Final answer:
Social stratification is a society's categorization of people into a hierarchy based on socioeconomic factors like wealth and power. This structure shapes access to resources and opportunities, and can be reinforced by societal ideologies. Stratification varies among societies and can impact individuals' social mobility.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power. This system characterizes the structured inequalities between different groups in society, which have implications on individuals' access to resources such as healthcare, education, and even political influence.
In different societies, stratification can result from various factors including, but not limited to, family ancestry, race, ethnicity, and gender. Notably, some societies place high value on certain attributes such as prestige, which can increase one's social standing, while others may esteem the elderly or focus on different merit-based accomplishments.