CHAPTER 3

SOCIAL STRUCTURE,
SOCIAL DIFFERENTIATION,
AND STRATIFICATION
A. SOCIAL STRUCTURE
1. Definition of social structure
Social structure is an abstract structure of a society consisted of
social formation and systems including the systems of how the
society holds its life in a whole.
2. Social structure functions.
a. social structure is public instrument to hold total life
arrangement in every life aspect.
b. Social structure functions as system chain in holding every
life aspect to create more erder and harmonious living.
C. Social structure is specific characteristic owned by a society
that could give specific color to make it different than other
societies.
3. Characteristics of Social Structure.
a. Abstract
b. Having Vertical and Horizontal Dimension.
c. As the base in social process of a society.
d. As part of behaviour arrangement system
and social relation.
4. Forms of Social Structure
a. Homogeneous Social Structure
b. Heterogeneous social structure
c. Ideological structure
d. Political structure
e. Economic structure
f. Social and Cultural structure
g. Security and defense structure
h. Formal Social structure
i. Informal social structure
j. Stiff social structure
k. Flexible social structure
l. Horizontal dimension
m. Vertical dimension
 5. Understanding Social Structure
a. If a society is considered as an organization, then
the social structure is identical with organizational
structure that arranges hierarchy structure,
position, role, and interaction pattern of the
organization members in vertical or horizontal
dimensions.
b. If a society is a car, then the social structure is the
chassis and the mechanic and electronic systems of
the car.
c. If social structure is minimized into a classroom
organizational structure, then the vertical
 B. SOCIAL
DIFFERENTIATION
Social differentiation is a classification on
differences with similar levels. It means
despite their differences, they are equal.
1. Social differentiation based on Races.
Human grouping based on races is
physical grouping based on physical
characteristics, like: complexion,
hair, and facial form.
Koentjaraningrat states that race is
human group showing certain bodily
characteristics in great frequency.
Race classification according to A.L.Kroeber :
1. Austroloid.
Native people of Australia.
2. Mongoloid.
a). Asiatic Mongoloid (North, Middle, and East Asia)
b). Malayan Mongoloid (South East Asia)
C). American Mongoloid (Native people of North
and South America).
3. Caucasoid.
a). Nordic (North Europe)
b). Alpine (Middle and East Europe)
c). Mediterranean (Around middle sea, South Europe,
North America, Middle east)
4. Negroid
a) African Negroid
b). Negrito (Middle Africa, Malayan Peninsula,
Philippine).
c). Melanesian ( Papua and Melanesia).
5. Special Races
a). Bushman (Kalahari Desert of South Africa)
b). Veddoid (Outback Srilanka and South Sulawesi)
c). Polynesian (Micronesian and Polynesian Islands).
d). Ainu ( Native people of Japan).