What does social stratification refer to?

Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals based on various factors such as wealth, income, race, education, and power. This concept illustrates how society categorizes its members and how these categories can affect individuals' access to resources, opportunities, and social privileges.

Understanding social stratification is crucial in sociology as it sheds light on the inequalities that exist within a society, revealing how social classes are formed and maintained. These hierarchies influence individuals' life chances and can perpetuate cycles of poverty or privilege.

The other options do not accurately reflect the concept of social stratification. For instance, the idea of equal distribution of resources in society or an absence of social classes contradicts the fundamental understanding of stratification, which inherently involves inequalities and distinctions among social groups. A societal agreement on wealth distribution suggests a uniform approach to wealth allocation, which is not characteristic of stratified societies where discrepancies in resource distribution are prevalent.