Social Class in the United States Is social class an ascribed status OR an achieved status

1. Chapter 8 Social Class in the United States Is social class an ascribed status OR an achieved status???

2. Take the Quiz on page 249!! Box 8.1

3. I. Basic Concepts A. What is Social Stratification?? � social stratification = the hierarchical arrangement of social categories based on their control over basic resources. (a.k.a. �structured inequality�) Examples of �basic resources�?

4. 2 main stratification systems in the world � CASTE: strat. is based on ascribed statuses � CLASS: strat. is based on ascribed and achieved statuses �

5. WHY DO WE STUDY THIS �HEIRARCHICAL ARRANGEMENT?� � Max Weber used the term �life chances.� Currently, William Julius Wilson studies life chances. � Life chances = Access to important societal resources. � (One�s access to anything valued in society, such as $, ed., healthcare). � Why are these things considered scarce? �

6. How do we measure the concept of �Social Class?� Socioeconomic Status (SES) = A measure of an individual�s, family�s (or household�s) social class in terms of income, occupation, and education. � �

7. What is the difference between �income� and �wealth�? � Income = the economic gain from employment, income transfers (government aid) and ownership of property. � Wealth = the total value of an individual�s (or family�s) economic assets (e.g., income, personal property, anything income-producing, stocks, bonds, paintings, jewelry, cars, planes) less debt.

8. Contrasting �INCOME� and �WEALTH,� WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED MORE UNEQUALLY?? �SEE Figure 8.1 on p. 250!!! (Income Distribution) � In 2001, the richest 20% of households received almost 50% of the total income, whereas the poorest 20% of all households received less than 4% of all income. � ** The top 5% alone received 22% of all income -- a sum greater than received by the bottom 40%.

9. HAS THE INCOME GAP WIDENED OR BECOME SMALLER IN THE LAST 20 YEARS???? See pages 251-252: Who are the �super-rich?� (.5% of households) own ____% of the nation�s wealth (avg. = $9 million) Who are the �very rich?� (.5% of households) own ___% of the nation�s wealth ($1.4 to $2.5 million) Who are the �rich?� (9% of households) own ___% of the nation�s wealth (avg. = $400,000). Everyone else? (90% of households) own ___% of the nation�s wealth � ***NOTE: Page 252 --See FIGURES 8.2 & 8.3!!!!

10. Wealth Inequality in U. S. A.: In summary, the top 10% wealthiest families have about 72% of the nation�s wealth. The remaining 90% of families have about 28% of the nation�s wealth. � The Weberian Model [using analysis of the class structure - designed by Dennis Gilbert and Joseph Kahl, 2003] based on education, occupation of head of household, and income of family. SEE PAGE 257; Figure 8.6

11. What does �Pink-Collar� mean? Pink-collar occupations = Relatively low-paying, nonmanual, semi-skilled positions (primarily held by women, yet sometimes held by men). � Examples? �

12. Consequences of Social Stratification � Increases in income correspond to increases in CONTROL over one�s life via life chances� � Poor physical health & mental health and lack of nutrition correspond to being monetarily poor.

13. FOCUS -> Physical health: � The poor have shorter life expectancies (an average of 7 years), a higher risk of chronic illness (e.g., diabetes, cancer, heart disease) and infectious diseases (e.g., tuberculosis). � Infants of poor families have a greater risk of dying (that is, these babies have a higher �infant mortality rate). WHY???

14. FOCUS -> Physical health� disease, accidents, violence, low birth weight {due partly to inadequate prenatal care, lack of exams during pregnancy, etc.} more common among people who are poor. � Many high poverty areas lack an adequate supply of doctors and medical facilities (example of a �life chance�).

15. FOCUS -> Physical health� The poor are LESS likely to have health insurance, although this trend is creeping into the middle-class (such as the self-employed). Low paying jobs are dangerous and hazardous, namely manual work. Who is the MOST likely age category to NOT have health insurance?? (Hint: See Figure 8.7 on p. 265).

16. FOCUS -> Physical health� A NOTE on Race: In 2001, on-the-job accidents have decreased for African- and Anglo-Americans, but they have increased for Hispanic-(or Latin) Americans. It seems that people who have more money and other wealth tend to exercise more, maintain healthy weight, eat nutritiously, & smoke less.

17. FOCUS ---> Mental health: (Related to physical health): People in the middle and upper social classes are LESS psychologically depressed. � Thus, we see an inverse or negative correlation between psychological stress and social class: � psychological Social Class stress ? status (measured by SES)

18. Theoretical Perspectives of Social Inequality in the U. S. I. Functionalist Perspectives assert that inequality is inevitable and necessary for society. Know 5 points of the �Davis-Moore thesis� (p. 270).

19. Theoretical Perspectives of Social Inequality in the U. S�. II. Conflict Perspectives assert that inequality is NOT necessary for society. People with power and wealth �are able to shape and distribute the rewards, resources, privileges, and opportunities in society for their own benefit� (Kendall, 2005, p. 270).

20. Theoretical Perspectives of Social Inequality in the U. S�. III. Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives focus on the ways in which inequality is maintained at the micro-level via communication patterns and power/deference behavior (i.e., verbal & nonverbal communication, e.g., clothing, body positions, facial expression, eye contact, touching, personal space).

21. Theoretical Perspectives of Social Inequality in the U. S�. Table 8.A summarizes 3 theoretical perspectives (p. 272) Let�s see the following Web site for poverty thresholds: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/05poverty.shtml