Definition

Noun: The hierarchical arrangement of individuals in a society into distinct layers (strata) based on socioeconomic factors such as wealth, income, race, education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, and social status. It is a system of structured social inequality where resources and opportunities are distributed unequally across these strata.

Usage

Social stratification is used to describe and analyze the systematic ranking and categorization of people within a society. It is a core concept in sociology.

Examples

• The study examined the impact of social stratification on access to higher education.
• Social stratification is often perpetuated across generations.
• Caste systems and class systems are both forms of social stratification.

Advanced Usage

• "Systems of social stratification": Refers to the specific organizing principles of a hierarchy, such as a caste system (closed, based on birth) or a class system (more open, based on economic and social factors).
  • Comparing different systems of social stratification reveals how mobility varies.
• "Dimensions of social stratification": Refers to the specific criteria (e.g., wealth, power, prestige) used to rank individuals.
  • Wealth, occupation, and education are key dimensions of social stratification.

Variants and Related Words

• Stratify (verb): To form, arrange, or deposit in layers or strata. In a social context, it means to arrange into a hierarchical structure.
  • Societies tend to stratify based on economic power.
• Stratum (noun, plural: strata): One of a series of layers, levels, or classes in an ordered system.
  • Individuals from different social strata often have different life experiences.

Synonyms

• Class structure
• Social hierarchy
• Caste system (as a specific, rigid type)
• Social layering

Related Concepts (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)

• Social mobility: The movement of individuals or groups between different social strata.
• Inequality: The unequal distribution of resources, which is the outcome of stratification.
• Power: The ability to influence others, often concentrated in higher strata.

Noun

1. the condition of being arranged in social strata or classes within a group