1. A Comparative View of the United States

2.  1. What is social class?  2. How is an individual’s social class determined?  3. Do you believe an individual’s social class can change? Why or why not?

3.  Social stratification refers to the division of a society into layers (or strata) whose occupants have unequal access to social opportunities and rewards.  People in the top strata enjoy power, prosperity, and prestige that are not available to other members of society; people in the bottom strata endure penalties that other members of society escape. In a stratified society, inequality is part of the social structure and passes from one generation to the next.  http://dmc122011.delmar.edu/socsci/rlong/intro/class.htm

4.  Those based on ASCRIBED STATUS- ◦ Rigid classifications there is little to no social mobility (caste system of India) Those based on ACHIEVED STATUS- Individuals can moved between classes, their status can improve or decline. Change isn’t always easy, but boundaries are more fluid.

5.  List ways Americans can move from one social class to another (this can be up or down):  Jobs, Education, Marriage, Luck (Lottery, Gambling), Inheritance, Invention/Discovery, Effort, Geography, Addiction, Illness

6.  People who occupy the same layer of the socioeconomic hierarchy are known as a social class.  Often individuals rank closely to one another in wealth, power, and prestige.  What are wealth, power, and prestige?

7.  Weber believed social class could not be determined by one single factor. There were 3 factors that needed to be considered when determining social class: ◦ WEALTH-The value of a person’s total assets-income, property, assets ◦ POWER-The ability of people to achieve their goals, despite opposition from others (can be from a position they hold) ◦ PRESTIGE-The respect or regard a person holds and how it is regarded by others (fame, respect, honor)

8.  1. Read the bios of each of an individual on the table.  2. How would you rank the individual in terms of wealth, power, and prestige? Make sure you justify your answer, in other words, support your opinion.

9.  Create a paper with 3 columns, rank the 5 individuals in terms of wealth, power, and prestige. (This should be a decision reached by the group.) Wealth 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Power 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Prestige 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

10.  1. What correlations do you see between power, wealth, and prestige? Why do you think this is?  2. Is it possible for a person to have one factor, but not other two? Why or why not?  3. What outside factors (aside from money and position) can impact a person’s wealth, power, and prestige?  4. Are there any positions that have all 3 (wealth, power, and prestige)? Why or why not?  5. Do you think these factors should be considered when determining an individual’s social class? Why or why not?

11.  CONFLICT: Conflict theory argues that the basis of social stratification is found in conflict over some kind of scare resources.  Social class is often determined by those who control the resources.

12.  FUNCTIONALIST : Functionalist concern themselves with how a society can encourage the most qualified people to do the most important jobs. ◦ Class structure provides a motivating force, competition, and opportunities for individual success