Social Differentiation and Stratification

How society is layered

Sociologists notice that society is not flat. It is layered into groups that have unequal shares of wealth, power and status, and this layering is called social stratification. People are differentiated, or sorted into groups, in several ways: by social class, by gender, by ethnicity, by age and by disability. Where a person sits in these layers can shape the opportunities open to them, which sociologists call their life chances. This module explains what stratification is, the key concepts used to describe it, and the main views sociologists hold about why it exists. Throughout, these views are presented as arguments that sociologists make, to be weighed fairly, rather than as settled facts or personal opinions.

Stratification words

Learn these five terms before you describe how society is layered.

Match each stratification term to its meaning

Wealth against income

Two money words are easy to mix up, but sociologists keep them apart.

What shapes life chances?

A young person grows up in a family with little money, attends a poorly funded school, and lives far from where the jobs are. Sociologists would say these things mainly affect their...

• life chances
• wealth today
• authority
• income this week

How sociologists explain inequality

Sociologists do not all agree on why society is unequal, and a strong answer outlines more than one view fairly. Functionalists argue that some inequality is useful, because the promise of higher rewards encourages people to train for important and difficult jobs. Marxists argue the opposite, that stratification reflects a conflict of interests, with a powerful group benefiting from the labour of others. Feminists draw attention to inequality between men and women in particular. You do not have to agree with any one of these; the skill the exam rewards is being able to explain each view accurately, in your own words, and then weigh them against each other before reaching a balanced conclusion.

Pick the true facts about stratification

Select every statement about social stratification that is true.

• Stratification means society is layered into unequal groups
• Life chances are the opportunities a person has in life
• Social mobility is moving between social classes
• Wealth and income mean exactly the same thing
• Everyone in society has exactly the same life chances

Order a balanced stratification answer

Put the steps of a fair, balanced exam answer on inequality in a sensible order.

• Define the key term in the question
• Describe the pattern of inequality
• Give one sociological view, such as the functionalist view
• Give a different view, such as the Marxist view
• Weigh the views and reach a balanced conclusion

Complete the stratification facts

The way society is layered into unequal groups is _____. The opportunities a person has in life are their _____. Moving from one social class to another is social _____. The uneven share of wealth, power and status across society is _____.

A race with different starting lines

Imagine a running race where the runners do not all begin at the same line. Some start well ahead, with good shoes and a clear track. Others start far behind, on rough ground, carrying a heavy bag. When the race is run, the ones who started ahead usually finish ahead, and it would be unfair to say they simply ran better than everyone else. Society can work in a similar way: where a person begins, and the money and support around them, can shape how far they get, whatever their effort or talent. Sociologists study these different starting lines and ask why they exist and whether they can be made fairer. Seeing the starting lines clearly is the first step towards understanding the finish.

Tap the types of social differentiation

Tap every item below that is a way sociologists say society differentiates people.

• social class
• gender
• ethnicity
• a favourite colour

The stratification run

Answer each one correctly to keep your lives. Choose the best answer.

Answer the sociology fairly

Read each situation and choose the fairest, most sociological response.

• A question asks you to assess a view on inequality. What makes a strong answer?
• You need to describe a group affected by inequality. What is the fair way?
• A source claims one group is naturally better than another. How should a sociologist treat it?

Build a stratification point

Choose the word for each gap to complete one accurate point about stratification.

Explain social stratification

A friend asks why sociologists say society is unequal and what that means. Explain social stratification clearly, presenting the different views fairly.

• Explain what social stratification means
• Name the main ways society differentiates people, such as class, gender and ethnicity
• Explain the difference between wealth and income
• Explain what life chances and social mobility are
• Outline at least two sociological views on inequality and weigh them fairly