Social Stratification

1. Social Stratification

2. Social Class Differences… • 1. The ______er the social class, the more likely to vote. • 2. The ______er the social class, the more likely to be Rebublican. • 3. The ______er the social class, the more tolerant on issues involving civil rights. • 4. The ______er the social class, the more traditional the gender roles. • 5. The ______er the social class, the greater the chance of divorce. • 6. The ______er the social class, the longer the life expectancy. • 7. The ______er the social class, the more class consciousness. • 8. The ______er the social class, the greater the risk of diabetes. • 9. The ______er the social class, the greater the risk of heart disease. • 10. The ______er the social class, the greater the chance of being treated for a mental disorder.

3. 11. The ______er the social class, the more likely to participate in community activities. • 12. The ______er the social class, the greater sense of control over life. • 13. The ______er the social class, the more likely to be an authoritarian parent. • 14. The ______er the social class, the more social relationships will center around family and neighbors, • 15. The ______er the social class, the later to marry. • 16. The ______er the social class, the more likely to suffer from infectious diseases. • 17. The ______er the social class, the higher the rate of infant mortality. • 18. The ______er the social class, the greater the risk of occupational hazard. • 19. The _____er the social class, the more likely that divorce is viewed negatively.

4. Social Stratification • the layering of society into levels, based on class, prestige, & power • e.g., the movie “Trading Places” Basic Overview • every society has some form of social stratification • Pre-modern society – • based usually on gender & age • Industrial society – • based on economic advantage, political power

5. Dimensions of Stratification • Economic, Prestige, Power

6. Economic Dimension Influenced Conflict Theory’s development • Proletariat vs. Bourgeoisie • Income vs. Wealth • Money during a specific time period vs. total assets held

7. Power Dimension • Power – • ability to control others with or without consent • Sources – power: 1. personal qualities 2. status 3. wealth • All may often be interlinked… • Authority – • formally recognized right to exercise power Power Elite: • elite status: • hold much social power & influence • i.e. economic elite, military elite, political elite, etc… Are there jobs that pay less money but hold more power? Which ones can you think of?

8. Prestige Dimension Prestige– the honor & respect a person gets from the community • income, wealth, job play roles here Measuring occupational prestige 1. personal judgment 2. can be well-thought of & have low prestige Other means of prestige: • community work may elevate prestige, though income may be the same • “old rich” vs. “new rich” • spouse’s occupation

9. Prestige Dimension • certain countries honor certain occupations • the French & British honor scholars & poets • high income tends to go with high prestige • nature of work plays a part • e.g., teacher or plumber – who has the higher prestige? Who makes more money? • What occupations have the highest levels of prestige? The lowest?

10. Perspectives on Social Strat.Why does social stratification exist? • Functionalist – it assures most competent people get most important positions • Symbolic Interactionist – looking glass self creates self esteem issues (both higher and lower classes) • Conflict Theory – it is a result of exploitation and creates a false consciousness

11. Social Classes American Class System • ranks by class: • people who share a similar rank in society, similar life chances, share many common values, ways of behaving. When you have identified with this group of people, you are said to have class consciousness.

12. Social Classes • Classes: • Upper Classes: 1% • Upper-upper class: elite, aristocracy, often based on heredity • Lower-upper class: mostly earned fortunes, don’t necessarily have less money than upper-upper • The Middle Classes: 74% • Upper-Middle Class: 14%, college educated, live well, can save money • Middle-Middle Class: 30%, teachers, firemen, nurses, social workers, police officers – income is national average. • Lower-Middle Class: 30%, factory workers, salespeople, cashiers. • The Lower Classes: 25% • Working poor: 13%, low skill jobs with low pay: fast food servers, manual labor. Cannot earn enough to rise above poverty line ($21,954 for family of four) • The underclass: 12%, generationally unemployed, part-time menial jobs, have mental or physical problems. Don’t have skills to obtain better job. Reasons for this?

13. Poll Questions • Do you oppose or favor programs that make special efforts to help people get ahead who come from low-income backgrounds, regardless of gender or ethnicity? • Is it possible to start out poor, work hard and become rich? • Compared with your social class when growing up, your current class is higher or lower? • Compared with 30 years ago, is the likelihood of moving up from one social class to another less or greater? • Compared with European Countries, is moving from one social class to another harder or easier? • How likely is it that you will become financially wealthy? (already, very, somewhat, not very, not at all) • The federal government should tax estates worth: Over $3.5 million, over $1 million, not at all • How much do Americans need to make to be considered rich?

14. Poverty in America • Absolute • Not enough money to survive with basic necessities • Relative Poverty • Comparing the bottom of society to the top • Which version do you think of most when you hear the word “poverty”?

15. Poverty in America • How are race and ethnicity related to poverty? • 47% are non-Latino whites • However, this is 7% of ethnic group • 23% of African-Americans and Latinos are poor. • How are gender and age related to poverty • 50% of poor households are headed by females • 14% of non-poor households are headed by females • 25% of all female-headed households are poor • 22% of children under 6 are poor • Feminization of Poverty • Women and children are make up an increasingly higher proportion of the population

16. Poverty in America • Types of Welfare Reforms • Education, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment • Problems With Reform • Attitudes toward welfare services • Organizational flaws

17. Social Mobility Movement of people between classes • Horizontal Mobility • Changing from one occupation to another, but without economic gain or loss • Vertical Mobility • Moving upward or downward in social class • If it changes from one generation to another, it is called “intergenerational mobility”

18. Social Mobility Caste & Closed systems 1. closed system a. set through birth b. little chance of moving up I.E. caste system a. closed b. India – based on the Hindu religion c. Five levels Caste system was done away with by law in 1949 (it still persists socially, however)

19. Social Mobility western societies – a. position determined by level of achievement b. called a “meritocracy” (based on merit) • Horatio Alger Story • Great leaps in social class can happen • Is this true? Examples • What are the effects of downward mobility?