Meaning and Nature of

Social Stratification &

Social Differentation
 OUTLINE

I. Meaning of Social Stratification

II. Nature of Social Stratifocation
III.Common basis of social stratification
IV.Characteristics of Social Stratification
V. Social Stratification and Social
Differentation
Before we start our presentation, what exactly
is your idea of the word social stratification?
Social differentation?
 What is the meaning of
Social Stratification?

● Social stratification means the differentiation

of a given population into hierarchically
superposed classes. It is manifested in the
existence of upper and lower social layers.
● Social stratification refers
to a ranking of people or
groups of people within a
society. But the term was
defined by the earliest
sociologists as something
more than the almost
universal inequalities that
exist in all but the least
complex of societies.
3 common basis of social stratification

● Property
● Power
● Prestige
 Nature of social stratification

● Social stratification refers to a society's

categorization of its people into groups based on
socioeconomic factors like wealth, income, race,
education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, social
status, or derived power (social and political).
● Geologists also use the word "stratification"
to describe the distinct vertical layers found
in rock. Typically, society's layers, made of
people, represent the uneven distribution of
society's resources. Society views the people
with more resources as the top layer of the
social structure of stratification. Other
groups of people, with fewer and fewer
resources, represent the lower layers. An
individual's place within this stratification is
called socioeconomic status (SES).
We have 4 characteristics of social stratification

▪︎income
▪︎ethnicity
▪︎occupation
▪︎level of education
Social Stratification and Social Differentation
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
● Social differentiation is the
distinction between social
groups and persons on the
basis of physiological,
biological and sociocultural
factors.
● Hierarchical ranking of
people based on social
differentiation
SOCIAL DIFFERENTATION
● Social stratification is the
hierarchical ranking of
people based on categories
like ethnicity, class,
education level, and gender
● Differences between
individuals in society or
social groups
 QUESTION:
1. What is the 4 characteristics of social
stratification?
2. What are the issues of social stratification?
3. What are the 3 common basis of social
stratification?
4. How does stratification influence society?