Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power. These systems determine an individual's social position, which in turn influences their access to resources, opportunities, and life chances within the broader social structure.

Max Weber famously proposed a multidimensional view of social stratification. He argued that social standing is not determined solely by economic class. Instead, he identified three distinct but interrelated components: 'class' (economic position), 'status' (social honor or prestige), and 'power' (the ability to influence others despite resistance). This framework allows for a more nuanced understanding of how individuals and groups are positioned within a social hierarchy beyond simple wealth accumulation.

The term 'life chances,' coined by Max Weber, refers to the extent to which individuals have access to important societal resources, such as education, healthcare, quality housing, and economic stability. It highlights how social stratification and class position significantly influence an individual's probability of achieving positive life outcomes. It is a structural concept that explains why opportunities are not distributed equally across different social groups.

Horticultural societies rely on hand tools to cultivate plants. The ability to produce a food surplus allowed these societies to support non-farming specialists, which in turn facilitated the development of social stratification. This surplus created inequalities in wealth and power that were not present in simpler hunting and gathering societies.

Economic standing is primarily measured by the accumulation of assets, property, and financial resources, often referred to as wealth. While job security is a factor in economic stability, it is distinct from the concept of wealth or economic standing itself, which focuses on the net value of what an individual owns.

An achieved status is a social position that a person acquires based on merit, effort, or choices rather than being assigned at birth. Being a high school dropout, a self-made millionaire, or a nurse are all statuses resulting from individual actions, decisions, or life paths, thus qualifying them as achieved statuses.

A master status is a social position that tends to override all other statuses in how an individual is perceived by others. Gender and race are often cited as master statuses because they are highly visible and carry significant cultural weight, frequently influencing how a person is treated and how they navigate various social institutions throughout their life.

Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power. These variables are the primary indicators used to measure how resources are distributed.

Age stratification theory examines how society is structured into age-based groups and how these groups experience different levels of power and social inclusion. When elderly individuals are marginalized, they often form subcultures or shared communities to provide mutual support and maintain social identity, which is a central focus of this theoretical framework.

Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power. It is the primary framework used in sociology to analyze the systemic nature of social inequality and the distribution of resources.