 times the poverty Between PHP 73,367 and PHP
class line 125,772
Upper-income class (but Between 12 and 20 times the poverty line Between PHP 125,772 and PHP
not rich) 209,620
Rich At least 20 times the poverty line PHP 209,620 and above

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 The government defines the middle class as those earning incomes between two to
12 times the poverty line. This means if your family income is between around PHP 21,000
and PHP 125,000, you fall in the middle-income class.

A 2018 PIDS study provides deeper insights into the middle class in the Philippines.
Here are some important and interesting facts to know about the country’s middle class vis-à-
vis their poor and low-income counterparts:

Facts about the Middle Class in the Philippines

Middle-income households have significantly greater access to education, health, and

other services (not necessarily from the government). Most of them live in urban areas,
especially in Metro Manila and nearby areas.

Three in every four middle-income households live in a space that they own, while 23%
rent. A small percentage (3%) of the middle class live in the slums, but they make up a large
chunk of informal settlers in the country (42%).

This is attributed to the lack of affordable housing in the cities. Middle-class workers
have stable jobs (mostly salaried) in wholesale and retail trade, transportation,
communication, and government sectors. These include sari-sari store owners, tricycle and
jeep drivers, bus conductors, call center agents, public school teachers, clerks, private-sector
employees, and government workers. They have higher educational attainment, which is why
more of them have better-quality jobs. Their families are smaller with fewer children. Middle-
class families spend more on their children’s education, sending them to private schools and
getting them tutoring services. In Metro Manila and other traffic-congested cities, most cars
are owned by the middle class.

Middle-class households are less dependent on the government, shifting away from
using public services and leaning towards private ones. This is especially true in the case of
transportation, healthcare, and education. (Zuleta 2022).

What’s More

Directions: Write T if the statement is true and F if it is false. Write your answers in your
notebook.

1. Middle-class families spend more on their children’s education

2. High-income class has a bigger share of the population
3. Middle-class households are less dependent on the government.
4. Middle middle-income class has less than the official poverty threshold.
5. Middle-class workers have stable jobs
6. The current official poverty threshold in the Philippines is PHP 10,481
7. A small percentage (3%) of the middle class live in the slums.
8. Most cars are owned by the middle class.
9. Social stratification refers to a society’s categorization of its people.
10. Middle-income households have significantly greater access to education.

What I Have Learned

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 Write a short paragraph of your insights and reflection of the topic/lesson. Write it in your
notebook.

What I Can Do

Directions: Based on the lesson, create a diagram which shows the hierarchy of social
classes that exist in the Philippines. Write it in a short bond paper.

Rubrics:
Creativity/Concept 10pts
Organization 5pts
Neatness 5pts.
Total: 20pts

Assessment
Directions: Choose from the given options which are best described in each of the items. Write
only the letter which corresponds to the correct answer in your notebook.

A. Poor
B. Low-income class (but not poor)
C. Lower middle-income class
D. Middle middle-income class
E. Upper middle-income class
F. Upper-income class (but not rich)
G. Rich

1. At least 20 times the poverty line.

2. Between 12 and 20 times the poverty line.
3. Between seven and 12 times the poverty line.
4. Between four and seven times the poverty line.
5. Between two and four times the poverty line.
6. Between the poverty line and twice the poverty line.
7. Less than the official poverty threshold.
8. Has a bigger share of the population.
9. Their families are smaller with fewer children.
10. They are less dependent on the government, shifting away from using public services and
leaning towards private ones.

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 NegOr_Q4_UCSP11_Module9_v2 6
What I know: 1. Stratification 2. Lower class 3. Upper class
4. Middle class 5. Inequality
What’s In, What’s New: To be checked by the teacher
What’s More: 1. T 2. F 3. T 4. F 5. 6 – 10. T
What I can do: To be assessed by the teacher using a rubric
Assessment: 1. G 2. F 3. E 4. D 5. C
6.B 7. A 8. C/D/E 9. C/D/E 10. C/D/E
Additional Activity: To be assessed by the teacher
Rubrics:
Creativity/Concept 10pts
Organization 5pts
Neatness 5pts.
Total: 20pts
Answer Key
References
Anakbayan. 2016. INFOGRAPHIC: Lipunang Pilipino. April 06. Accessed February 14,
2022. https://tinyurl.com/2p8ph83c.
Leuenberger, Alyssa. 2015. Social Stratification In The Philippines. November 18. Accessed
February 14, 2022. https://www.haikudeck.com/social-stratification-in-the-
philippines-education-presentation-Wev5BtrXGx#slide11.
Lumen Learning. n.d. What Is Social Stratification? Accessed February 14, 2022.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/what-is-social-stratification/.
Zuleta, Venus. 2022. Understanding Social Class in the Philippines: Which Class Do You
Belong to? January 12. Accessed February 14, 2022.
https://www.moneymax.ph/personal-finance/articles/social-class-philippines.

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Schools Division of Negros Oriental

Kagawasan, Avenue, Daro, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

Tel #: (035) 225 2376 / 541 1117

Email Address: negros.oriental@deped.gov.ph
Website: lrmds.depednodis.net