Abstract
This article aims to apply the concept of social stratification to explain social inequality. This will
help understand who is vulnerable population in the society. The authors have reviewed the literature of
concepts and theories in social sciences that can explain and rank the social stratification. Moreover, this
first phase of the big research project “Social Stratification in the Context of Thai Society and Health Status”
applied in-depth interviews and meetings with experts from March 2015 to March 2016 to select indicators of social stratification measurement appropriate to the context of Thai society. The research finding explains that social stratification and social inequality are conceived from the life chances concept as the beginning point of differences of human being. Life chance either by nature, by culture, or by social situation, leads to social differentiation, social stratification and eventually social inequality. Social stratification measures can be used to rank people by two approaches: 1. Objective measures of social stratification cover five indicators; 1) Birth origins 2) Standard of living in household 3) Economy 4) Education and 5) Health, and 2. Subjective measures of social stratification also cover five indicators; 1) Social status 2) Freedom and liberty 3) Fraternity 4) Consumption and lifestyle and 5) Class awareness. All of the above indicators of social stratification will be utilized to find populations who are the most disadvantaged, or the “vulnerable populations.” This finding has contributed to help build life chance guarantees, social equality and social equity for the vulnerable in Thai society in the future.
