Stratification refers to the way society is organised into layers or hierarchies, where some groups have more wealth, status, power and life chances than others. In AQA A-level Sociology, students need to understand how stratification and differentiation operate through social class, gender, ethnicity and age. Social differentiation simply means recognising differences between groups, but stratification involves ranking those groups, and inequality refers to unequal access to resources, opportunities and rewards. This activity helps students distinguish between these ideas and apply them to realistic examples from education, work, income, status, representation and social mobility.
In this Stratification System Sorter, students classify scenarios by identifying the main sociological concept, the social division involved and the wider significance for inequality. The activity helps students separate hierarchy, differentiation, inequality, life chances, status, power and social mobility, while applying these ideas to class, gender, ethnicity and age. It includes instant feedback, scoring, model answers, a shuffle option and an exam-style extension task.
Stratification System Sorter
Classify examples of hierarchy, differentiation and inequality across class, gender, ethnicity and age.
Task: For each scenario, make three decisions. Identify the main stratification concept, choose the social division involved, and decide why the example is sociologically significant.
This activity helps you move from basic definitions towards exam-style application by linking stratification to wealth, status, power, life chances, social mobility and inequality.
The sorting map
Spot the pattern
Is the example about ranking, difference, unequal rewards or movement between groups?
Identify the division
Is the main issue class, gender, ethnicity, age or overlapping inequalities?
Judge the impact
Does it affect income, status, power, opportunity, identity or life chances?
Make the link
Explain how the example shows stratification in modern society.
Open key terms guide before you begin
Exam practice after the activity
Choose one card and turn it into an exam-style paragraph:
- Point: One way society is stratified is through…
- Application: This can be seen in the example of…
- Explanation: This matters because it affects…
- Link: This shows inequality because…
- Evaluation: However, this pattern may be complicated by…
For more Stratification resources, click the link below:
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