Final answer:
Age, ethnicity, and income are categories that comprise a person's socioeconomic status, which is part of a larger system of social stratification that affects individuals' opportunities and social rankings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The categories of age, ethnicity, and income all fall under the rubric of socioeconomic status or, more broadly, social stratification. This concept refers to a system that organizes society's members into rankings based on factors like wealth, power and prestige. It reflects the hierarchies in society that advantage some groups while disadvantaging others. Social class is often defined by groupings based on levels of wealth, income, education, and occupation. Among these, ethnicity is a key factor in social classification that relates to shared culture and identity, which can profoundly shape individual experiences and opportunities within a society. Race and ethnicity create categories that are embedded in language and used by societies to organize groups, reflecting how social distinctions are made in everyday life. Age is also a significant contributor to social stratification, as different age groups may experience varying levels of power and status. Similarly, income is an indicator of socioeconomic status that can affect access to resources and opportunities.