In every society, some people have a greater share of valued resources – money, property, education, health, and power – than others. 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 may 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.

What is the term that sociologists use to refer to the system of categorizing people into ranks and hierarchy in a society?

Social stratification.

The correct answer is Option 1: Social stratification.

Option 1: Social stratification. Correct. Social stratification refers to the systematic arrangement of individuals and groups into hierarchical layers within society. It is the accepted sociological concept for the ranking of people based on unequal access to resources, opportunities and social rewards.

Option 2: Social inequality. Incorrect. Social inequality refers to the unequal distribution of resources, opportunities and privileges among individuals or groups. While inequality is the basis of social stratification, it does not itself refer to the system of ranking people into hierarchical layers.

Option 3: Social hierarchy. Incorrect. Social hierarchy simply refers to an arrangement of individuals or groups in higher and lower positions. Although hierarchy is a feature of social stratification, social hierarchy is a descriptive expression rather than the specific sociological concept used to denote the institutionalised system of ranking in society.

Option 4: Social Order. Incorrect. Social order refers to the stability and orderly functioning of society maintained through norms, values and institutions. It is concerned with maintaining social cohesion, not with categorising people into ranks or hierarchies.