Systems of Stratification

What is Social Stratification?Unequal access to scarce

resources & social rewards

Types….

• Caste Systems-• Closed systems• Status determined

by birth & maintained by marriage

• Exogamy?• Endogamy?

• Class Systems-• Open systems• Status

determined by achievement

• SES- Socioeconomic Status

Social Rewards...

• Wealth…• Assets & Income• Highest 20 % own

76 % of Wealth

Social Rewards...

• Power…• Power From

wealth or vice versa.

• Can one buy power???

Social Rewards...

• Prestige…• The respect/honor

based upon association

• Club? Family Name? Occupation?

Social Classes in United States.How much is Median Income? • Upper Class ( 1 -3

%)• Upper-Middle Class

(10%)• -Lower Middle Class ( 30-40 %)• Working Class ( 30-

40 %)• Lower Class ( 20-

25%)

• 225,000 Median $• < $85,000

• < $35,000

• <$20,000

• >$20,000

Class...

• UPPER CLASS-• Tiny & powerful• Old vs. new $• 3 richest families = 1

million av. Families.• Top 1% owns 30% of

wealth– Income Pyramid– $500 per layer– Everest vs. ground

CLASS...

• Upper-Middle Class-

• Top 19% own 46% of wealth

• Income not assets determine membership

• College educated professionals

CLASS...

• Lower-Middle Class..

• Similar values to UM

• White-collar jobs…

• Middle-management, sales

Class...

• The working class-

• Ongoing Decline• Manual Labor

Jobs/Blue Collar• Security, Pride,

Identify with labor Unions

CLASS….

• LOWER CLASS…• Minorities• Single Female headed

households• Lack power, alienated• 15 percent of all

Americans live in poverty

• Many are “working poor”

• Poverty Line-17,050 ( 2000)

Class and Life Chances

• Education- Of Upper 1/5 80 % go to college

• Bottom 1/5- 44 % ( includes cc & training)

• College Debt impacts choices• Health- IMR-70% higher in poor, LE-

5-7 years less, 15% no insurance ( more underinsured)