Social Stratification

Warm-up

Identifying social classes

The American Dream

Is it slipping away? Is it an unreal expectation? Is it harder to get ahead in life?

Social Stratification

Separating and categorizing its members on the basis of certain characteristics. Levels/ types vary from society to society.

Types of Stratification

Caste System

Ascribed status; newborn gets a lifelong designation

Can’t move up to a higher caste Effort and talent can move a

person up within their caste People almost always marry within

their caste

Caste System

Ex. India Brahmans- Priests, scholars Kshatriyas- Rulers, nobles Vaisyas- Merchants, bankers,

business people Sudras- Laborer Harijans- Outcasts, Limited to most

undesirable jobs

Class Systems

Basis of achieved status, individuals can move up/down

Karl Marx- Bourgeoise- owners Proletariat- workers

Max Weber- expanded on Marx, said class was made up of property, prestige, and power

Dimensions of Social Stratification

Wealth Value of everything a person owns and

income In US richest 1% own 1/3 of country’s

wealth 4/5 of US wealth in hands of top 20% Income is also distributed very

unequally- Top 1/5 earn almost 50% of nation’s income

Dimensions of Social Stratification

Power- ability to control the behavior of others

Prestige- respect, honor, recognition or courtesy an individual receives from others. In the US, occupation tends to be most important determinant of prestige

Socioeconomic Status

Rating that combines factors such as educational level, occupational prestige, and place of residence with the economic factor of income

Functionalist Theory

Necessary feature of social structure Manual labor still needs to be

performed Some jobs (doctors) need to be

rewarded Why would someone take the time

and expense to become a doctor if the pay was the same as a sales clerk?

Conflict Theory

Competition over scarce resources is the cause of social inequality

Once a groups gets control (industrialist) they have the power to stay in control

The Functions of Social Stratification

The Davis Moore Thesis

Assertion that social stratification has beneficial consequences for the operation of a society

Some jobs are easily performed by almost Everyone (ex??) , some require high responsibility and special abilities

The greater the functional importance of a position, the more rewards a society attached to it

The Davis Moore Thesis

Society becomes more efficient and productive when members strive for the reward and prestige of certain jobs

Davis Moore implies that a productive society is a Meritocracy: a system of social stratification based on personal merit. In this society, there is great social mobility as people move up or down based on their performance

Davis Moore Thesis

Class systems do not completely disappear in a meritocracy because social structure would be eroded Ex- families in 1 social class would not

have certain members belonging to a different class (is this practical?)

Flaws of Davis- Moore

Can functional importance of certain jobs be held artificially high by limiting enrollment in fields such as medicine or law?

Some incomes are so high that it is hard to justify its functional worth (Oprah- $100 million/yr)

Wealth can be transferred from one generation to the next

Inequality promotes conflict and tension- not good

Are The Rich Worth What They Earn?

Respond to the article. Do you agree or disagree with the

following statement: Using social worth to justify income is

hazardous.

Why or why not?

Stratification and Conflict

Karl Marx

2 Classes Owners of productive property Those who labor

Class conflict inevitable Capitalism reproduces the class

structure from generation to generation as wealth is passed down and children attend elite schools with children of other elite

Why No Marxist Revolution?

Fragmentation of the capitalist class stock holders and managerial class

Higher standard of living Labor Unions (Strike) Government proctections

Workplace safety Min. Wage Max. Work hours Unemployment Insurance Social Security

Why No Marxist Revolution?

Many still support Marx’s premise Wealth remains highly concentrated White collar work is often

monotonous and offers little in the way of income perks

Labor unions continue to negotiate and struggle

Law favors the rich

Max Weber: Class, Status, and Power

Weber did not see class as crude categories (rich/poor) but as continuum ranging from high to low with a lot of people in the middle

Term- Socioeconomic status Social conflict highly variable and

complex

Stratification and Technology

Kuzzhet’s Curve Greater technological sophistication is

generally followed by more pronounced social stratification

The trend reverses itself as industrial societies become more egalitarian (equal).

Other characteristics Castelike structures relax in favor of greater

opportunity More equality under the law Women gain more rights

Debate:

Is the US truly an open society- on that provides the same opportunities to every citizen regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or family history?

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

Do you see any indications that the people in the painting are of different social classes?

If so, what are they?

Imagine that the artist is alive today and is about to paint a similar painting-this one of people in New York’s Central Park (or a park in your own community)

What indications, if any, would you see that the people in the painting were of different social classes?

Characteristics of social class ws

Social class differences ws

Determining social class ws

Education Income Power Prestige

Jobs that pose potential health risks:

Social class?

The Bell Curve Debate:Are Rich People Really Smarter?

Read the article and answer the 3 questions at the end of the article.

Be prepared to debate in class

Extra credit:

(5 Points)Ads to consider…Social

class and advertising ws

(10 Points)Research system:

Apartheid Caste Class

(15 Points)Study of Status

Attainment

Poverty

Poverty stations