Today:
Class rules
What is Social Class?
Socialism and Capitalism
Sociological Perspectives on Poverty
Social Class
Outline
What is social class?
• Max Weber’s view
• Karl Marx’s view
Causes of poverty
• Conflict Perspective
• Karl Marx
• C. Wright Mills Power Elite
• Social Stratification
• Functionalist Perspective
• Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Capitalism and Socialism
What is social class?

According to Max Weber: a large group of people
who rank closely to one another in terms of wealth,
power, and prestige.
class/wealth
power
prestige
Property and
income minus
debt
Ability to carry
out one’s will
despite the
resistance of
others
The level of
regard or respect
and individual or
their position
demands
1864-1920
Status consistent vs. Status inconsistent

Most people rank equally on all the measures of social class
(status consistent) those who are not (status inconsistent) tend to
experience frustration
class/wealth
power
prestige
Property and income Ability to carry out The level of regard
minus debt
one’s will despite the or respect and
resistance of others individual or their
position demand
What is social class?


According to Karl Marx: a system of “haves” and
“have-nots” based on the means of production
2 classes: bourgeoisie (capitalists) and proletariat
Lawyer who works for a firm and
clients
1818 –1883
Independent cab driver who owns
his taxi
Causes of Poverty
Conflict Perspective

According to Karl Marx the ruling class control the
economic system for its own benefit and exploits and
oppresses the masses
Karl Marx
•German
•Published Communist
Manifesto in 1848
C. Wright Mills
Mills described the structure of power in the United States
in his book The Power Elite.
According to Mills, the power elite are key people in three
major institutions of modern society, government,
military, and economy.
1916-1962
Power Elite



Political elite: highest political leaders, president, key
cabinet members, close advisers.
The military elite: high-ranking military officials.
Economic elite: major corporate owners and directors
The power elite are a small group of people who control
a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege, and
access to decision-making of global consequence
What is social stratification?
 Institutionalized
pattern of inequality
 Some
people get more
access to resources
than others
 Reflecting
inequalities
in life chances based on
membership in a group
Class Rules
Respect: It is essential that all students in class treat each other with respect.
Learning can only take place in a positive environment and all students are
expected to behave accordingly:
• Side bar conversations and other distractions during class
are unacceptable.
• The consequences for distractions in class are losing all
participation points (a deduction of 15 points from your
grade).
The El Camino College faculty, staff, and administration are dedicated to
maintaining an optimal learning environment. The standards of behavior as
outlined above are essential to the maintenance of a quality college
environment. Violation of classroom policies will lead to disciplinary action.
How has U.S. policy influenced social
stratification?
View: The Way We Live. Ups and
Downs of Social Stratification
Discuss your answers in groups of 2-4
The American Dream-Rags to Riches
America is the land of opportunities, anyone who
works hard enough can achieve anything and
accomplish any goal.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Why?
This belief is called Horatio
Alger myth: the belief that due
to limitless possibilities anyone
can get ahead if he or she tries
hard enough
Mid to late 1800’s
Causes of Poverty
Functionalist Perspective

Poverty persists because it performs some positive
function for society or at least some groups in society
Causes of Poverty
Functionalist Perspective
Sociologists Kingsley Davis and Wilber Moore (1945) highly criticized view:



There is a relationship between the contributions people
make to society and the rewards they receive
Talents are rewarded and all positions
in a society (doctors and janitors alike)
must be filled
Poverty is society’s mechanism
to
discourage people from neglecting
their
social duties
Read Excerpts from Herbert J. Gans. The Uses of Poverty: The
Poor Pay All.
Social Policy July/August 1971: pp. 20-24.
1971 to 2011
Do his descriptions of functions of poverty still exist
today?
Causes of Poverty
Interactionist Perspective- 1st view




People in poverty adapt to
their life circumstances
Allowing them to still feel
good about themselves.
Make it more difficult for
poor people to improve their
circumstances.
Criticized because it seems to
“blame the victim”
Symbolic
Interactionist Perspective 2nd view
Labels of poor:
View of wealthy:
•irresponsible
•lazy
•low motivation
•low ability
•low morals
•capable
•hard working
•motivated
•deserving of wealth
Which explanation of poverty applies
best to today’s economic crisis?
1. Symbolic Interactionist A: people get accustomed to living in poverty and
therefore have difficulty changing the situation
2. Symbolic Interactionist B: people in poverty get labeled as lazy and lose out
on opportunities due to the label
3. Structural Functionalist: poverty is a functional in society, it motivates people
to seek higher rewards
4. Conflict Theory: The masses are exploited by the few who have money and
power
Socialism and Capitalism

Socialism
Economic system in which the means of producing
goods and services are collectively owned.

Capitalism
Economic system in which private individuals or
groups invest capital to produce goods and services
to sell for a profit in a competitive market.
Socialism and Capitalism

View Michael Moore’s: Capitalism: A Love Story
Terms:
Fannie Mae (The Federal National Mortgage Association)
Freddie Mac (Federal Home Mortgage Corporation):
Mortgage finance lenders that have operated since 1968 as
government sponsored enterprises (GSEs). Privately
owned and operated by shareholders, but protected
financially by the support of the Federal Government.
Coming up:
Next week No Class Spring Break
For April 21st:
Read Ch 8 and article posted on class website White
Privilege, print out and bring to class.
Due A #4: Stereotype:
• Be prepared to discuss a stereotype or label you feel
others have of a group you belong to
• Prepare to discuss how it effects you
• Does not have to be a racial or ethnic group)
• 4 points. Nothing needs to be typed or turned in