1. Social Stratification

2. Social Class Differences…
1. The ______er the social class, the more likely to vote.
2. The ______er the social class, the more likely to be Rebublican.
3. The ______er the social class, the more tolerant on issues involving civil rights.
4. The ______er the social class, the more traditional the gender roles.
5. The ______er the social class, the greater the chance of divorce.
6. The ______er the social class, the longer the life expectancy.
7. The ______er the social class, the more class consciousness.
8. The ______er the social class, the greater the risk of diabetes.
9. The ______er the social class, the greater the risk of heart disease.
10. The ______er the social class, the greater the chance of being treated for a mental disorder.

3. 11. The ______er the social class, the more likely to participate in community activities.
12. The ______er the social class, the greater sense of control over life.
13. The ______er the social class, the more likely to be an authoritarian parent.
14. The ______er the social class, the more social relationships will center around family and neighbors,
15. The ______er the social class, the later to marry.
16. The ______er the social class, the more likely to suffer from infectious diseases.
17. The ______er the social class, the higher the rate of infant mortality.
18. The ______er the social class, the greater the risk of occupational hazard.
19. The _____er the social class, the more likely that divorce is viewed negatively.

4. Social Stratification
the layering of society into levels, based on class, prestige, & power
e.g., the movie “Trading Places”
Basic Overview
every society has some form of social stratification
Pre-modern society –
based usually on gender & age
Industrial society –
based on economic advantage, political power

5. Dimensions of Stratification
Economic, Prestige, Power

6. Economic Dimension Influenced Conflict Theory’s development
Proletariat vs. Bourgeoisie
Income vs. Wealth
Money during a specific time period vs. total assets held

7. Power Dimension Power – Authority – Power Elite: elite status:
ability to control others with or without consent
Sources – power:
1. personal qualities
2. status
3. wealth
All may often be interlinked…
Authority –
formally recognized right to exercise power
Power Elite:
elite status:
hold much social power & influence
i.e. economic elite, military elite, political elite, etc…
Are there jobs that pay less money but hold more power? Which ones can you think of?

8. Prestige Dimension Prestige –
the honor & respect a person gets from the community
income, wealth, job play roles here
Measuring occupational prestige
1. personal judgment
2. can be well-thought of & have low prestige
Other means of prestige:
community work may elevate prestige, though income may be the same
“old rich” vs. “new rich”
spouse’s occupation

9. Prestige Dimension
certain countries honor certain occupations
the French & British honor scholars & poets
high income tends to go with high prestige
nature of work plays a part
e.g., teacher or plumber – who has the higher prestige? Who makes more money?
What occupations have the highest levels of prestige? The lowest?

10. Perspectives on Social Strat. Why does social stratification exist?
Functionalist –
it assures most competent people get most important positions
Symbolic Interactionist –
looking glass self creates self esteem issues (both higher and lower classes)
Conflict Theory –
it is a result of exploitation and creates a false consciousness

11. Social Classes American Class System ranks by class:
people who share a similar rank in society, similar life chances, share many common values, ways of behaving. When you have identified with this group of people, you are said to have class consciousness.

12. Social Classes Classes: Upper Classes: 1% The Middle Classes: 74%
Upper-upper class: elite, aristocracy, often based on heredity
Lower-upper class: mostly earned fortunes, don’t necessarily have less money than upper-upper
The Middle Classes: 74%
Upper-Middle Class: 14%, college educated, live well, can save money
Middle-Middle Class: 30%, teachers, firemen, nurses, social workers, police officers – income is national average.
Lower-Middle Class: 30%, factory workers, salespeople, cashiers.
The Lower Classes: 25%
Working poor: 13%, low skill jobs with low pay: fast food servers, manual labor. Cannot earn enough to rise above poverty line ($21,954 for family of four)
The underclass: 12%, generationally unemployed, part-time menial jobs, have mental or physical problems. Don’t have skills to obtain better job. Reasons for this?

13. Poll Questions
Do you oppose or favor programs that make special efforts to help people get ahead who come from low-income backgrounds, regardless of gender or ethnicity?
Is it possible to start out poor, work hard and become rich?
Compared with your social class when growing up, your current class is higher or lower?
Compared with 30 years ago, is the likelihood of moving up from one social class to another less or greater?
Compared with European Countries, is moving from one social class to another harder or easier?
How likely is it that you will become financially wealthy? (already, very, somewhat, not very, not at all)
The federal government should tax estates worth: Over $3.5 million, over $1 million, not at all
How much do Americans need to make to be considered rich?

14. Poverty in America Absolute Relative Poverty
Not enough money to survive with basic necessities
Relative Poverty
Comparing the bottom of society to the top
Which version do you think of most when you hear the word “poverty”?

15. Poverty in America How are race and ethnicity related to poverty?
47% are non-Latino whites
However, this is 7% of ethnic group
23% of African-Americans and Latinos are poor.
How are gender and age related to poverty
50% of poor households are headed by females
14% of non-poor households are headed by females
25% of all female-headed households are poor
22% of children under 6 are poor
Feminization of Poverty
Women and children are make up an increasingly higher proportion of the population

16. Poverty in America Types of Welfare Reforms Problems With Reform
Education, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment
Problems With Reform
Attitudes toward welfare services
Organizational flaws

17. Social Mobility Movement of people between classes Vertical Mobility
Horizontal Mobility
Changing from one occupation to another, but without economic gain or loss
Vertical Mobility
Moving upward or downward in social class
If it changes from one generation to another, it is called “intergenerational mobility”

18. Social Mobility Caste & Closed systems 1. closed system
a. set through birth
b. little chance of moving up
I.E. caste system
a. closed
b. India – based on the Hindu religion
c. Five levels
Caste system was done away with by law in 1949 (it still persists socially, however)

19. Social Mobility western societies –
a. position determined by level of achievement
b. called a “meritocracy” (based on merit)
Horatio Alger Story
Great leaps in social class can happen
Is this true? Examples
What are the effects of downward mobility?