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Consent or dissent?

Consent or dissent?. Top 5%: $157,176. Median $44,389. U.S. Household Income Distribution. $18,500. $34,738. $55,331. $88,030. Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Limits are from 2004). U.S. and World Income Distribution.

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Consent or dissent?

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  1. Consent or dissent?

  2. Top 5%: $157,176 Median $44,389 U.S. Household Income Distribution $18,500 $34,738 $55,331 $88,030 Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Limits are from 2004).

  3. U.S. and World Income Distribution Source: Cohen analysis of 1998 Census and World Bank data (GNP, including w/in country).

  4. Comfort for winners Justification for losers Dominant ideology

  5. America’s dominant ideology • Functionalism • Individualism • Equal opportunity • Meritocracy • Work ethic • Liberal capitalism

  6. Functionalist theory • Society is an organism • Social differentiation challenges order • Increasing division of labor • Decline of multifunction institutions • Conflict is pathological, order is healthy • Angry people are the problem • Circular logic • Status quo is good – figure out why Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

  7. How inequality is functional Functional importance and difficulty of the job  Unequal rewards  Basis for motivation  Jobs get done System is fair Society is happy

  8. Rewarding occupations OCCUPATION WAGE Physicians & surgeons 54.97 Lawyers 43.59 Insurance sales agents 26.07 Elementary & middle school teachers 16.78 Heating/AC & refrigeration mechanics 16.54 Social workers 15.63 Secretaries & administrative assistants 13.65 Laborers & freight stock movers 13.10 Butchers / meat processors 12.35 Janitors & build cleaners 11.65 Cooks 8.79 Maids & housekeepers 8.51 Child care workers 7.68 Source: Cohen’s analysis of 2000 Census PUMS (25-54, FTYR workers).

  9. Physicians & Surgeons Chief Executives Pipelayers & fitters Construction Managers Child care Workers Clergy Pre-K & K Teachers Agriculture workers Education and wages Source: Cohen’s analysis of 2000 Census PUMS (25-54, FTYR workers).

  10. Functionalist theory of ideology • Society runs on consensus, not conflict • People play along because of shared values and common interests

  11. Individualism: Protestant ethic • Max Weber (1864-1920) • Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism • Puritan settlers had ‘salvation anxiety’ • Diligence: Hard work stimulated productivity • Asceticism: Reinvesting profits stimulated growth • Critique: Maybe one of many factors

  12. Individualism today • Social position results from personal effort and ability • Self-reliance versus ‘dependence’ “It is the responsibility of the state to take care of very poor people who can’t take care of themselves”: 23% Source: 1994 Roper poll in Marger (p. 225).

  13. Who shares your values? Source: Washington Post, 10/4/98.

  14. Equality of opportunity Source: General Social Survey, 1998

  15. Meritocracy and universalism • Meritocracy: Rewards based on performance (ability + effort) • Assumes universalism: Equal treatment regardless of background • American ideology says: • These conditions should exist • These conditions (generally) do exist

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