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Social StratificationSocial Stratification

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Social StratificationSocial Stratification Division of society into layers (strata) Occupants of different social strata

have unequal access to social opportunities and rewards Power: Ability to do what you want

despite obstacles Power Elite: Those who make the big

decisions in the U.S. Wealth and power go hand in hand

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Social ClassSocial Class Group of individuals who occupy

similar social statuses Includes educational level,

occupation, political influence, economic position

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Structure of StratificationStructure of Stratification Closed system

Position in social hierarchy is ascribed

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Structure of StratificationStructure of Stratification Open system

Position in social hierarchy is achieved Social mobility is possible

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Structure of StratificationStructure of Stratification Functionalist perspective:

Complex societies depend on individuals occupying a variety of positions

Societies develop systems of unequal rewards

Meritocracy: Position in social hierarchy is determined

by individual merit Based on equality of opportunity, not

equality of outcome

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Social MobilitySocial Mobility Movement up or down

socioeconomic ladder Upward Mobility:Upward Mobility:

Better off than one’s parents Better off than one used to be in a

lifetime Downward Mobility:Downward Mobility:

Worse off than one’s parents Worse off than one once was

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Social MobilitySocial Mobility Movement up or down

socioeconomic ladder Structural Mobility:Structural Mobility:

Structural changes in society ‘push’ and ‘pull’ people into higher and lower social levels

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The American Class SystemThe American Class System

Capitalist Class

Upper Middle Class

Middle Class

Working Class

Working Poor

Underclass

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Distribution of Wealth and Distribution of Wealth and IncomeIncome Income:

Money people earn from wages/salaries, interest, investments, etc.

Wealth: Things people own; assets (stocks, real

estate, savings bonds, cars, consumer goods)

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Distribution of WealthDistribution of Wealth

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Distribution of IncomeDistribution of Income

Top 1 percent

Next 19 percent

Bottom 80 percent

1982 12.8 39.1 48.1

1988 16.6 38.9 44.5

1991 15.7 40.7 43.7

1994 14.4 40.8 44.9

1997 16.6 39.6 43.8

2000 20.0 38.7 41.4

CEO vs. Factory WorkerCEO vs. Factory Worker

CEOs' pay as a multiple of the average worker's pay

2005=411:1; European average=25:1

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Poverty in AmericaPoverty in America 2003: Over 36 million Americans

(almost 14% of our population) officially poor

Poverty line: Governmental estimate of minimum budget for families of different sizes 2003: $18,400 for a family of 4

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Poverty in AmericaPoverty in America Who are the poor?

For most, poverty is a temporary condition

Non-Latino whites: 48% Single moms living alone: 37% Majority of poor live in suburbs, small

towns, and rural areas (58%) Proportion of children who are poor has

climbed (now about 20%)

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What does it cost to be poor in the What does it cost to be poor in the US? US? Costs more than being middle class:

Bank accounts Loans for cars and houses Car insurance Health care Housing Furniture & other essentials

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What does it cost to be poor in the What does it cost to be poor in the US? US? Costs more than being middle class:

“Ghetto tax” Ghetto originally used to describe an

urban neighborhood of a minority segregated from rest of the city

Now commonly used to describe poor, deteriorating, inner-city neighborhoods

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Explaining Ghetto PovertyExplaining Ghetto Poverty ‘Underclass’ explanation:

Acute, chronic poverty Culture of poverty: No work ethic, no

family values, no respect for law and order

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Explaining Ghetto PovertyExplaining Ghetto Poverty William Julius Wilson:

Ghetto poverty a result of the combination of

Joblessness due to deindustrialization Social isolation

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Explaining Ghetto PovertyExplaining Ghetto Poverty Christopher Jencks:

Questions the existence of special category of poor as ‘ghetto poor’

Assuming these problems are linked together perpetuates stereotypes

This excuses inaction

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Global StratificationGlobal Stratification Most industrialized nations

Industrializing nations

Least industrialized nations

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Theories of Global Theories of Global StratificationStratification Colonialism

Industrial nations use technology, military power to exploit labor, resources of weaker nations

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Theories of Global Theories of Global StratificationStratification Dependency Theory

Poverty in poor nations the result of exploitation by wealthy nations

Related to colonialism—Colonies were encouraged to develop one or two prime exports

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Theories of Global Theories of Global StratificationStratification World System Theory

World economic system must be seen as a unit

Core countries Semiperipheral countries Peripheral countries