Which term do sociologists use for a system by which categories of pe…

The correct answer is Option (2) → Social stratification

Option (1) Social inequality — Incorrect. Social inequality means patterns of unequal access to social resources. It names the unequal access itself, so it is not the term for the ranked system of categories.

Option (2) Social stratification — Correct. Social stratification is the term for a system that ranks categories of people in a society in a hierarchy. This rank then shapes their identity, relations and access to resources.

Option (3) Social exclusion — Incorrect. Social exclusion refers to ways in which people may become cut off from full involvement in the wider society. It is about being shut out, so it does not name a system of ranking.

Option (4) Social capital — Incorrect. Social capital is a resource: the networks of contacts and associations a person can use, such as influential relatives and friends. It describes what a person has, so it is not a ranking system.