1. Unit 4 Inequalities of Race and Social Class
Introductory Sociology

2. Reading Assignment After the test, read the following pages
in the green Sociology Text:
Pages
Answer the 2 questions at the bottom of
page Hand in your answers.

3. Race and Ethnicity
Race – people sharing certain biologically inherited physical characteristics that are considered important within a society
Ethnicity – Shared cultural heritage. (Common ancestor, language, or religion that together make a distinctive social identity)
Ethnic Minority – group identified by cultural, religious, or national characteristics
Page 277 Defining race (read)

4. How would you describe yourself racially or ethnically?
How do you think others would describe you?
How important is your race or ethnicity to you personally?
Do you believe that race or ethnicity is a factor in how your friends relate to you?
Is your community (neighbourhood) a reflection of your race or ethnicity?
Do you place much importance on race or ethnicity?
Do you think others put a lot of importance on your race or ethnicity?
Is race an important issue in society, or do we make too much or it? Is ethnicity an important issue?

5. Reflection Exit Slip Race and Ethnicity
1) Did everyone in your group have
similar answers?
If yes, why do you think your answers were similar?
If no, why do you think your answers were different?
Did you learn something new from someone in your group? What did you learn?
Was your group discussion awkward for you? Why or why not?

6. Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity
Stereotype
a distorted, exaggerated or oversimplified image applied to a category of people

7. Terms and Definitions
Prejudice – widely held negative attitudes toward a group and its individual members (thoughts)
Discrimination – treating people differently based on ethnicity, race, religion or culture (behaviour)
Racism – an extreme form of prejudice that assumes superiority of one group over others
Prejudice and discrimination often occur together.

8. Inequalities of Race Activity
In a group fill in the following chart with examples of people that fit the
following: 1 3 2 4
Prejudiced
Non-prejudiced
Doesn’t discriminate
Discriminates

9. Discrimination? Prejudice? Racism?
1. A real estate agent purposely does not show a Hispanic couple homes in a white neighborhood.
2. Slavery was justified in the United States by whites who felt the black race didn't possess the innate intelligence of the white race.

10. Discrimination? Prejudice? Racism?
3. Amy is reluctant to meet her college roommate because she knows the girl is from a very small farming community and will probably be very different.

11. Discrimination? Prejudice? Racism?
4. Women are not permitted to join, play golf or enter an exclusive golf club.
5. Joe is reluctant to befriend the exchange student from Afghanistan because he feels people from Afghanistan are all the enemy.

12. Discrimination Discussion Questions:
Think about a time in your life when you have been discriminated against.
Have groups at VMC been discriminated against? How?
How are people discriminated by what they wear?
Read page 249 “You are What You Wear”

13. Terms and Definitions Hate crime
a criminal act against a person or a person’s property by an offender motivated by racial or other bias.
Prejudice and discrimination often occur together.

14. The Truth About Hate
Why do you think many of the teenagers in the video had prejudiced opinions at first?
Which part of the video was most memorable to you? Why?
Do you think that racism and prejudice are being eliminated in Canada? Are things staying the same or getting worse? Explain your answer.

15. 49 Up Assignment Part A
While you are viewing the documentary, fill in the following information about each person:
Past life: social class, family life, future hopes, accomplishments, jobs, happy?
Present: social class, married/divorced/single, children, job, regrets. Happy?

16. 49 Up Assignment Part B
What did you learn from the people in the video about the class you are born into?
What person did you feel attached to and why?
What person surprised you and why?
You are part of a video production called 5 Up. Starting at age 5 write down social class, family life, future hopes, accomplishments…happy?...
for the following ages:
Age 5
Age 10
Age 15
Age 20

17. Social Class and Poverty in Canada

18. Social Stratification
Ranking of people or groups according to their unequal access to scarce resources
Creation of layers of people who possess unequal shares of scarce resources

19. Social Class “The Layers”
Segment of the population whose members hold similar amounts of resources and share values, norms and an identifiable lifestyle.

20. 1. Economic Dimensions
Income – amount of money received by an individual or group over a specific time period
Wealth – total economic resources held by a person or group

21. 2. Power Dimension
Power – ability to control the behaviour of others, even against their will

22. 3. Prestige Dimension
Prestige – recognition, respect, and admiration attached to social positions

23. Social Mobility
The movement of individuals or groups between social classes
Horizontal Mobility – a change in occupation within the same social class
Vertical Mobility – a change in upward or downward in occupational status or social class

24. Social Systems Open Class System
an individual’s social class is based on merit and individual effort. Individuals move up and down the stratification structure because of their abilities, education and resources
Caste System
a stratification structure that does not allow for social mobility

25. Upper Class 3-5% of the population Most have inherited their wealth
Some have earned their fortunes
Go to expensive private schools and universities
Work as top executives in large corporations
Upper-upper class – 1% of this class, distinguished
primarily by “old money”
Lower-upper class – remaining 2-4%...”nouveau riche.”

26. Middle Class 40-50% of the population Often are white collar workers
Attend university or college
Professional and business occupations
Mass media are largely aimed at a middle-class audience
Upper Middle – family incomes of $100,000+
Middle-Middle – family incomes of $50,000 - $100,000
Lower Middles typically works in less prestigious white-collar occupations or highly skilled blue-collar jobs – average family incomes under $50,000 ($35,000-$50,000)

27. Working Class 30% of the population Blue-collar workers
Essentially, members of the working class work in unskilled or semiskilled professions for wages which are typically low.
Many work in factories or at manual labour jobs
No Accumulated Wealth
Jobs provide less personal satisfaction

28. Lower Class or The Poor 20% of the population
The Working Poor
Incomes are often insufficient to cover necessities of life
Work for minimum wage or supported entirely by welfare payments
Typically live in less desirable neighbourhoods
Many have jobs below their skill level
The Homeless
Unskilled or unemployed older people
Younger runaways due to abuse or not getting along with parents
Some are alcoholic or drug dependant and about one-third have a mental illness
The poor are less able to rise above their circumstances than the working class, due to lack of resources

29. Social Stratification Project

30. Social Class Activity Class: Percentage of Wealth
Upper Class (3-5%) %
Middle Class (40-50%)
Upper Middle (10-15%) 5% Middle (30-40%) 3%
Working Class (30%) 2%
The Poor (20%)
Working Poor (13%) 1%
Homeless (12%) 0%

31. Social Class “candy” Activity
Reflect on the activity:
How did you feel about this activity and the class you were ascribed?
Do you experience class division in your own life or witness it in the world around you?