1. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 1 CHAPTER 9 Social Stratification Section 1: Systems of Stratification Section 2: The American Class System Section 3: Poverty

2. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 2 Objectives:  Identify the characteristics of caste systems and class systems.  Contrast the major theories of social stratification. Section 1: Systems of Stratification

3. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 3 Characteristics of Caste and Class Systems Caste System:  Closed and lifelong  Immobility and inherited status  Based on specific occupations  Ascribed status Class System:  Open and mobile  Reward is determined by achieved status  Property, prestige, and power are important Section 1: Systems of Stratification

4. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 4 Major Theories of Social Stratification  Functionalist Theorists – view stratification as a necessary feature of the social structure and argue that the more important a role and the more skill needed to perform it, the higher the reward  Conflict Theorists – view stratification as a result of conflict over scarce resources and argue that groups who gain power then use that power to maintain it Section 1: Systems of Stratification

5. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 5 Objectives:  Identify the characteristics of the American class system.  Explain how different motivations and cultural values influence the American class system. Section 2: The American Class System

6. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 6 The American Class System  Upper Class – attend prestigious universities; owners of large businesses, investors, heirs to family fortunes, top business executives; 1 percent of population  Upper Middle Class – attend college of university, business executives, professionals; 14 percent of population  Lower Middle Class – high school, some college; lower-level managers skilled craftworkers, supervisors; 30 percent of population Section 2: The American Class System

7. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 7 The American Class System  Working Class – high school education; factory workers, clerical workers, lower level salespeople, some craftworkers; 30 percent of population  Working Poor – some high school; laborers, service workers; 22 percent of population  Underclass – some high school; undesirable, low- paying jobs, unemployed, on welfare; 3 percent of population Section 2: The American Class System (continued)

8. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 8 Motivations and Cultural Values Influence the American Class System  Such values influence Americans to try to do better financially than their parents and to help their children do the same  Most Americans remain in the same social class as their parents Section 2: The American Class System

9. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 9 Objectives:  Identify the groups of Americans that are affected by poverty.  Describe the steps that have been taken by the federal government to lessen the effects of poverty. Section 3: Poverty

10. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 10 Groups Affected By Poverty  Age – children are the largest group (37 percent); three times more African American and Hispanic children are poor than whites  Sex – women are the largest segment (57 percent); female-headed households account for about half of all poor families  Race and Ethnicity – African Americans and Hispanics are far more likely than white Americans to be poor Section 3: Poverty

11. THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS SOCIOLOGY HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON 11 Government Responses To Poverty  Government attempts to reduce inequality through various social-welfare programs using two approaches:  Transfer Payments – redistribution of money among various segments of society; major programs include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)  Subsidies - transfer goods and services rather than cash such as the Food Stamp Program, housing, school lunches, and Medicaid Section 3: Poverty