Stratification Chapter 7
Discussion Outline I. Standards of Equality II. Stratification and Types of Stratification III. American Stratification
I. Standards of Equality Equality of Opportunity Are the rules of the game the same for everyone? Do we live in a true meritocracy? The standard of a bourgeois society Weber’s Life chances Equality of Condition Equal Starting Point Affirmative action (pg 244) Equality of Outcome Anticapitalist “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”
II. What is Social Stratification? Stratification-A structured ranking of entire groups of people. -It is a cultural universal. -Why does it exist? and how does it impact social life and opportunities? Central theoretical questions In essence, this questions the existence of equality of opportunity…and in doing so, tends to paint sociology in a negative light. Why is this the case?
Social Stratification=Social Hierarchy Dimensions of class Stratification: -? The American Class system What do those towards the top of the class structure generally have that those towards the bottom do not?
Key Terms in Studying Stratification: Social Reproduction vs Key Terms in Studying Stratification: Social Reproduction vs. Social Mobility Social Reproduction The idea that the stratification system and institutions in society tend to reproduce the class structure in which individuals stay in the class strata of their parents Social Mobility Moving from one place in a stratification system to another Is America the land of opportunity? The land of social mobility? Mobility Studies \
Systems of Stratification… A: Perpetuate unequal economic rewards and power in society-Some suffer while others benefit -Why? -B: Maintain Social Inequality- members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, and power
Systems of Stratification Review: Ascribed status vs. Achieved status Is one’s social class ascribed or achieved? General Systems: (1) Estate (2) Caste (3) Social class (4) Elite-Mass Dichotomy Open vs. Closed systems Any stratification system may include elements of more than one type
Dimensions of Stratification in The American Class System Socio-Economic Status An individual’s position within the stratified order Upper-Middle-Working-Poor Economic Standing (Objective measures) 1. Wealth- money and other economic assets that a person or family owns, including property and income 2. Income? Which is more important?
Dimensions of Stratification (Subjective measures) Prestige How do individuals and groups alert others of their level of prestige? -Status Symbols-Status Hierarchy -Thorstein Veblen and Conspicuous Consumption Power What does it mean that an individual or group is powerful in society?
III. American Stratification The gap between the rich and the poor in the U.S. is larger than any other wealthy/industrialized nation Growing economic inequality since 1960’s and accelerated in 1980’s under president ______ and economic principle of “trickle down economics”. What is the main idea of trickle down economics? Inequality continues to grow- Income and wealth gaps
Economic Inequality (Income) A growing gap between rich and poor 1990’s and early 2000’s profits reaped by upper class Between 2009-2012, top 1% incomes grew by 31% Stagnant wages for 8/10 Americans CEO Compensation-1980: 42x-> 2013->295x Has the wealth trickled down?
Economic Inequality (Wealth) Greater than income inequality and expanding to levels unseen since the great depression… In 2010, the top 1% enjoyed a net worth (wealth) 228 times greater than that of the median American Family The wealthiest 1% of households own more than the bottom 85% of households combined in America Worldwide, there are similar trends and stats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX-V_a8H6y8
Growing Inequality in the U.S.
Why do Americans tolerate such massive concentrations of income and wealth? Do most poor and working class people not work hard? Are the richest individuals/ families the hardest working? Do all people have an equal chance at discovering their talents? Is there equality of opportunity?