Which term defines how a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy?

• A. Social Stratification
• B. Protestant Work Ethic Theory
• C. Autocracy
• D. Paternalism

Answer: (A)

Social stratification is the structured ranking of people in a society into hierarchical layers based on factors like wealth, education, occupation, and power. It captures how groups are positioned relative to one another and how access to resources and opportunities is distributed along those lines. That makes it the best choice because the question is asking about how a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. The Protestant Work Ethic Theory deals with beliefs shaping work motivation, autocracy refers to centralized political power, and paternalism describes governing in a protective, parent-like way—none of these describe the systemic ranking of people in a hierarchy.