1. Stratification
Chapter 7

2. Discussion Outline I. Standards of Equality
II. Stratification and Types of Stratification
III. American Stratification

3. 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”

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. 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 \

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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?

10. 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?

11. 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

12. Economic Inequality (Income)
A growing gap between rich and poor
1990’s and early 2000’s profits reaped by upper class
Between , top 1% incomes grew by 31%
Stagnant wages for 8/10 Americans
CEO Compensation-1980: 42x-> 2013->295x
Has the wealth trickled down?

14. 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

15. Growing Inequality in the U.S.

16. 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?