Philippine Social Stratification PDF

I. MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY 1. Examine the concept, characteristics and forms of stratification systems using sociological perspectives After going through this module, you are expected to: 1. identify the concept of stratification using a pyramid of social classes; 2. compare and contras...

I. MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY 1. Examine the concept, characteristics and forms of stratification systems using sociological perspectives After going through this module, you are expected to: 1. identify the concept of stratification using a pyramid of social classes; 2. compare and contrast the characteristics of two forms of stratification systems using a Venn diagram; 3. identify social mobility and social inequality in understanding stratification systems in sociological perspectives; and 4. view stratification systems as a way for social mobility and a reason of social inequality in the society. Sound trip Listen and sing the song of Bamboo Manialac entitled “Tatsulok”. After that answer the questions below and make a short reflection about the song Totoy bilisan mo, bilisan mo ang takbo Ilagan ang mga bombang nakatutok sa ulo mo Totoy tumalon ka, dumapa kung kailangan At baka tamaan pa ng mga balang ligaw Totoy makinig ka, wag kang magpa-gabi Baka mapagkamalan ka't humandusay dyan sa tabi Totoy alam mo ba kung ano ang puno't dulo Ng di matapos-tapos na kaguluhang ito Hindi pula't dilaw tunay na magkalaban Ang kulay at tatak ay di syang dahilan Hangga't marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman. Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok Di matatapos itong gulo Hindi pula't dilaw tunay na magkalaban Ang kulay at tatak ay di syang dahilan Hangga't marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok Di matatapos itong gulo. UPPER CLASS MIDDLE CLASS LOWER CLASS Dividing the upper class and lower class is the Middle class are mostly professional individuals or people like lawyers, doctors, managers, owners of small businesses in the locality, and executives who work , etc. They are able to meet both their needs and wants without even worrying about their finances because of the job and salary they have. They live in spacious houses and situated in best suburbs. Their income can afford them a comfortable lifestyle. They value education the most since education to them is the most important measure of HOW. How could education be a way for social mobility and eventually change one’s current social class WHY. Do you think inequality may arise in a society because people don’t have the same social status in life? Why or why not? Let’s take a look at the different characteristics of social stratification. Social stratification is: 1. Universal but variable. Social stratification is what we are talking about when we talk about social inequality and social mobility. Society categorizes people and ranks them in a hierarchy. Everything, from social status, prestige, to the kind of job one holds, or to the chances of living in poverty, is affected by social stratification Stratification is universal but variable because it shows up in every society in the world, but how exactly it looks like, how it divides and categorizes people, and what the advantages or disadvantages are that come with that division - vary from society to society. 2. Not a matter of individual differences. People are obviously different from each other, so we might assume that stratification is just a kind of natural outcome of differences, but in reality, it is not. We know we can see the effects of social stratification on people regardless of their personal choices or traits. For example, children of wealthy families are more likely to live longer and be healthier, to attend college, and to excel in school as compared to children born into poverty. Moreover, they are more likely to be wealthy themselves when they grow up. 3. Persists across generations. Stratification serves to categorize and rank members of society across generations, resulting in different life chances. Yet generally, society allows some degree of social mobility, or changes in the position within the social hierarchy. People sometimes move upward or downward in social class, which is the basic concept of social mobility. 4. A social beliefs. A society’s cultural beliefs tell us how to categorize people, and they define inequalities of a stratification system as being normal, or even fair. If people don’t believe that the system is right, it won’t last. Beliefs are what make systems of social stratification work and it is through these beliefs about social stratification that inform what it means to deserve wealth, success, or power. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES 1. FUNCTIONALISM. At the beginning, we may think of social stratification as merely only creating social inequality among groups of people. In some aspects of social life, it is true. But social inequality brought by social stratification base from wealth, prestige, and power of social groups, is indeed functional in the society according to Functionalist Theory. Every social class has its purpose or role to play a part in the society. We can’t expect the owner of a certain business empire to do a construction works; but instead, he will hire someone to do it for himself. The upper class, although they are getting richer because they have the capacity to exploit natural and man-made resources simply because they have the money. Their role in the society could create job opportunities for other social classes below them. In fact, there are jobs not requiring a college degree. In this sense, those who are not able to finish their studies can still be hired. Those with college degree can be employed with a higher paid salary and good position in a company. 2. CONFLICT THEORY. This sociological perspective is the opposite of the latter. Karl Marx viewed social stratification as creation of inequality between the rich and the poor, or the powerful versus the powerless. Let’s say for example: The bourgeois capitalists owning high-producing businesses or factories and hire people who work for them. They can enjoy the luxury of life because they earn billions of money. However, proletariats are the working class earned skimpy wages and experiencing isolation to the society. The very essence of life is to enjoy it with loved ones. However, working class did not experience this joy because they are isolated to do the labor for long hours each day to earn money at the end of the month. Marx argued that proletariats were oppressed by the money-hungry bourgeois 3. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM. Symbolic interactionism view social stratification on a micro level where individuals affect others whom they have interacted because of their social class status. In most societies, people can only interact only to those with the same social class status. For an instance, it is rare for a royal prince or princess to marry a commoner because the commoner don’t have the same class status as to royal prince or princess. But now, there are royal marriages already break this tradition. FORMS OF STRATIFICATION SYSTEMS 1. CLOSE SYSTEM OF STRATIFICATION India’s Caste System is probably one of the best-known forms of close system of stratification. While it is a social system of decreasing importance, it still holds in parts of rural India, and has a strong legacy across the country. The traditional caste system contains four large divisions called Varnas. It consists of Brahmin, or priests and academics in their native language, as placed at the top of the hierarchy; followed by Khsatriya or the rulers (kings), warriors, and administrators; then Vaishya or merchants and landowners; and last is the Shudra or the commoners, peasants and servants. The system required endogamy - marriage within your own caste category. In everyday life, the caste system determines whom one could interact with, and how, with systems of social control, contact between lower and higher castes is restricted. This whole system is based on a set of strong cultural and religious beliefs that living within your own category is a moral and spiritual duty - the reason why gods are on the top of the pyramid because caste system is governed by religious beliefs of Hinduism. 2. OPEN SYSTEM OF STRATIFICATION Class System is one of the best examples of open system of stratification and is not based solely on ascribed status at birth alone. Instead, it combines ascribed status and personal achievement or achieved status in a way that allows some social mobility. Statuses are not the same. We get different statuses in different ways and chances. Some are ascribed statuses, which are assigned or given by the society or group based on some fixed category, without regard to a person’s abilities or performance. Examples of ascribed status are sex, family background, race, and ethnic heritage or wealth. A person did nothing to earn these statuses, nor has control over these characteristics and had no opportunity or chance to choose family, sex, and race. On the other hand, achieved statuses are earned by the individual. The following scenarios serve as examples. A poor teenager becomes an actress-singer after winning in a television contest. A college graduate lands a good job because the quality of his or her performance satisfied his or her employer. With achieved statuses, one establishes which statuses he or she wants. Frequently, a person struggles and exerts more effort on others to get hold of them. Class is the system of stratification we have in society. The main difference between caste and class systems is that class systems are open, and social mobility is not legally restricted to certain people. It is possible that through hard work and perseverance, a citizen can move up the social hierarchy, and achieve a higher-class standing. Instead of ancestry, lineage, or race being the key to social division, the system of stratification has elements of meritocracy: a system in which social mobility is based on personal merit and individual talents. Every Filipino’s dream is that anyone, no matter how poor, can “pull himself/herself up” and become upwardly class mobile through hard work and perseverance. CASTE SYSTEM VERSUS CLASS SYSTEM INSTRUCTION. The caste system in ancient India and the class system in the modern-day Philippines both created an unequal balance of power in their respective society. Specific qualities or traits separate people into groups, which results in certain groups having more power than others. However, there are some major differences between the caste system and class system. Identify three (3) major differences and similarities between the caste system in ancient India and the class system in modern-day Philippine society. Fill in these differences and similarities in the Venn diagram below. Afterwards, explain on the space provided these differences and similarities in order to fully understand stratification system. Social stratification is divided into three social classes. At the top of the pyramid is where the Upper Class. This class in the society is described by the sociologists as elite individuals or group of people that are most prolific and successful in their respective areas. These people may be stockholders and investors in very huge well-known companies from different industries here and abroad. In the second activity earlier, Henry Sy, Sr. and Lucio Tan, Sr. are both considered elite who belong to the upper class of social stratification. According to the “List of 50 richest Filipinos in 2014” of Pinoy Money Talk website (as cited by Lanuza and Raymundo 2016, 109), Henry Sy, Sr. and his family had a net worth of $12.7 billion, while Lucio Tan, Sr. and his family had a net worth of $6.1 billion. These people may own big companies and huge mansions here and abroad, mingle with the same class, own fancy cars, and value wealthy heritage THE PHILIPPINE PRE-COLONIAL SOCIAL STRATIFICATION Over the course of this lesson, you have informed about the concept, characteristics, and forms of stratification systems. Did you know that before the Philippines were colonized by the Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese, the Philippine pre-colonial society was already establishing social stratification through factors such as wealth, power, rights, privileges, entitlement and achievements? Meet these groups of people one by one once again by reading the given description. Afterwards, answer the activity below. The TIMAWA. They were the majority of the barangay community. They were free. They could acquire property, have any job they wanted, pick their own wives, and acquire an alipin. They were expected to support the datu and pay their taxes; hence, their importance in the community was evident. The MAGINOO. They were the ruling class, the educated class, the royal class, and the privileged class. It was from this class which the datu came from. The datu was the head of the community called a barangay. He is synonymous to a monarch, rajah, sultan, and king to other countries The ALIPIN. They had the least rights. They served their master who belonged to one of the classes that is above them. The Alipin was likely his or her servant at home such as doing the household chores and cooking, or aided the timawa with their duties at work. The MAHARLIKA. They were well respected if not revered by the barangay. Unlike the timawa, they were not expected to pay taxes. They would provide protection to the barangay and were responsible for providing and preparing the weapons at their own expense. ACTIVITY INSTRUCTION. Using the names of the groups of people mentioned earlier, arrange them using a pyramid of social stratification through these factors such as wealth, power, rights, privileges, entitlement, and achievements in the society. Beside each social class, draw a symbol that represents them.