What are the characteristics of social stratification?

(A) It is based on natural differences.

(B) It is a function of individual differences.

(C) It persists over generations.

(D) It is supported by patterns of belief/ideology.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is (C) and (D) only.

To understand why this is the correct choice, let us analyze the characteristics of social stratification step-by-step:
Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, social status, occupation, and power.

1. Analysis of statement (A): "It is based on natural differences."
This statement is incorrect. Social stratification is a trait of society, not a reflection of natural or biological differences among individuals. For instance, physical strength or biological traits do not dictate one's social standing; rather, social systems and structures assign value and rank to different groups.

2. Analysis of statement (B): "It is a function of individual differences."
This statement is also incorrect. Stratification is societal, not individual. While individuals certainly differ from one another, social stratification is a systematic inequality built into the social structure. It affects entire categories of people regardless of their personal attributes or individual efforts.

3. Analysis of statement (C): "It persists over generations."
This statement is correct. Social stratification is closely linked to the family structure. Parents pass their social position along to their children, meaning that stratification patterns are inherited and endure over long periods, persisting from one generation to the next.

4. Analysis of statement (D): "It is supported by patterns of belief/ideology."
This statement is correct. Stratification systems are not just hierarchies of power and wealth; they are also sustained by cultural beliefs and ideologies that justify the existing social order. These belief patterns make the unequal distribution of resources seem fair, natural, or inevitable to the members of that society.

Therefore, statements (C) and (D) represent the true characteristics of social stratification, making "(C) and (D) only" the correct option.