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Stratification: A Level Sociology Definition

Raj Bonsor

Written by: Raj Bonsor

Reviewed by: Claire Neeson

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Contents

  1. 1. What is stratification?
  2. 2. A Level Sociology Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

What is stratification?

Stratification in A Level Sociology refers to the structured ranking of individuals and groups in society based on factors such as social class, income, wealth, power, status, and ethnicity. It represents a system of social inequality where resources and opportunities are distributed unevenly, leading to hierarchical layers within society. 

Diagram showing a social hierarchy pyramid; individuals at the top have more power and wealth, while those at the bottom have less.
Social stratification hierarchy

Sociologists study different forms of stratification, including class, caste, gender, and race, to understand how these divisions affect life chances, social mobility, and access to resources. Theories of stratification, such as those proposed by Marx and Weber, explore the causes and consequences of social inequality, as well as how it is maintained and challenged over time.

A Level Sociology Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

If you’re looking for revision resources for A Level Sociology, the experts at Save My Exams have meticulously combed through the A Level Sociology specifications to ensure that the past papers we provide are perfectly aligned with the exam board’s requirements.

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Author
Reviewer
Raj Bonsor

Author: Raj Bonsor

Expertise: Psychology & Sociology Content Creator

Raj joined Save My Exams in 2024 as a Senior Content Creator for Psychology & Sociology. Prior to this, she spent fifteen years in the classroom, teaching hundreds of GCSE and A Level students. She has experience as Subject Leader for Psychology and Sociology, and her favourite topics to teach are research methods (especially inferential statistics!) and attachment. She has also successfully taught a number of Level 3 subjects, including criminology, health & social care, and citizenship.

Claire Neeson

Author: Claire Neeson

Expertise: Psychology Content Creator

Claire has been teaching for 34 years, in the UK and overseas. She has taught GCSE, A-level and IB Psychology which has been a lot of fun and extremely exhausting! Claire is now a freelance Psychology teacher and content creator, producing textbooks, revision notes and (hopefully) exciting and interactive teaching materials for use in the classroom and for exam prep. Her passion (apart from Psychology of course) is roller skating and when she is not working (or watching 'Coronation Street') she can be found busting some impressive moves on her local roller rink.

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