1. Social Stratification: Dimensions and Impact
Yesenia King Soc. 001

3. Lecture Outline Social Stratification Dimensions of Stratification
Explanations of Stratification
Stratification in American Society
Consequences of Stratification
Social Mobility

4. Social Stratification
System in which large groups of people are divided into layers according to their relative power, property, and prestige
Exists within society
Affects our life chances and orientations to life based on our class
Unequal and relatively permanent
Class: based primarily on the possession of money and material goods

5. Questions for Today What are the major social classes in the U.S.?
For which class is inherited wealth most important?
How are one’s education and occupation related to one’s social class?

6. Dimensions of Stratification
The Economic Dimension
Marx viewed economics as the foundation of social classes.
Social class is determined by one’s relationship to the means of production.
Bourgeoisie – the rulers; exploit
Proletariat – those who are ruled; revolt
Classless society
Believed that all other social institutions
were based on the economic structure

7. Dimensions of Stratification
The Economic Dimension
Weber identified several different social classes based on the consequences of their relationship to the economic institution.
Wealth that consists of property (what we own) and income (money we receive).
Likelihood of achieving education,
housing, health, food, etc., based on
access to economic resources.

8. Economic Inequality in America
“CEO Pay Jumped 11%” by Joann Lublin (WSJ)
For the past 30 years income inequality has been increasing.
The U.S. is now the most economically unequal of all major Western countries.
In 2009, 43.6 million people were living in poverty yet there were only 7 million millionaires and 800 billionaires.
Between 1990 and 2005 CEO income increased about 300% while workers income increased just 4.3%

11. Dimensions of Stratification
The Power Dimension
Power is the ability to control others, even over their objections.
Expert knowledge, special skills, fame, and social position
Mills – “Power Elite”
Big decision makers
in U.S. society

12. Dimensions of Stratification
The Prestige Dimension
Prestige is the respect or regard people give to various occupations and accomplishments.
In US occupations are the primary source of prestige.
Occupations with highest prestige:
Pay more
Require more education
Entail more abstract thought
Offer greater autonomy
Valuable = people must acknowledge it.

13. Power
Prestige
Wealth

14. Explanations of Stratification
Functionalist Theory
Stratification is inevitable
Positions have to be filled and some positions are more important than others
More important positions need to be filled by more qualified people = greater rewards
Critical Thinking – Where does Functionalist theory fall short?
Are some positions really more important?
Example: Entertainer vs. President; Electrician vs. Professor
Barriers to fair competition due to lack of access.
Example: Racial/Ethnic groups, women, the disabled etc.
Meritocracy?
Example: Best predictor of College entrance is family income not ability
Stratification is dysfunctional, thus not functional.

15. Explanations of Stratification
Conflict Theory
Stress that conflict, not function, is the basis of social stratification
Stratification exists because those with more power and wealth are willing to exploit others with less.
Critical Thinking – Where does conflict theory fall short?
Conflict theory is based on the class conflict described by Marx
Marx’s work not consistent with American system

16. Symbolic Interactionism and Stratification
Social stratification persists only as long as its legitimacy is accepted.
Symbols explain the existence of stratification to the young and the reasons for people being located in particular strata.
Views of legitimacy are incorporated into an individual’s self-concept as well.

17. Theoretical Perspectives: Social Stratification

18. Stratification in American Society
U.S. Class Structure
-Gilbert and Kahl – Updated Weber’s
Model
Capitalist Class
The Upper Middle Class
The Lower Middle Class
The Working Class
The Working Poor
The Underclass
The Homeless

20. Consequences of Stratification
Life Chances –probability of achieving the positive things in life.
Life Expectancy
Health/Mental health; medical care
Life Style
Family Life
Divorce
Child Rearing
Politics
Education
Criminal Justice System

21. Social Mobility Movement up or down the social class ladder
Difficult to do.
Minorities have been denied the opportunity for advancement
Significantly impacted by intergenerational assistance.
Upper class children = assistance from parents; less likely to move down
Lower class children = less likely to move up

22. Social Mobility
Social mobility – the movement of individuals or groups within a stratification structure.
Intragenerational mobility – social class movement within the career of an individual.
Intergenerational mobility – social class movement from one generation to the next.
Horizontal mobility – change from one occupation to another at same status.
Vertical mobility – occupational or social class moves upward or downward.

23. Systems of Social Stratification - Slavery
Causes
Conditions
Temporary
Not Necessarily Inheritable
Not Necessarily Powerless and Poor
Slavery in the New World
Slavery Today

24. Caste Stratification System
In a caste system
there is no social mobility
social status is inherited
statuses are ascribed or assigned at birth.
Example – India’s Religious Caste
Example – South Africa – Apartheid
Example – US – Jim Crow Laws

25. Global Inequality
The United States has greater income inequality than most developed countries.
The gross domestic product (GDP) is a good indicator of classifying a nation’s economic category (high, upper-middle, lower-middle, low).

26. How Do Elites Maintain Stratification?
Soft Control vs. Force
Controlling People’s Ideas
Controlling Information
Controlling Technology

27. Comparative Social Stratification
Social Stratification in Great Britain
Social Stratification in Former Soviet Union

28. Global Stratification: Three Worlds (Old Model)
First World - Industrialized Capitalist Nations
Second World - Communist Nations
Third World - Nations that Don’t Fit in First Two

29. Global Stratification: Three Worlds
Most Industrialized Nations
Industrializing Nations
Least Industrialized Nations

30. How Did World’s Nations Become Stratified?
Colonialism
World System Theory
Culture of Poverty
Evaluating the Theories

31. Maintaining Global Stratification
Neocolonialism
Multinational Corporations
Technology and Global Domination
Race Outcome Predetermined
Unintended Public Relations

32. Strains in the Global System
Stream of Unanticipated Events
Contradictions Rear Up
Cracks in Global Banking