Final answer:
A category of persons with about the same opportunity to gain status and resources is called a social class, which is based on wealth, income, and other factors. In a class-based system, individuals can move up or down the social ladder based on achievement and opportunities. Society is divided into different classes, from the most to the least privileged, within a socioeconomic system.
Step-by-step explanation:
A category of persons with about the same opportunity to gain status and resources is called a social class. Social class is defined as a grouping based on similar levels of the three categories: wealth, income, education, and occupation. It is part of a broader socioeconomic system that divides society's members into categories ranging from high to low, based on things like wealth, power, and prestige.
Opportunity and Advantage are vital as people with access to opportunities and advantages typically have a higher standard of living than people who do not. A class system is open, allowing for vertical movement, and is based on both social factors and individual achievement. The layers of society are representative of the resources available, with those having more resources at the top tier of the social structure of stratification.
It's important for any society that seeks a level playing field to consider factors such as nepotism and biases that interfere with equality of opportunity. As individuals seek to gain opportunities or advantages, they might increase their education, learn new skills, or migrate to areas with better job prospects, aiming to enhance their socioeconomic status.