How to define and Measure Poverty
Absolute PovertyLack of resources that result in hunger
Relative PovertyDeficiency in material and economic
resources compared to other parts of population
Extreme Poverty Living on less than $1.25 a day
The problem with poverty
• Poverty threshold = $23,021 for a family of 4 (single = $14,000)
• Basic needs Budget = $45,000 for a family of 4
• Nearly 47 million Americans live in poverty• That’s 15% of our population
(poverty rate)
More than ¼ of the world’s population lives on less than $2 a day and about 2 % of the worlds people live on less than $1.25 a day
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2015/03/opinion/ctl-child-poverty/#0
Activity
www.playspent.org Write down your decisions and the results. Reflection: What did you learn?
Definition Social Stratification is the
creation of layers of people who possess unequal shares of scares resources.
Each of the layers in a stratification system is a social class.
Social Stratification is often based on four dimensions:o Incomeo Wealtho Powero Prestige
The Economic Dimension
“For Karl Marx, the economy determines the nature of society.”
Income is the amount of money received within a given time period by an individual or group.
Wealth refers to all the economic resources possessed by an individual or group.
Answer this question: How unequally are resources distributed in the U.S.?
WEALTH INEQUALITY IN AMERICA VIDEO
Social Classes in the U.S.
Class consciousness is a sense of identification with the ideas and goals of a social class.
The Power Dimension Power is the ability to control
the behavior of others, even against their will.
According to Karl Marx, those who own and control the wealth have the power in a society.
Max Weber argued that power can derive from expert knowledge as well.o Lawyers = political powero Doctors = powero Scientist = power
The Prestige Dimension
Prestige is the recognition, respect and admiration attached to social positions.o Different based on culture.o People with similar levels of prestige tend to share
lifestyles and tend to bring their children up in these lifestyles.
Because Americans value wealth and power, those who are prestigious in our culture are typically wealthy and powerful.“Prestige is like a powerful magnet
that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. It causes you to work not on what you like, but what you’d like to like.” – Paul Graham
Functionalist Functionalism?
Stratification assures that the most qualified people fill the most important positions.
In order to encourage individuals to strive for jobs that require more education and training, society placing a high level of prestige and wealth on them.
Conflict Theory Conflict theory?
Inequality exists because some people are willing to exploit others.
People don’t choose to be placed in a class, they are forced.
Thoughts?
Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic Interactionism?
People are socialized to accept the existing stratification structure.
Those is lower classes tend to have lower self-esteem (looking glass self).
Definitions Social mobility is the movement of people
between social classes. Horizontal mobility involves changing from one
occupation to another at the same social class level.
Vertical mobility occurs when a person’s occupational status moves upward or downward in social class.
Intergenerational mobility is a change in class from one generation to the next.
Problems with Mobility Caste Systems “The only thing standing between any
American citizen and success is talent, a willingness to work, and perseverance.”
Reality=these leaps are rare. Only small movements typically happen.
Upward mobility is actually decreasing.
Downwardly mobile people experience lowered self-esteem, despair, depression, feelings of powerlessness and a loss of a sense of humor.
Assignment
Using one of the tools below, you are to create a 10 page children’s book that uses at least 5 key terms or main ideas from chapter 8. The story should also address a social problem with social stratification and social mobility. There are sample books on the back counter if you need a place to start. The book should have no spelling or grammar mistakes and be school appropriate.
Possible Tools:•Art supplies in classroom•http://www.powtoon.com/•http://www.flipsnack.com/•http://www.storyjumper.com/
Story Book Requirements
ComponentPerfect Score Requirements
Points Possible
Points Earned
Page Requireme
nt
The storybook is at least 10 pages in length.
5
Key TermsAt least five key terms or ideas are correctly used
in the story.10
Content
The story addresses a social issues regarding social stratification and
social mobility.
10
Mechanics
There are no spelling or grammar mistakes in the
story. One of the suggested tools is used.
5
Totals 30