UCSP Module 9 - Lecture notes 1-18 PDF

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Understanding with Culture, Society and Politics...

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Understanding Culture, Society & Politics

Module 9: Concept, Characteristics and Forms of Stratification Systems

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Understanding Culture, Society & Politics SHS-Module 9: Concept, Characteristics and Forms of Stratification Systems First Edition, 2020 Copyright © 2020 La Union Schools Division Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: Marybeth Nudas Garcia, T-II Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team Reviewer: Mario V. Mario Jr. Mario B. Paneda, Ed.D., EPS in Charge of Araling Panlipunan Belen C. Aquino, Ph.D., EPS in Charge of English Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos Jr., P II Layout Artist: Ernesto Ortiza Jr., TIII Management Team: ATTY. Donato D. Balderas, Jr. Schools Division Superintendent Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan, Ph.D Assistant Schools Division Superintendent German E. Flora, Ph.D, CID Chief Virgilio C. Boado, Ph.D, EPS in Charge of LRMS Mario B. Paneda, Ed.D, EPS in Charge of Araling Panlipunan Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II

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SHS Understanding Culture, Society & Politics Module 9: Concept, Characteristics and Forms of Stratification Systems

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Target Society is composed of different groups with different social structures, that is some groups are higher or lower than other groups. All societies of any size, large or small have a social structure. Though, as societies grow larger, more often different groups are formed within them. Social stratification results when one group has a functional importance in the community while others do not. In the previous lesson, you have examined the functions and importance of educations in the society. You have learned that education is an essential part of any society because this is the primary way of enlightening an individual with each aspect of life. It is therefore a must that the school system delivers to society individuals whose abilities have been developed sufficiently so that they are able to assume positive and productive societal roles. Moreover, for the preservation and enhancement of knowledge and the development of character within our given form of society which will best prepare the individual for the conditions of extreme novelty the near future is bringing. This lesson will provide you with information and various activities that will help you understand the concept, characteristics and forms of stratification systems using sociological perspective. After going through this lesson, you are expected to examine the concept, characteristics and forms of stratification systems using sociological perspective. Specific Learning Objectives: 1. explain the meaning and nature of social stratification 2. distinguish social stratification and social differentiation 3. identify the indicators of social stratification 4. differentiate the characteristics of the systems of social stratification 5. analyze the claims and explanations of the structural-functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic-interactionists on social stratification

Before going on, answer the activities below to check on what you know about the topic. Have fun and good luck!

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Jumpstart Directions: Analyze each statement below. Write TRUE if it is correct, otherwise FALSE. Place your answers in a separate sheet of paper. 1.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Social stratification the process where a society determines a person'sworth based on their income and wealth, as well as other characteristics like gender,class and age, and distributes social rewards accordingly. Social stratification is only found in industrialized socieities. From a structional-functinalist perspective, poverty may serve positive functions for society. A class system is more closed than a caste system. Ethnicity is constructed from cultural traits, whereas race is constructed from biological traits Estate systems of social stratification have two classes. Different societies have different explanations of why people should be unequal Caste systems are characterized by a high level of equality. The idea that social inequality plays a vital role in the smooth operation of society is consistent with the structural-functional approach. The caste system is a more open straification system than a class system

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Inequality is found in all societies irrespective of time or place. All human societies from the simple to the most complex have some form of social inequality. In particular, power and prestige are unequally distributed between individuals and groups. Societies may differ in the degree of inequalities and nature of stratification. In all societies people differ from each other on the basis of their age, sex and personal characteristics. Human society is not homogeneous but heterogeneous. Apart from the natural differences, human beings are also differentiated according to socially approved criteria. Society is divided based on economic, social, religious and other aspects. Heterogeneity in society is called social stratification.

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Social stratification is an inherent character of all societies. It is historical as we find it in all societies, ancient and modern; and it is universal as it exists in simple or complex societies. The social differentiation on the basis of high and low is the historical heritage of all societies.

Meaning and Nature of Social Stratification Sociologists use the term social stratification to describe the system of social standing. There are various meanings of social stratification and is defined as follows:  It refers to what sociologists call it as “ institutionalized inequality” of individual or “social injustice” due to social categories (Ariola, 2012).  It is an institutionalized pattern of inequality in which social categories are ranked on the basis of their access to scarce resources Brinkerhoff & White, 1988).  It is the way people are ranked and ordered in society (Cole, 2019).  It is a system whereby people rank and evaluate each other as superior or inferior and, on the basis of such evaluation, unequally reward one another with wealth, authority, power, and prestige. One result of each differentiation is the creation of a number of levels within the society. (Hebding & Glick, 1992)  It is the hierarchical arrangement and establishment of social categories that evolve into a social group together with statuses and their corresponding roles. (Panopio el al., 1994)  It is the differentiation of a given population into hierarchically superposed classes. It is manifested in the existence of upper and lower social layers. Its basis and very essence consist in an unequal distribution of rights and privileges, duties and responsibilities, social values and privations, social power and influences among the members of a society (Sorokin, 1927).

Social Stratification is Distinguished from Social Differentiation Social differentiation refers to how people can be distinguished from one another. People in a group may differ in skin color, hair color, race, mental and physical ability, and the like. Social stratification refers to the ranking of people in a society. In closed stratification, people cannot change their ranks while those in open social stratification, people can change their ranks. In short social stratification is the separation of people into social categories and these categories are ranked as higer or lower.

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Indicators of Social Stratification There are some people that are treated in another way because of the social status, power, income, prestige and among others that they hold in their society (Arcinas, 2016). The individual’s position in the social structure is called status. The higher or lower positions that come about through social stratifications are called statuses. Statuses are not the same. One may get different statuses in different ways. They can be ascribed or achived. Ascribed statuses are assigned or given by the society or group on the basis of some fixed category, without regard to a person’s abilities or performance. These include sex, family background, race, and ethnic heritage. You did nothing to earn these statuses; you have no control over these characteristics and no opportunity or chance to choose your family, your sex, and your race. In the Philippines, the children of Ayala’s and the Zobel’s have ascrived statuses (Zulueta, 2006). Whereas, achieved statuses are earned by the individual because of his or her talent, skills, occupation and persevernace. These include, degree or educational attainment, promotion, position, earned wealth and the like. For example, Nora Aunor has moved up in the social ladder because of her beautiful voice and singing talent. Prestige refers to the evaluation of status. You have prestige according to your status. For example, being the president of the Supreme Student Government of your school, you have the prestige of a president whether or not you perform and carry out well the duties and responsibilities of SSG president (Baleña et.al., 2016). According to Max Weber, most societies would favor those with power, prestige, status, wealth or class. According to Weber’s Component Theory on Social Stratification, these three would determine a person’s standindig in his/her community: 1. Power refers to the ability to influence other people. It is getting what they want despite the unwillingness of others to give in to their desires. 2. Prestige refers to the person’s position in the society. This refers to having a certain status that enables someone to have resources or opportunities. 3. Wealth refers to the amount of resources that a person has (Arcinas, 2016). As mentioned by Ariola (2012) in his book, one may be viewed as belonging to the upper social strata or lower social strata depending on the following dimensions: 1. Sources of Income. There are different sources of income. These are the inhereted wealth, earned wealth, profits, professional fees, salaries, wages, private relief, among others. Wealth is everything that is owned by a person. Inherited wealth is acquired since birth and without effort. 4

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Acquired wealth is achieved through ones effort either by talent, income or by marriage. Income refers to the amount of money a person receives.

2. Occupation. What people do for a living determines, to the social position of the person. Occupation may be professionals, non-professionals (clerks, drivers, etc) small business, skilled workers, semi skilled workers, workers.

a large extent, classified into proprietors of and unskilled

Examination of the mentioned occupations indicates disparities in prestige, income and power. 3. Education. Educational attainment of a person may be categorized as masteral or doctoral degree holder, college graduate, high school graduate, elemetary school drop-out, among others. Possession of the person of any of these educational backgrounds may characterize the person’s status in the community. 4. Types of house dwellings. Dwellings can be categorized as permanent house (concrete and excellent in appearance), semi-permanent house (semi-concrete and very good in appearance and construction), temporary house (wood and fair in appearance and construction), and poorly constructed house (houses found in squatter areas, or those considered below-the-bridge houses). 5. Location of residence. Power, prestige and wealth are also attached to the location of residence. There is disparity of social status when one residence is located in Forbes Park, White Plains, squatter area, mountainous-rugged area, in subdivision and non-subdivision area. 6. Kinship or family. In the Philippines, when a person belongs to the Ayala’s, Soriano’s, Zobel’s, Villar’s, that person is regarded as belonging to the upper class (rich) status. Children of sultans and datus are hgihly regarded as rich. If a person is from a family whose house is situated in the squatter’s area, that person is regarded as poor or belonging to lower class status.

Types of Social Stratification and their Characteristics Generally, there are three (3) known types of social stratification: open systems, closed systems and ethnic systems ( Ariola, 2012). Sociologists distinguish between two types of systems of stratification – open system and closed system. For the anthropologists, they include ethnic system as another type of social stratification.

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A. Open System General Categories Characteristics The class structure 1. Upper Class – The people in this class have great wealth and sources of income. They constitute the is an open system. It elite wealthy group in the society. They have high encourages people to reputation in terms of power and prestige. They live in strive and achieve exclusive residential area, belong to exclusive private something. People clubs, and may have strong political influence in the belonging to one system of government. They own several cars and social class have properties and their children may study in exclusive similar opportunities, schools. similar lyfestyles, attitudes, behavior and possibly similar 2. Middle Class – The people in this class may belong to the upper-middle class which is often made up of socio-economic highly educated business and professional people positions. with high incomes, such as doctors, lawyers, It is based on aachievement, allow stockbrokers, and CEOs or to the lower-middle class movement and often made up of people with lower incomes, such as interaction between managers, small business owners, teachers, and layers and classes. secretaries. Aside from generally command of high One person can move income, people belonging to the upper-middle class up or down to class often have college education, live in comfortable through homes, own properties, have some money savings, intermarriages, and active in community activities. People in the opportunities, or lower-middle class have not achieved the same achievement. People lifestyle of the upper –middle class but somehow have have equal chance to modest income and live in simple life. succeed. Whether people do something 3. Lower Class –The lower class is typified by poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. The people in this to improve their lives class belong to the bottom of socio-economic ladder. or not this greatly They may be categorized into two: upper-lower class depends on them. and lower-lower class. In the upper-lower class, people are considered as the working class or laborers. They have acquired little education, little time to be involved in civic and community activities. Some of them are underemployed, have many socioeconomic problems, with lttle or no luxuries at all. The people in the lower-lower class are unemployed, or no source of income except by begging or dependent from private and government relief. Many of them live in squatter areas, under the bridge, in street corridors, or with no house at all. Many of them are liabilities of society because they may be involved in drug addiction and criminaliities.

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B. Closed Systems General Categories Characteristics Closed system 1. Caste System – It is regarded as closed stratification system in which people can do little or nothing to accommodates little change their social standing. Social contact is rigid change in social and clearly defined. People are born and die in their position. They do not caste. Contact between and among the caste is allow people to shift minimal and governed by a set of rules – especially levels and do not those who belong to the lower degree, as this will tend permit social to bring them down. relationships between We do not practice caste sytem in the levels. Philippines. It existed for centuries in India and this includes the Brahmans who are associated with the priesthood, the Kahatryias (the warriors), the Vaishyus (the businessmen and traders), and the Shudrus (the servants). 2. Estate System – It is somewhat a closed system in which the person’s social standing is based on ownership of land, birth, or military strength. Individuals who were born into one of the estates remained there throughout life but in extreme cases there is social mobility, that is people could change their status. In the middle ages there are three (3) major estates in Europe – nobility, clergy, and the peasants. C. Ethnic System General Characteristics This type of social stratification is based on national origin, laguage and religion. Ethinicity sets segments of society apart and each group has a sense of identity. People interact more freely with those people belonging to the same ethnic category. During the Spanish and American colonial systems in the Philippines, the colonizers perceived themselves to be occupying the upper social class than the Filipinos or the natives whom they called as Indios. Immigrants usually belong to a lower status than the inhabitants. The Gaddangs, Itawis, Ituweraw, Ilonngots, and other ethnic minority groups are considered inferior than the others.

Social Stratification and Social Mobility Social mobility refers to the movement within the social structure, from one social position to another. It means a change in social status. All societies provide some opportunity for social mobility. But the societies differ from each other to extent in which individuals can move from one class or status level to another. 7

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Thus, people in society continue to move up down the status scale. This movement is called ‘social mobility’. For example, the poor people may become rich, the bank peon may become bank officers, farmers may become ministers, a petty businessman may become a big industrialist and so on. At the same time a big businessman may become a bankrupt and ruling class may be turned out of office and so on. Kinds of Social Mobility In a democratic state like the Philippines, a person can improve his social status but the degree of mobility varies. In an open system, every individual is provided equal opportunities to compete for the role and status derived regardless of gender, race, religion, family background and political inclination. There are three (3) types of social mobility: social mobility, geographical mobility, and role mobility. 1. Social Mobility refers to the movement upward or downward among the social positions in any given social stratification. It may be upward (vertival) mobility and downward (horizontal) mobility. Vertical mobility refers to the movement of people of groups from one status to another. It involves change in class, occupation or power. For example, the movement of people from the poor class to the middle class. Horizontal mobility is a change in position without the change in status. It indicates a change in position, within the rage of the status. A change in status may come about through one’s occupation, marrying into a certain family and others. For example, an engineer working in a factory may resign from his job and join another factory. 2. Geographical Mobility is otherwise known as physical mobility. It may be a vluntary movement of people from one geographical area to another due to change in residence, communiting fro home to office, making business trips, and voluntary migration from one country to another. It may be also a forced migration which include forced relocation or residence, eviction, dispossession of unwanted people, and transportation of slaves. 3. Role Mobility is the individual’s shifting from role to role. Every member of a society has roles to play. Different situations call for enactment of various roles. For example, the father is the bre...