Final answer:
Social stratification is the ranking of individuals based on an unequal distribution of wealth, income, education, power, and prestige, affecting one's social standing within a society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social stratification is the hierarchical ranking of the members of society based on the unequal distribution of resources such as wealth, income, education, power, and prestige. This system of categorization can dictate a person's social standing within their community and affect their access to opportunities and resources. Factors influencing stratification include family ancestry, race, ethnicity, age, gender, and personal abilities or achievements. While systems of stratification can vary greatly between different cultures and societies, they often involve an economic system centered around wealth and income. These systems can be 'closed', limiting social mobility, or 'open', where advancement and interaction between the layers are more feasible, as seen in class systems predicated on achievement or meritocracy. However, a true meritocracy has never been fully realized.