While there are always inequalities between individuals, sociologists are interested in larger social patterns. However, sociologists recognize that social stratification is a society-wide system that makes inequalities apparent. This emphasis on self-effort perpetuates the belief that people control their own social standing. To a certain extent, Aaron illustrates the belief that hard work and talent-not prejudicial treatment or societal values-determine social rank. In the United States, people like to believe everyone has an equal chance at success. (Photo courtesy of Just a Prairie Boy/flickr) Many factors determine a person’s social standing, such as income, education, occupation, as well as age, race, gender, and even physical abilities. People are sorted, or layered, into social categories. Strata in rock illustrate social stratification. Other groups of people, with progressively fewer and fewer resources, represent the lower layers of our society. The people who have more resources represent the top layer of the social structure of stratification. Society’s layers are made of people, and society’s resources are distributed unevenly throughout the layers. The distinct vertical layers found in rock, called stratification, are a good way to visualize social structure. You may remember the word “stratification” from geology class. Social stratification refers to a society’s categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power. Sociologists use the term social stratification to describe the system of social standing. The majority of Americans will never see the view from the top. These people make the decisions and earn the most money. In the upper echelons of the working world, people with the most power reach the top.