Social stratification is a systemic process where society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. It is a fundamental feature of society itself, maintained through social structures, norms, and institutional arrangements that distribute resources, power, and prestige unequally among different groups.

Sociologists borrowed the term 'stratification' from geology, where it refers to the distinct horizontal layers of sedimentary rock. In a social context, this metaphor is used to describe the hierarchical arrangement of individuals into social layers or strata based on factors like wealth, power, and prestige.

Society acts as the overarching structure that defines the hierarchies, opportunities, and constraints that shape an individual's social standing. While culture and norms play vital roles in guiding behavior, it is the broader societal organization—including economic systems, political institutions, and social stratification—that ultimately determines the distribution of status and resources among its members.

A social stratum is a horizontal layer in a stratified society. Individuals within the same stratum share similar socioeconomic status, access to resources, and life chances. Stratification systems categorize people into these layers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power, which collectively determine their position in the social hierarchy.

The term 'social stratification' is derived from geology, where 'strata' refers to the distinct layers of rock. In sociology, this metaphor describes the hierarchical arrangement of individuals into social categories based on factors like wealth, power, and prestige. Just as geological strata represent different layers of earth, social strata represent the unequal distribution of resources and status within a society.

Feudalism was a social and economic system based on land ownership and duties. Feudal lords held the land, while serfs were agricultural laborers bound to the land. Serfs were required to work the lord's land and provide a portion of their produce in exchange for protection and the right to cultivate a small plot for their own subsistence, characterizing the exploitative nature of the relationship.

The term stratification is a metaphor borrowed from geology, where 'strata' refers to the distinct horizontal layers of sedimentary rock. Sociologists use this analogy to describe how society is organized into hierarchical layers, with different groups occupying different levels based on power, prestige, and resources.

Social constructionism argues that old age is not merely a biological fact but a social category created and defined by cultural norms, societal expectations, and historical context. The meaning of being 'old' varies significantly across different societies and time periods.

In sociology, social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals into social categories or 'strata'. A social stratum consists of people who share a similar position in the social structure, which often correlates with access to resources, power, and prestige. These shared positions result in similar 'life chances'—the opportunities an individual has to improve their quality of life, such as access to education, healthcare, and economic stability.

This question suggests that meritocratic status is often influenced by underlying factors such as inherited traits and early environmental advantages. It highlights the sociological debate regarding whether 'merit' is truly objective or if it is heavily conditioned by social background and privilege, which can limit access to certain statuses.