Definition of Social Stratification

1. Definition of Social Stratification • Separation of members of a society on the basis of certain characteristics. The division into categories, ranks or classes. • Examples: ancestry, race, age, physical appearance, gender, education, occupation

2. Caste System: Closed and lifelong Immobility and inherited status Based on specific occupations Ascribed status Class System: Open and mobile Reward is determined by achieved status Property, prestige, and power are important Section 1: Systems of Stratification Characteristics of Caste and Class Systems

3. Section 1: Systems of Stratification Major Theories of Social Stratification • Functionalist Theorists– view stratification as a necessary feature of the social structure and argue that the more important a role and the more skill needed to perform it, the higher the reward. • Conflict Theorists– view stratification as a result of conflict over scarce resources and argue that groups who gain power then use that power to maintain it.

4. Section 2: The American Class System The American Class System • Upper Class– attend prestigious universities; owners of large businesses, investors, heirs to family fortunes, top business executives; 1 percent of population • Upper Middle Class– attend college of university, business executives, professionals; 14 percent of population • Lower Middle Class– high school, some college; lower-level managers skilled craft workers, supervisors; 30 percent of population

5. Section 2: The American Class System The American Class System (continued) • Working Class– high school education; factory workers, clerical workers, lower level salespeople, some craftworkers; 30 percent of population • Working Poor– some high school; laborers, service workers; 22 percent of population • Underclass – some high school; undesirable, low-paying jobs, unemployed, on welfare; 3 percent of population

6. Section 2: The American Class System Motivations and Cultural Values Influence the American Class System • Such values influence Americans to try to do better financially than their parents and to help their children do the same • Most Americans remain in the same social class as their parents

7. Horizontal Mobility-Movement within a social class. Moving from one job to another of equal social ranking. • Vertical Mobility-movement between social classes. Can be either upward or downward. • Intergenerational Mobility-status differences between generations in the same family.

8. Section 3: Poverty Groups Affected By Poverty • Age – children are the largest group (37 percent); three times more African American and Hispanic children are poor than whites. • Sex – women are the largest segment (57 percent); female-headed households account for about half of all poor families. • Race and Ethnicity – African Americans and Hispanics are far more likely than white Americans to be poor.

9. Section 3: Poverty Government Responses To Poverty • Government attempts to reduce inequality through various social-welfare programs using two approaches: • Transfer Payments – redistribution of money among various segments of society; (major programs include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). • Subsidies - transfer goods and services rather than cash such as the Food Stamp Program, housing, school lunches, and Medicaid.

10. The History of Hip Hop http://www.mrwiggles.biz/hip_hop_history.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwqQQraQ4MI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RXRLQfda8k&feature=relmfu