SOCIAL

STRATIFICATION AND

SOCIAL CLASS

Chapter 8 Section 1 & 2

JOURNAL

Symbolic Interactionists (p. 251) contend

that a person is socialized to accept that

social class is a result of hard work, talent

and effort. Do you agree? Explain your

answer.

Social Stratification and Social

Class

Humans have the tendency to form

rank

Social Stratification: the creation of

layers of people who possess

unequal shares of resources.

Social Classes

Social Classes: the layers of stratification

where members hold similar amounts of

scarce resources and share norms,

values, and lifestyle

Developed Countries:

Upper, Middle, and Lower Classes

Developing Countries:

Upper and Lower Classes

Mumbai, India

The Economic Dimension

Karl Marx: Formed economic foundations of

social class

Marx theorized that capitalism would lead to

two classes:

Proletariat: working class

Bourgeoisie: class that owns the means of

production

Income and Wealth in the U.S.

Over a span of 22 years, the top fifth saw an

increase of income of 43% while the bottom

fifth saw a 9% decrease.

The top 1% (3 Million People) hold 39% of the

wealth while the bottom 80% (245 million) hold

only 16%.

Income vs. Wealth

Occupy Wall Street

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50rpJ7EQW

uI

Power Dimension

Max Weber believed power

and prestige, not just money

stratified society

Power can come from:

Money

Knowledge

Fame

Social positions

Charisma

Prestige Dimension

Prestige: Recognition, respect, and

admiration connected to social

positions.

Defined by the culture you are in

Voluntarily given, not claimed

Similar prestige=similar lifestyles

Most important social positions are

the most presigious

Chapter 8 Section 2

Explanations of Stratification

Functionalist View

Most qualified people fill most

important positions.

Some jobs are more important than

others and require special skills.

Money and prestige are awarded for

sacrifice

Conflict Theory View

Some people are willing to exploit

others (Marx-exploiter & exploited)

Those in power are able to spread a

belief system that legitimizes their

position (Schools, Media)

Lower class accepts these ideas and

values – False Consciousness

Symbolic Interactionism and

Stratification

People are socialized to accept

existing structure

Lower class-Lower self esteem

System tells them that they are

inferior

Upper class- Higher self esteem

System tells them that they are

superior

SOCIAL CLASSES IN

AMERICA

Chapter 8 Section 3

United States Social Classes

6 typical social classes

Unlike in India, the United States never

really developed class consciousness:

identification with a particular social class.

Classes are subject to change

Full of exceptions

The Upper Class

Includes 1% of the population

Upper-Upper class

“Old-Money”

(Rockafeller, Ford, etc.)

Based on blood, not hard work.

Lower-Upper Class

Wealth is from achievement or

earned, not inherited.

Often excluded by upper-upper

class.

The Upper Middle Class

Upper Middle Class

14% of population

Professionals and

entrepreneurs

Most are college-

educated

High goals for

children

Active in the

community

The Middle Class

Middle-Middle Class

30% of Population

Small-Business owners, farmers,

lower-class professionals (teachers,

firefighters)

Many have some college-education

The Working Class (Lower-

Middle) 33% of Population

Roofers, Truck Drivers, Sales People

Often lack same benefits as middle class

(insurance, retirement)

Employment is unstable

Most have no college education

The Working Poor

13% of Population

Working Poor: people

employed in low-skill jobs with

the lowest pay.

Manual Labor, Service Jobs

Lack steady employment

Do not earn enough to rise

above the poverty line

($19,484)

Most are high school students,

or high school dropouts.

The Underclass

12% of the Population

Underclass: People who are usually

unemployed and who come from families

with a history of unemployment.

Part-Time, menial jobs

State Assistance

Lack of Skills

Many paths in, few paths out

POVERTY IN

AMERICAChapter 8 Section 4

Measuring Poverty

Absolute Poverty: The absence of

enough money to secure life’s

necessities

Relative Poverty: Comparing the

bottom of society to the top.

Identifying the Poor

50% of poor people in America are white;

HOWEVER only 9% of white people are

poor.

African-Americans and Latinos make up

only 25% of the population but they make

up 50% of the poor.

Feminization of Poverty:

Women and children make up larger

percentage of poor.

50% of poor households are headed by

women.

Responses to Poverty

1964 “War on Poverty”

Help the poor help themselves

John F. Kennedy

Self Improvement, not aid

Critics feared abuse of the system

Welfare Reform

Hot debate issue

Regulations on who is eligible, and how

long a person can stay on welfare

SOCIAL MOBILITY

Chapter 8 Section 5

Social Mobility

Social Mobility: Movement between social

classes.

Horizontal: Changing jobs in the same

social class.

Vertical: Job status or social class moves

up or down.

Intergenerational: when social class

change takes place over a generation

moving up or down.

Caste System

Social class is inherited and mobility

cannot occur.

Statuses and jobs are assigned at

birth.

Can be based on race, job, and

religion.

How do these systems stay in place?

Open-Class System

Social class is based on merit and individual

effort.

Movement is allowed and common.

Not always the case in the United States

because of built in disadvantages for

minorities and lower classes.

Up & Down Mobility

U.S. offers more opportunities than most

countries to move up.

Most still fail to move up.

Boom of upward mobility after WWII.

Today there is more downward mobility

because people lack the education

necessary to obtain high-paying jobs.