Final answer:
Social stratification refers to the system that ranks individuals and groups in a society into different tiers based on factors like wealth, education, and power, leading to an unequal distribution of income and opportunities.
Step-by-step explanation:
A major aspect of social structure is social stratification. This refers to unequal access to desirable and useful things including income, education, property, and power.
Social stratification is the hierarchical organization of a society's members into categories that rank from high to low, often based on wealth, education, and power. Individuals and groups within society are categorized into different socio-economic tiers or strata, leading to an unequal distribution of opportunities and resources. This is a reflection of the structural inequalities that exist within a society, which may result from a combination of factors like family background, race, and gender.
The impact of stratification can be seen in the economic sphere through disparities in income and property ownership, and in the political sphere through differential access to power and representation. These disparities often manifest in real-world consequences, such as inequities in access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, further perpetuating the cycle of inequality.