Lab: Stratification Worksheet
This assignment is divided by chapters 9 and 10. Make sure to
thoroughly address all parts of the assignment to earn full credit.
Chapter 9- Social Stratification
In the United States, we have a class system (social stratification based on both birth and
individual achievement). Max Weber characterized social interaction as a multidimensional
ranking rather than a hierarchy of clearly defined classes. Socioeconomic status (SES)
consists of a composite ranking based on various dimensions of social inequality.
There are three components to the Chapter 9 portion of this
assignment:
1. Firstly, determine your social class by using the income calculator through the Pew
Research link (Step 1). What is your social class? How does it compare to others in your area?
What is your reaction? Does this surprise you? Then continue to Step 2 through the website to
see how your demographic profile compares to others in America. Share your thoughts. Are you
surprised? Explain.
Nothing can be said about my personal social class as a highschool student, but I guess my
family as a whole could be in the middle of upper and lower middle class. I don’t have much to
share but it is pretty interesting to see the different levels when it comes to the 3 major social
classes. There are so many things that we as westerners would consider poor or struggling
lower class when other countries/continents may think they are rich based on their societal
norms and the daily life of those around them.
2. Secondly, complete the “What is your social class?” quiz on Moodle. Report your results
and choose at least three question results to explore and discuss. What did you find
surprising? Does this reflect your social class? Do you think this is an accurate indicator of your
social class?
LIVING LARGE
Your habits and perspectives most resemble those of upper-class Americans. This small slice
of society tends to feel the least bound by the legal and moral rules observed by other
Americans.
BOURGEOIS VOUS
Your habits and perspectives most resemble those of upper-middle-class Americans. Though
members of this group are not the most accurate judges of others' emotions, they do have a
high faith in people's basic decency, and a commitment to raising healthy, curious, and
imaginative children
MIDDLING
Your habits and perspectives most resemble those of middle-class Americans. Members of this
group tend to be gentle and engaging parents, and if they're native English speakers they
probably use some regional idioms and inflections. Your people are mostly college-educated,
and you're about equally likely to beg children not to shout "so loudly" as you are to ask them to
"read slow" during story time.
SALT OF THE EARTH
Your habits and perspectives most resemble those of working-class Americans. Members of
this law-abiding group tend to be astute judges of social and emotional cues who carefully stop
for pedestrians and observe ethical norms. Your people might hesitate to trust strangers, but
you enjoy sharing – even with strangers – and if you donate to charity,
HARD-UP
Your habits and perspectives most resemble those of poor Americans. Members of this group
are the most perceptive of others' feelings and the least possessive of their own tastes and
belongings.
–Question: Which emotion do you think this woman was more likely
feeling, when the photo was taken?
These questions where kind of hard for me to answer, I need the entire face
unless it is showcasing an obvious answer.I am pretty sure I got 2 of those
wrong. When its in person it is so much easier to tell their emotions
especially with a ton of practice because of the masks. These are also are
pictures so it’s harder for me to tell.
I feel like it is pretty close to reflecting my social class, I like how thorough
it is when it comes to defining and explaining how each of my answers
combine and show I think and act like a specific social class. I agree with
most of the things it came out saying. It’s a really interesting to look at and
something most of us pay no mind on a daily basis. It’s not an 100%
indicator of ones social class but it does give you something to work off of.
It can help better explain what class a person is and help them realize
where they can put them selves on the social ladder.
3. Finally, analyze how your parents’/guardians’ SES influenced at least TWO of the following
in your own life: health, values and attitudes, politics, or family and gender roles. How do you
think social class plays a role in these two areas?
It has affected my health, gender roles, and values
My mother has had to raise me and my sister by herself after the loss of my biological father in
2012, for 4-5 years, so for a while I saw the hardworking woman she was. She made me create
a set of values that include trying to take care of myself and my younger sister as best as I can,
my values included I value having time for myself, I value time with family, I value good hygiene
etc. she worked as a housekeeper so of course we where brought up to always pick up after
ourselves, I was taught to wash my own clothes at 6-7 years old as my mom was pretty busy
already with her job so of course this would not be one of her many concerns. We where taught
to also have the house clean and spotless after we came home from school and she came
back home to a clean and organized house. I feel like we where one of the things keeping her
grounded and not affected as much with the loss, so I am glad we where able to help as much
as we could. It affects what you have access to, for example if you have access to good shelter
then you most likely develop good hygiene habits, especially if they are affordable within the
family status. It affects the access to health care, if you are able to afford the expensive hospital
bills or for prescription medicine.
Chapter 10- Global Stratification
Choose 3 countries to compare: one high income (other than the United States of America),
one middle income (may be upper middle or lower middle), and one low income. Use the
World Bank link to determine where the country fits.
Utilize Global Road Warrior (GRW) from the PCC Library’s online databases to examine each
of the three chosen countries. I recommend exploring Country Overview under the Country
Snapshot tab; information under the Culture and Society tab, especially Women in Culture;
Education tab; and Life Stages tab. Do not feel confined to these tabs, explore other topics that
interest you.
You may also explore the World Happiness Report. This report systematically ranks countries
based on what they define as “happiness” metrics (you may make your own opinion about what
the variables really measure). There is a LOT of information here, but you may want to merely
see where your chosen countries fall on the list. The easiest way to do this is download the full
report and scroll down to the second chapter of the report (Figure 2.1).
Summarize everyday life in each country using the information
found on GRW. Also, discuss how your own life would be different
in this country:
High-Income Country:
Middle-Income Country:
Low-Income Country:
Theories of Global Poverty:
Explain Modernization Theory:
Explain Dependency Theory:
Which theory do you agree with more? What do you think should be done, if
anything?
Be sure to address each part fully.