Final answer:
Social inequality is the sociological study of stratification, examining how societal structures rank individuals based on wealth, income, and other factors, influencing social mobility and one's standard of living.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sociological study of stratification, which attempts to answer 'Who gets what and why?', falls under the category of social inequality. Social stratification refers to the way society is structured into rankings based on various factors such as wealth, income, education, and power. This societal system has profound implications on social mobility, defining how easily individuals can move up or down these socioeconomic tiers.
The concept of stratification includes various forms of inequality and can influence one's standard of living, access to resources, and the degree of success achievable within society. Sociologists apply theoretical frameworks like functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism to understand and analyze these social structures.