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INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR INEQUALITY IN U.S.

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR INEQUALITY IN U.S. SOC 3300 – 2 ND HALF OF TERM DR. M.C. SENGSTOCK PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY. SUMMARY THUS FAR. Focus on Nature & Types of Inequality History of Inequality: General U.S. Dimensions Some Introductory Causal Issues

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INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR INEQUALITY IN U.S.

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  1. INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORTFOR INEQUALITY IN U.S. SOC 3300 – 2ND HALF OF TERM DR. M.C. SENGSTOCK PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

  2. SUMMARY THUS FAR • Focus on Nature & Types of Inequality • History of Inequality: • General • U.S. Dimensions • Some Introductory Causal Issues • Brief Introduction to Institutional Dimensions

  3. 2ND HALF OF TERM • Focus Primarily on American Institutions • Meaning of “Institutions” in Societies • Types of Institutions in American Society • Means By Which Institutions Relate to Inequality: • Help Establish Inequalities • Reinforce Existing Social Statuses • Reinforce Existing Inequalities Source: Part II, Intro: “Maintaining Inequalities: Systems of Oppression & Privilege”

  4. WHAT IS AN INSTITUTION? • Social Structure Governing Action of Individuals within a Specific Sphere of Activity • Widespread Throughout Society • Does NOT Refer to a Specific Group or Organization • I.e., “Bank of America” is NOT an “Institution” • The Structure of “Banking” in American IS an “Institution”

  5. TYPICAL SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEARLY ALL SOCIETIES • FAMILY: Structure of Persons with Biological (or Perceived Biological) Relationships • RELIGION: Structure of Beliefs and Relation to “The Unknown” • ECONOMY: Structure of Means by Which Members of a Society Make a Living • POLITICAL: Structure by Which Society Is Governed

  6. INSTITUTIONS IN MODERN SOCIETIES • FAMILY – RELIGION – ECONOMY – POLITICAL • BUT: Many Other Components Have Also Become “Institutionalized” -- EX: • Teaching Children – Formerly Task of FAMILY • Absorbed by EDUCATIONAL Institution • Leads to NEW INSTITUTIONS: • EDUCATION; MEDIA; HEALTH; even “RECREATION”

  7. OTHER SOURCES OF NEW INSTITUTIONS • Various TYPES or COMPONENTS of Religion, Economic, Political Structures, Organized as Separate INSTITUTIONS • EX: ECONOMY  BANKING; AGRICULTURE; MANUFACTURING; RETAIL; FOOD SERVICE • POLITICS  GOVERNMENT; LAW; PRISONS; COURTS • RELIGION INDIVIDUAL “RELIGIONS”

  8. SUMMARY: INSTITUTIONS • An INSTITUTION Is NOT an “Organization” • An INSTITUTION IS: • A Specific Way of Organizing Human Behavior • In a Specific Sphere of Activity • Providing a Structure of Values, Values, Beliefs, Rules for Behavior • In That Particular Area of Social Life

  9. HOW DO INSTITUTIONS “STRUCTURE” INEQUALITY? • INTRODUCTORY EXAMPLES: • Airplane Handling of Arabs, Muslims • 6 Imams – Minneapolis Flight: Suspicious Praying • Kareem Alasady (U.S. citizen): Pilot Refused to Fly • Traffic Stops of “People of Color” • Atty Robt Wilkins & Family – Stopped by MD Police Instructed to Search for Drugs • IL Test of Stops Police Stopped Investigator Chavez

  10. TERMINOLOGY • PRETEXT STOPS: Use of Alleged Traffic “Violations” As “Pretext” to Stop Motorists • RACIAL PROFILING: Practice of Stopping People of Color for Questioning • Assumption: They Are More Likely to Be Engaged in Criminal Activity • NEARLY ALL People of Color Have Experienced This • SUBURBAN Areas Particularly Common – African-Americans 300% More Likely to Be Stopped (Southern Poverty Law Center Research Studies)

  11. DEFINING INDIVIDUALS BY STATUS • Status: Socially Defined Positions People Hold in Society (Parent, Lawyer, Jew, Italian, etc.) • “Profiling” Focuses on a SINGLE STATUS  • “MASTER STATUS”: Status Society Considers MOST IMPORTANT • RACIAL (Ethnic, etc.) Is Often Considered Most Important By Social Leaders, Power Groups • Master Status “Trumps” All Others!

  12. STATUSES ASCATEGORIES OF DIFFERENCE • Purpose: Perpetuate the Past • Privilege: Rights & Assets That Accompany Statuses • Some Earned – E.g., College Degrees • Others Unearned – White, Black, Country Clubs • Oppression: Domination or Submission • Perpetuate Statuses – Upper & Lower • Maintain the Existing Stratification System

  13. TYPES OF OPPRESSION • Institutionalized Oppression: • Built Into & Supported by Institutions • Institutions (Family, Education, Courts) Maintain Oppression (EX: Pretext Stops; “Legacy” Admissions) • Interpersonal Oppression • Manifested Between Individuals (Insults, Demeaning Action to Member of Another Race, Religion, Gender) • Internalized Oppression • Directed at Oneself – One Accepts Subordinate Status • Targeted Person Feels Demeaned, Offended, Insulted

  14. ROLE OF IDEOLOGY IN ESTABLISHING & MAINTAINING INEQUALITY • IDEOLOGY: Set of Cultural Patterns That Form a Basis for Inequality • Justify Interests of Dominant Group • VALUES: Define What/Who Is Important • BELIEFS: State What Is “True” About Groups • Upper Class is Smarter; Lower Less Capable • ATTITUDES: Describe Appropriate Feelings • Southern Instruction to Child: “’Lady’ Is Applied to Some White Women; Never to Black Women.”

  15. EXAMPLES OF OPPRESSION IDEOLOGIES • Androcentrism: Maintains Theory That Men Are Superior to Women  Preserves Sex/Gender System • Capitalistic Ideology: Preserves View That: • Profits Are Primary; Workers Are Less Valuable; Justifiable to Pay Them Less Than Others • Oppression Involves: Systematic Barriers to Maintain Certain People in a Subordinate Status (Frye, 1983) • Birdcage Analogy: Use of Numerous, Tiny, UnnoticedBarriers (Wires) – Not Recognized As Interconnected Network Unless Viewed from a Macro Perspective

  16. DEFINING FORMS OF OPPRESSION • Prejudice: Negative Attitude Toward Members of a Group or Category • Discrimination: Unequal Treatment Directed Against People Based on Group Membership • Institutionalized Racism: Systematic Policy or Practice of Exploiting or Controlling People Because of Perceived Physical Characteristics • EX: Use of Native American Symbols as Sports Mascots (Stanley Eitzen)

  17. “CLASSISM”:SOCIAL CLASS OPPRESSION • Use of Government Economic Policies to Benefit Upper vs. Middle & Lower Classes • Top 20% of U.S. Households  70% of Income • Bottom 20%  3.4% of Income • Top 20% of Population Owns 85% of Wealth • Bottom 80% Owns 15% of Wealth • Tax Breaks: Wealthiest 1%: 53% of Tax Breaks • Taxes Gradually Shifted From Investment to Wages • Wealthy Person’s Dividends: 15% Tax Rate • School Teacher ($28,000): 45% Tax Rate

  18. Proposed “9-9-9” Tax Reform PlanIncreased/Decreased Tax Liability Derek Thompson, The Atlantic http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/10/rick-perrys -tax-cut-for-the-rich-in-a-very-very-tall-graph/247635

  19. SEXISM & INSTITUTIONALIZED EXPLOITATION BASED ON GENDER • Systematic Discrimination Against Women in Employment: • Height or Attractiveness in Certain Jobs (Police Work; Weight or Body Type in Casinos, “Hooters”) • Job Discrimination Against Homosexuals • Does NOT Require a Male Heterosexual to Actually Behave in a Sexist Manner to Profit! • Straight Males Gain an Advantage Simply By Virtue of the Preference for Straight Males • There Are More Positions Open to Them Than Others!

  20. UNCONSCIOUS & INTERCONNECTED IMPACT OF INSTITUTIONS • Institutionalized Patterns Are Viewed as “Just the Way Things Are” – Unquestioned • Interconnected Institutions Assist in Process: • “Redlining “in Housing Covenants • Policies of Mortgage Brokers • Racial “Steering” of Real Estate Agents • Geographically Based School Districts • Geographical Location of Places of Employment • Collectively Maintain Separate Races, Classes • Ensure Each Gets “Appropriate” Life Chances

  21. INTERRELATING INSTITUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED FAMILY EDUCATION ECONOMY & WORK STATE & PUBLIC POLICY MEDIA LANGUAGE RELIGION VIOLENCE & PUBLIC POLICY

  22. INTERRELATING INSTITUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED (No. 1) • Family (Rubin, #17; Stacey, #19): • Decreasing Wages 2 Parent Family; Child Care Costs • Definitions & Policies: “Family Values” (Gay Families) • Education: (Kahlenberg, #20; Dog & Erdoes, #21; Sadkers, #22; Miceli, #23): • Cultural Capital  Differential School Experiences • Hidden Curriculum  Minorities Physical Discipline • Hidden Curriculum  Girls Learn Submissiveness • Hidden Curriculum  No “Aid” for Homosexuality  “Heternormativity”  Reinforces Heterosexuality

  23. INTERRELATING INSTITUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED (No. 2) • Economy & Work (Wilson, #24 Pager et al, #25; Wilson, #24): • Unavailability of Employment in Ghettos • White Applicants Favored in Employment (Individuals Need NOT Discriminate to Benefit!) • Policies Maintain Substantial Wage Gender Gap • State & Public Policy (Burnbaum, #28; Western & Pettit, #29; Wessler, #30): • Child Welfare Policies Perpetuate Inequality of Minority, Female-Headed Families • Criminal Justice System Reinforces Inequality in Prosecution & Punishment

  24. INTERRELATING INSTITUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED (No. 3) • Media (#31 - #34): • Sitcom Devaluing of Women, Working Class Men • Enhancing the “Wisdom” of Middle Class Parents • Few & Inaccurate Images of Varied Sex Categories • Language: Defines Our World: Gender (#35-37): • Fireman, Mankind, Manpower, Generic “he,” etc. • Women Defined in Relation to Men (Miss, Mrs.) • Trivialization of the Feminine: Stewardess; Lady Lawyer; Lady Doctor Language Defines Our World!

  25. INTERRELATING INSTITUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED (No. 4) • Religion: Provides an Example – & Rules – For Perpetuating Inequality • Women Subordinate in Nearly All Religious Groups, Traditions • Races Have Been Viewed as Subordinate in Many Religious Traditions • Violence & Social Control Institutions: • Violence Often Used As Social Control Mechanism (S Poverty Law, #38; Armstrong, et al, #39; Kaufman, #40;): • “Beaner Hopping” – Teens Seek Hispanics to Beat Up (Prev. Ed.) • Campus “Rape Culture”: Fear to Keep Women in Control • Using Violence to Construct Masculinity to Perpetuate Subordination of Others  Perpetuate White Male Dominance • School Bullying; Cyberbulling(Schneider, et al., #41)

  26. SUMMARY • Remainder of Course: • Focus on INSTITUTIONAL Basis of Inequality • Through Analysis of U.S. Institutions • The Manner in Which They Work Together … • To Perpetuate Inequality … and • The Existing Stratification Structure … • Making Systemic Change Nearly Impossible!

  27. Social Change Pyramid How Long Will It Take? Who Is Most Likely to Change? What Is the Chance Of Change Occurring? Who Is Likely to Resist Change? Why?

  28. Social Change Pyramid Interrelating Institutions MEDIA STATE LANGUAGE ECONOMY RELIGION SOCIAL CONTROL EDUCATION FAMILY

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