social classes and poverty2
TRANSCRIPT
SOCIAL CLASSESSOCIAL CLASSESSOCIAL CLASSESSOCIAL CLASSES
Social Class DivisionsSocial Class Divisions
Sociologists have labeled six classes that exist in Sociologists have labeled six classes that exist in the United States:the United States:
Sociologists have labeled six classes that exist in Sociologists have labeled six classes that exist in the United States:the United States:
1) Upper Class1) Upper Class
2) Upper Middle Class2) Upper Middle Class
3) Lower Middle Class3) Lower Middle Class
4) Working Class4) Working Class
5) Working Poor5) Working Poor
6) Underclass6) Underclass
1) Upper Class1) Upper Class
2) Upper Middle Class2) Upper Middle Class
3) Lower Middle Class3) Lower Middle Class
4) Working Class4) Working Class
5) Working Poor5) Working Poor
6) Underclass6) Underclass
Social Class DivisionsSocial Class Divisions
The Upper Class
1% of the population
The Upper Class
1% of the population
Education Level: Prestigious UniversitiesEducation Level: Prestigious Universities
Occupations:
-Owners of large businesses
-Investors
-Heirs to family fortunes
-Top Business Executives
Occupations:
-Owners of large businesses
-Investors
-Heirs to family fortunes
-Top Business Executives
Income = Income =
MILLIONS!MILLIONS!
Old $$$ vs. New $$$Old $$$ vs. New $$$Old Money = wealth that has been in the family for generations (born into, inherit)
Ex: The Kennedy’s, Rockefeller’s, Vanderbilt’s
New Money = newly rich, acquired their money through own efforts rather than inheritance.
(Not as prestigious, but can still buy it)
Ex: Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Michael Jordan
Old Money = wealth that has been in the family for generations (born into, inherit)
Ex: The Kennedy’s, Rockefeller’s, Vanderbilt’s
New Money = newly rich, acquired their money through own efforts rather than inheritance.
(Not as prestigious, but can still buy it)
Ex: Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Michael Jordan
The Upper ClassThe Upper Class
The Richest AmericansThe Richest Americans
Upper Class- Bill Gates’ HomeUpper Class- Bill Gates’ Home
Reception Room- Gates’ homeReception Room- Gates’ home
View from Gates’ homeView from Gates’ home
Bill Gates’ CarBill Gates’ Car
The Upper ClassThe Upper ClassFacts about: The Richest Americans
1 in 10 Americans makes over $100,000
Less than 0.5% makes a $1,000,000 (150,000)
There are currently 371 billionaires in the United States.
Facts about: The Richest Americans
1 in 10 Americans makes over $100,000
Less than 0.5% makes a $1,000,000 (150,000)
There are currently 371 billionaires in the United States.
You are twice as likely to be struck by lightning than you are of becoming a billionaire.
You are twice as likely to be struck by lightning than you are of becoming a billionaire.
Social Class DivisionsSocial Class DivisionsUpper Middle Class
10% of population
Education Level: College/ University Degree
Occupation: High income business people, professionals
Membership based on income, not assets (career oriented)
Influence in community, not nationally.
Income: $100,000-$250,000
Upper Middle Class
10% of population
Education Level: College/ University Degree
Occupation: High income business people, professionals
Membership based on income, not assets (career oriented)
Influence in community, not nationally.
Income: $100,000-$250,000
Social Class DivisionsSocial Class DivisionsLower Middle Class
20% of the population
Education Level: High School, some College
Occupation: White collar workers (management, supervisors, sales)
Income: $50,000- $100,000
They live well, but have to work to keep their way of life and position in society.
Lower Middle Class
20% of the population
Education Level: High School, some College
Occupation: White collar workers (management, supervisors, sales)
Income: $50,000- $100,000
They live well, but have to work to keep their way of life and position in society.
Social Class DivisionsSocial Class DivisionsThe Working Class
20% of the population
Education Level: High school diploma
Occupation: Blue Collar or Manual labor jobs (factory workers, tradespeople, low service jobs)
Income: $30,000- $50,000
They work very hard and often do not have much reserve to deal with extra expenses.
The Working Class
20% of the population
Education Level: High school diploma
Occupation: Blue Collar or Manual labor jobs (factory workers, tradespeople, low service jobs)
Income: $30,000- $50,000
They work very hard and often do not have much reserve to deal with extra expenses.
Social Class DivisionsSocial Class DivisionsThe Working Poor
45% of the population
Education Level: Some high school, (often dropouts)
Occupation: Lowest paying jobs, (housecleaning, minimum wage jobs, migrants)
Income: less than $30,000
They rarely make a living wage.
Social Class Divisions
The UnderclassThe Underclass
3% of the population3% of the population
Education Level: Education Level: some high schoolsome high school
Occupation: Occupation: some work, but it is undesirable, some work, but it is undesirable, experienced unemployment and poverty over several experienced unemployment and poverty over several generations.generations.
They require public assistance to survive.They require public assistance to survive.
50% move up to a higher class.50% move up to a higher class.
The UnderclassThe Underclass
3% of the population3% of the population
Education Level: Education Level: some high schoolsome high school
Occupation: Occupation: some work, but it is undesirable, some work, but it is undesirable, experienced unemployment and poverty over several experienced unemployment and poverty over several generations.generations.
They require public assistance to survive.They require public assistance to survive.
50% move up to a higher class.50% move up to a higher class.
Types of Jobs/ SalariesThe divide b/t rich and poor:
Bill Gates = $50 billion net worthBill Gates = $50 billion net worth
Dave Matthews= $28 million/ yr.Dave Matthews= $28 million/ yr.
Jerry Seinfeld = $98 million/yr.Jerry Seinfeld = $98 million/yr.
Tyra Banks= $14 million/ yr.Tyra Banks= $14 million/ yr.
Lawyer= $98,930/ yr.Lawyer= $98,930/ yr.
Firefighter= $39,090/ yr.Firefighter= $39,090/ yr.
Janitor= $19,390/ yr.Janitor= $19,390/ yr.
Cashier= $16,260/ yr.Cashier= $16,260/ yr.
Social MobilitySocial Mobility
How can you move between or within the classes?
1) Horizontal- movement within a social class to a job of equal social ranking (doesn’t change status)
2) Vertical- movement up or down classes that changes a person’s social standing
3) Intergenerational- a status change in a family between generations.
How can you move between or within the classes?
1) Horizontal- movement within a social class to a job of equal social ranking (doesn’t change status)
2) Vertical- movement up or down classes that changes a person’s social standing
3) Intergenerational- a status change in a family between generations.
Social MobilitySocial MobilityFactors that affect upward mobility:
- Individual Effort
- Technology shifts
- Education Level
Factors that affect upward mobility:
- Individual Effort
- Technology shifts
- Education Level
Factors that affect downward mobility:
- Illness
- Divorce
- Retirement
- Technology changes
- Low Unemployment- lack of quality jobs in field
Factors that affect downward mobility:
- Illness
- Divorce
- Retirement
- Technology changes
- Low Unemployment- lack of quality jobs in field
PovertyPoverty
31 million or 11% of Americans live below the poverty level.
Poverty- standard of living that is below the minimum level considered adequate by society. (varies by society)
**What is poor in US, may be comfortable living in another country. (Due to differences in standard of living)
31 million or 11% of Americans live below the poverty level.
Poverty- standard of living that is below the minimum level considered adequate by society. (varies by society)
**What is poor in US, may be comfortable living in another country. (Due to differences in standard of living)
PovertyPovertyUS Census- defines poverty as:
minimum annual amount of income needed to survive
The poverty line is established by: calculating the cost of an adequate diet (USDA standards) and multiplying that by 3 (1/3 of income is spent on food)
In 2000, 1 Person = $8,794
2 People = $11,239
3 People = $13,738
4 People = $17, 603
5 People = $20,819
US Census- defines poverty as:
minimum annual amount of income needed to survive
The poverty line is established by: calculating the cost of an adequate diet (USDA standards) and multiplying that by 3 (1/3 of income is spent on food)
In 2000, 1 Person = $8,794
2 People = $11,239
3 People = $13,738
4 People = $17, 603
5 People = $20,819
Poverty
States with the largest rates of poverty (over 15%):States with the largest rates of poverty (over 15%):
PovertyOther Factors
Age: Children most likely group to be in poverty (37%)
Sex: Women more likely than men (57%)
Race and Ethnicity- African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be poor in the US.
-11% of total White population are poor.
-26.5% of total African American population are poor.
-27.1% of total Hispanic population are poor.
Other Factors
Age: Children most likely group to be in poverty (37%)
Sex: Women more likely than men (57%)
Race and Ethnicity- African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be poor in the US.
-11% of total White population are poor.
-26.5% of total African American population are poor.
-27.1% of total Hispanic population are poor.
PovertyPatterns of BehaviorMore likely to be divorced.
More likely to be arrested, convicted and sent to prison. (commit crimes that police pursue more- burglary, auto theft)
More likely to be victims of crimes.
Patterns of BehaviorMore likely to be divorced.
More likely to be arrested, convicted and sent to prison. (commit crimes that police pursue more- burglary, auto theft)
More likely to be victims of crimes.
PovertyPoverty
Government Response to Poverty:
- 1960’s, LBJ declared a “War on Poverty”
- Increased social welfare programs to aid the poor.
Government Response to Poverty:
- 1960’s, LBJ declared a “War on Poverty”
- Increased social welfare programs to aid the poor.
Two methods of assisting the poor:
1) Giving tax money to groups to assist the needy.
--TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)
2) Giving goods to those who are poor.
-- Food stamp/ LINK program (Giving a card or coupon in exchange for food.
Two methods of assisting the poor:
1) Giving tax money to groups to assist the needy.
--TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)
2) Giving goods to those who are poor.
-- Food stamp/ LINK program (Giving a card or coupon in exchange for food.
PovertyPovertyWelfareWelfare
A program designed in the 1980’s to aid those who could not afford a living wage.
Financial assistance is given to recipients in the form of money and goods (such as food) to those who are in need.
Initially, it created a “welfare class”, a group of people who refused to find work and lived off the government until 1996.
Limits were put into effect that required welfare recipients to find work within in a two year period.
**the number of recipients has decreased from 14.1million in 1993 to 6.3 million in 1999.
A program designed in the 1980’s to aid those who could not afford a living wage.
Financial assistance is given to recipients in the form of money and goods (such as food) to those who are in need.
Initially, it created a “welfare class”, a group of people who refused to find work and lived off the government until 1996.
Limits were put into effect that required welfare recipients to find work within in a two year period.
**the number of recipients has decreased from 14.1million in 1993 to 6.3 million in 1999.
PovertyPovertyWelfare (con’t)
Some Barriers to getting off of welfare:
- very poor mental or physical health
- education less than high school
- last worked three or more years ago
- has an infant
- Spanish interview
Welfare (con’t)
Some Barriers to getting off of welfare:
- very poor mental or physical health
- education less than high school
- last worked three or more years ago
- has an infant
- Spanish interview
Those reporting barriers:
NONE = 22.9
ONE = 33.3
TWO = 43.8
Those reporting barriers:
NONE = 22.9
ONE = 33.3
TWO = 43.8