What is stratification?What is stratification?

A system in which nations or A system in which nations or people within a nation are people within a nation are ranked ranked according to relative power, according to relative power, property, and prestige.property, and prestige.

The One Percent

Are you part of this group????

1.4 billion live on less than $ 1 U.S. Dollar per day 1 billion of those are women and children.

Why should we look at Why should we look at this?this?

Life chances are impacted by Life chances are impacted by stratification i.e., the extent to stratification i.e., the extent to which individuals have access to which individuals have access to important resources, such as important resources, such as food, clothing, shelter, education, food, clothing, shelter, education, health carehealth care

What are some systems of What are some systems of stratification that have stratification that have existed?existed?

SlaverySlavery -- the owning of other people -- the owning of other people [no mobility ][no mobility ] ascribed, lifelong, considered ascribed, lifelong, considered

property, not human, no rights, property, not human, no rights, controlled via coercion controlled via coercion

contemporary examples?contemporary examples? Child labor, debt bondage, contract Child labor, debt bondage, contract

labor , domestic workerslabor , domestic workers

““Today’s slaveholders have Today’s slaveholders have all the benefits of ownership all the benefits of ownership without the legalities.”without the legalities.”

K. Bales K. Bales Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global EconomyEconomy

estimates 27 million people due to bonded labor or debt estimates 27 million people due to bonded labor or debt bondagebondage

Concentrated in Southeast Asia, Northern and Western Africa, Concentrated in Southeast Asia, Northern and Western Africa, and parts of South America but exists in all countriesand parts of South America but exists in all countries

examples: child prostitution in Thailandexamples: child prostitution in Thailand enslaved brickmakers in Pakistanenslaved brickmakers in Pakistan domestic slaves in Francedomestic slaves in France Gatos - labor recruiters in Brazil Gatos - labor recruiters in Brazil Subsistence farming is giving way to cash-crop agricultureSubsistence farming is giving way to cash-crop agriculture loss of common landloss of common land govt. policies that focus on the production of cheap food for govt. policies that focus on the production of cheap food for

citiescities threat of physical forcethreat of physical force desperate conditions of povertydesperate conditions of poverty

CasteCaste -- lifelong status determined -- lifelong status determined by birth based on parents by birth based on parents ascribed status Apartheid India ascribed status Apartheid India Hinduism [no mobility]Hinduism [no mobility]

Some social scientists see a racial Some social scientists see a racial caste system today in the U.S. caste system today in the U.S. with long history against with long history against interracial marriagesinterracial marriages

Class -Class -- possession of money or - possession of money or material possessions based upon material possessions based upon ownership and control of resource ownership and control of resource [more mobility in theory].... [more mobility in theory].... begins as an ascribed status but begins as an ascribed status but may have some degree of may have some degree of individual mobility via individual mobility via achievementachievement

Gender stratification is found in Gender stratification is found in all societies (although types may all societies (although types may vary)vary)

Social mobilitySocial mobility

the movement of individuals or the movement of individuals or groups from one level of stratification groups from one level of stratification to another to another

(Intergenerational -- from one (Intergenerational -- from one generation to the next)generation to the next)

(Intragenerational -- over one’s (Intragenerational -- over one’s lifetime)lifetime)

Structural and exchange – societal Structural and exchange – societal forces. forces.

How does stratification work in How does stratification work in America?America?

BeeghleyBeeghley -- Monopoly Game and -- Monopoly Game and American class structureAmerican class structure

Social ClassSocial Class -- groups who rank -- groups who rank about even in power, wealth, and about even in power, wealth, and prestige (socio-economic status prestige (socio-economic status or ses)or ses)

Based upon ownership and Based upon ownership and resources (materialism)resources (materialism)

Stratification in the U.S.Stratification in the U.S.

Theories of StratificationTheories of Stratification

MarxMarx - -- class is determined by - class is determined by person’s relationship to means of person’s relationship to means of production -- labor is production -- labor is sold sold and a and a reserve army keeps wages low, reserve army keeps wages low,

WeberWeber -- property (i.e., wealth), -- property (i.e., wealth), prestige, and power dictate class prestige, and power dictate class standingstanding

Marx’s View of Marx’s View of StratificationStratification

Davis and Moore - Davis and Moore - Functional Functional PerspectivePerspective: “Meritocracy”: “Meritocracy”

1 - some positions are more important than 1 - some positions are more important than othersothers

2 - important positions must be filled by qualified 2 - important positions must be filled by qualified people people

3 - qualified people have talents which must be 3 - qualified people have talents which must be translated into skillstranslated into skills

4 - for their sacrifice, society must offer them 4 - for their sacrifice, society must offer them greater rewardsgreater rewards

5 - stratification is necessary for society to 5 - stratification is necessary for society to function properlyfunction properly

6 - stratification is inevitable –it’s universal6 - stratification is inevitable –it’s universal 7 - inequality should be left to evolve on it’s 7 - inequality should be left to evolve on it’s ownown

Some consensus……Some consensus……

OccupationsOccupations Occupation is the most important index for Occupation is the most important index for

stratification in the U.S.stratification in the U.S. How do we Americans rank occupations?How do we Americans rank occupations? 1. Pay1. Pay 2. Service to Humanity2. Service to Humanity 3. Education3. Education 4. Whether the job includes abstract 4. Whether the job includes abstract

thinkingthinking 5. Social Prestige5. Social Prestige 6. Autonomy (creative decision making 6. Autonomy (creative decision making

opportunities)opportunities)

Occupational Prestige Occupational Prestige Rankings of Selected Rankings of Selected Occupations in the U.S.Occupations in the U.S.

Physician 86 Physician 86 Supreme Court Judge 76 Supreme Court Judge 76 Attorney 75Attorney 75 College professor 74 College professor 74 Architect 73Architect 73 Aerospace Engineer 72Aerospace Engineer 72 Astronomer 74 Astronomer 74 Dentist 72 Dentist 72 Bank officer 72 Bank officer 72 Engineer 71 Engineer 71 Clergy 69Clergy 69 Chemist 69 Chemist 69 School teacher 64School teacher 64 Nurse 62 and others……….Nurse 62 and others………. Author 60 Accountant 57 Actor 55 Computer programmer 51 Athlete 51 Bank Author 60 Accountant 57 Actor 55 Computer programmer 51 Athlete 51 Bank

Teller 50 Electrician 49 Police officer 48 Secretary 46 Mail carrier 42 Plumber Teller 50 Electrician 49 Police officer 48 Secretary 46 Mail carrier 42 Plumber 41 Farm owner 41 Dancer 38 Mechanic 37 Bus Driver 32 Cashier 31 Gas 41 Farm owner 41 Dancer 38 Mechanic 37 Bus Driver 32 Cashier 31 Gas station attendant 22 Taxi Driver 22 Garbage collector 28 Janitor 20 Maid 20 station attendant 22 Taxi Driver 22 Garbage collector 28 Janitor 20 Maid 20 shoeshine 9 shoeshine 9

Meritocracy ChallengedMeritocracy Challenged

Tumin asks, “But how does one measure Tumin asks, “But how does one measure the importance of a position?” the importance of a position?”

Who decided that school teachers are Who decided that school teachers are less valuable to society than lawyers?less valuable to society than lawyers?

Who decided that clergy are less valuable Who decided that clergy are less valuable to society than funeral morticians?to society than funeral morticians?

Why not pay those who do the dirty work Why not pay those who do the dirty work (i.e., those jobs the rest of us don’t want (i.e., those jobs the rest of us don’t want to do) more?to do) more?

Conflict PerspectiveConflict Perspective

Rewards are given to those in power or Rewards are given to those in power or those who serve to keep the powerful as those who serve to keep the powerful as they are (wealth among the richest in the they are (wealth among the richest in the U.S. is inherited – “old” versus “new” U.S. is inherited – “old” versus “new” money)money)

- There is less consensus than we think- There is less consensus than we think - Tasks and rewards are seldom equal, - Tasks and rewards are seldom equal,

just defined that way by the powerfuljust defined that way by the powerful - It prohibits society from working as well - It prohibits society from working as well

as it would with true meritocracy as it would with true meritocracy

Economic Economic Inequality/declining Inequality/declining mobility for most….mobility for most….

Reasons for Income Inequality Reasons for Income Inequality – DeindustrializationDeindustrialization– Technological advancesTechnological advances– Political climatePolitical climate– Tax cutsTax cuts– Fewer federal benefitsFewer federal benefits– Incomes for executives and superstars Incomes for executives and superstars

in sports and entertainment have in sports and entertainment have skyrocketed.skyrocketed.

Copyright 2012, SAGE Publications, Inc.Copyright 2012, SAGE Publications, Inc.

Economic InequalityEconomic Inequality

Income InequalityIncome Inequality– Politically charged issuePolitically charged issue– In 1979, the top 1% of Americans In 1979, the top 1% of Americans

earned 9% of all incomeearned 9% of all income– In 2007 – 23.5% -- dipping in 2008-In 2007 – 23.5% -- dipping in 2008-

20112011– In 2013 after the great recession the In 2013 after the great recession the

top 1% earned 19.8% of all income. top 1% earned 19.8% of all income.

Copyright 2012, SAGE Publications, Inc.Copyright 2012, SAGE Publications, Inc.

Coming out of the Coming out of the Recession….Recession….

– In 2012, the incomes of the top 1 In 2012, the incomes of the top 1 percent rose nearly 20 percent percent rose nearly 20 percent compared with a 1 percent increase compared with a 1 percent increase for the remaining 99 percent.for the remaining 99 percent.

– Occupy Wall Street in 2011 was a Occupy Wall Street in 2011 was a response to the income disparity in response to the income disparity in the United States. Creates an the United States. Creates an “anxious class”“anxious class”

Additional reasons…..

Modern conflict theoristsModern conflict theorists: : Contemporary focus upon consumption and Contemporary focus upon consumption and

higher standard of living that lead to higher standard of living that lead to complacency among consumers and complacency among consumers and fraudulent practices on wall street. fraudulent practices on wall street.

In her book, Nickeled and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenriech argues In her book, Nickeled and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenriech argues one reason we have seen such a divide is………… one reason we have seen such a divide is…………

Positive thinking and trust of the market / wall street…..

Meritocracy MythMeritocracy Myth A belief that hard work leads to A belief that hard work leads to

mobility…..mobility….. In our society, if you work hard, you In our society, if you work hard, you

might get lucky, but chances are, might get lucky, but chances are, you will remain in the same social you will remain in the same social class as your parents unless some class as your parents unless some structural opportunity allows you to structural opportunity allows you to experience upward mobility. But experience upward mobility. But why is it a myth rather than reality?why is it a myth rather than reality?