Patterns of unequal access to social resources are commonly called social inequality. Some social inequality reflects innate differences between individuals, for example, their varying abilities and efforts. Someone may be endowed with exceptional intelligence or talent or have worked very hard to achieve their wealth and status. However, by and large, social inequality is not the outcome of innate or ‘natural’ differences between people but is produced by the society in which they live. Sociologists use social stratification to refer to a system by which categories of people in a community are ranked in a hierarchy.

Which of the following statements about social stratification is incorrect?

Social stratification reflects the natural abilities of individuals.

The correct answer is Option 3:Social stratification reflects the natural abilities of individuals.

Option 1: Social stratification is a characteristic of society rather than of individuals. Correct. Social stratification is a property of society as a whole. It refers to the way societies organise people into hierarchical groups based on unequal access to valued resources, rather than ranking individuals based on their personal qualities.

Option 2: Different forms of social stratification may coexist within the same society. Correct. A society may experience multiple forms of stratification simultaneously. For example, Indian society exhibits stratification based on caste, class, gender and tribe, all of which influence people's life chances and social status.

Option 3: Social stratification reflects the natural abilities of individuals. Incorrect. social stratification is a socially created system of inequality, arising from unequal access to wealth, power, prestige and other valued resources. It is a characteristic of society, not a measure of individual abilities..

Option 4: Social stratification involves unequal access to valued resources and opportunities. Correct. Unequal access to resources such as wealth, power, education, prestige and opportunities is the defining feature of social stratification. These inequalities create and maintain hierarchical divisions within society.