Which term describes a system where society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy?

• A. Protestant Work Ethic Theory
• B. Future Orientation
• C. Social Stratification
• D. Power Distance

Answer: (C)

Social stratification describes a system in which society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. It shows how resources, opportunities, status, and power are distributed unevenly and how those differences shape life chances across generations. This is a structural feature of society, not just a matter of individual beliefs or actions. For example, differences in income, education, and occupation often map onto distinct social layers, creating higher, middle, and lower tiers with varying levels of privilege. The idea captures why some groups consistently have more access to wealth, prestige, and influence than others. The other terms touch on related ideas—beliefs about work, planning for the future, or attitudes toward authority—but they don’t describe the organized ranking of people across a society the way social stratification does.