What does "social stratification" refer to?

Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals in a society based on various factors such as wealth, income, education, race, and power. This concept highlights how different groups and individuals are ranked in terms of their access to resources and opportunities, which can influence their social mobility and overall life experiences.

Understanding social stratification is crucial in sociology because it shapes people’s identities, life chances, and interactions within society. It also helps analyze issues related to inequality and social justice, as it reveals how systemic disparities are maintained over time.

The other choices focus on different sociological concepts. The classification of societies pertains to how societies are categorized based on their characteristics. The establishment of social norms refers to the unwritten rules that govern behavior within a community. The process of social change describes how societies evolve over time. While each of these topics is important in sociology, they do not capture the essence of social stratification, which is specifically about the ranking and organization of individuals and groups within a social structure.