c h a p t er 7 Stratification and Social Class Sociology Now 1st Edition (Brief) Kimmel/Aronson *This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performances or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program. What is Social Stratification? – social stratification – structured inequality • wealth and power • belief systems – structure of social mobility • Why Do We Have Social Stratification? – creates interdependence (Durkheim) – oppression and exploitation (Marx) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 What is Social Stratification? • Systems of Stratification – Castes • fixed and permanent • ascribed status – Feudalism – Class • social mobility • economically-based • achieved status Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Social Class • Theories of Social Class – Marx and Class • bourgeoisie • proletariat – Weber and Class • Class position • Status • Power – socioeconomic status (“SES”) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Social Class Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Social Class • Socioeconomic Classes in the United States – – – – – – – Upper Upper Class Lower Upper Class Upper Middle Class Middle Middle Class Working Class Lower Class Underclass Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Social Class Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Social Class • America and the Myth of the Middle Class – middle class has expanded • home ownership • income • investments and retirement • Income Inequality • Class and Race – class as transgenerational – historical legacy – obstacles to mobility “Race may be a predictor of poverty, but poverty know no race.” Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Social Class Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Poverty in the United States and Abroad – “Great Society”: Johnson’s War on Poverty (1964) – poverty Line • calculations amazingly low • cost of living varies by region • doesn’t take into account – child care – medical care – transportation – dream line (Block) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Poverty in the United States and Abroad Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Poverty in the United States and Abroad • Who is Poor in America? – – – – – Not all poor people are ethnic minorities Not all poor people are unemployed Children are more likely to be poor Mothers are more likely to be poor Elderly are less likely to be poor • Feminization of Poverty – lower wages – childcare costs Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Poverty in the United States and Abroad • Explaining Poverty – Personal Initiative – The Culture of Poverty – Structures of Inequality • structural disadvantages of the poor – – – – – Poor education Higher rates of chronic diseases poor or nonexistent health care inferior housing victim of crime/labeled as criminal • Poverty on a World Scale Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Poverty in the United States and Abroad Table 7.2 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Poverty in the United States and Abroad • Reducing Poverty – welfare system: “blessed are the poor” – reliance on “outside” help • World Health Organization • Red Cross • Red Crescent – creating infrastructure – conditional cash transfer schemes (“CCTS”) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Social Mobility • intergenerational • intragenerational • Dynamics of Mobility – – – – – – structural mobility downward mobility underemployment permanent or part-time work within groups (not between) affected by race/ethnicity/gender • Social Mobility Today – “Americans still believe . . . ” Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Global Inequality – global inequality • systematic differences • rich countries get richer; poor countries get poorer Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Global Inequality • High-Income Countries (40) • Portugal • Uruguay • S. Africa • Brazil • Libya • China Low Middle United States Switzerland Japan Spain High Middle • • • • • Middle-Income Countries (90) • Low-Income Countries (60) • • • • Jamaica India Kenya Somalia Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Global Inequality • Explaining Global Inequality – Market Theories • modernization theory – State-Centered Theories – Dependence Theory • colonialism (Rostow) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Global Inequality – World System Theory (Wallerstein) • global market • population divided into economic classes • international political relations • three economic zones countries – core – periphery – semi-periphery • global commodity chains – Global Mobility – Class Identity and Class Inequality in the 21st Century Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009