1. Social Stratification and Social Class
Chapter 7:
Social Stratification and Social Class

2. What to Expect in This Chapter...
What is Social Stratification?
Social Mobility
Stratification Systems
Dimensions of Stratification
Theories of Stratification
Social Class in the United States
Poverty in the United States
Consequences of Social Stratification

3. What is Social Stratification?
Social stratification is “...the division of society into levels, steps or positions”
Stratification is, in essence, the structured inequality of entire categories of people
Stratification is different than mere inequality, which refers to the uneven distribution of opportunities and rewards to individuals and groups.
When these inequalities becomes structured into society and passed on from generation to generation, we have social stratification

4. Social Mobility
Social mobility refers to the movement of persons or groups from one social stratum to another
Social mobility is more possible in open societies which provide greater opportunities for mobility, than in closed societies which fixes one’s position at birth
Sociologists distinguish between several types of mobility

5. Types of Social Mobility
Direction of Movement
Across
Up or Down
Horizontal Mobility
Vertical Mobility
Time Frame for Mobility
Single Generation
Two or More Generations
Intra-generational Mobility
Inter-generational Mobility

6. Factors Affecting Social Mobility
Sociologists have identified several structural-level factors which impact the likelihood of social mobility
Economic Conditions
Number of people in the workforce
Values and educational level

7. Types of Stratification Systems
Caste systems are very rigid, closed systems of stratification based on ascribed characteristics such as skin color or family identity
Estate systems are also closed systems based largely on inheritance
Class systems are open systems that permit meaningful social mobility

8. Dimensions of Social Stratification
Wealth—the economic assets of an individual, including income, monetary assets and other holdings
Power—the ability to attain goals and maintain influence over others, even in the absence of their consent
Prestige—the approval and respect received from other members of society

9. Prestige Rankings of Various Occupations
Score
Physician 86
College Professor 78
Lawyer 72
High School Teacher 66
Sociologist 65
Police Officer 60
Social Worker 52
Carpenter 43
Sales Clerk 29
Garbage Collector 13
Click Image to go to Occupational Outlook Handbook

10. Theories of Stratification: Functionalist Theory
You will remember that functionalist theory understands society as a “system” or “organism”
As functionalists, Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore contended that stratification was a necessity for society because:
Society has numerous positions that must be fulfilled if it is to function properly
Some positions, however are more important for the maintenance of society (e.g., physicians)
Finally, some positions require special talents that are not generally prevalent in the population
Hence, functionally important positions and/or positions requiring rare talent are rewarded most highly

11. Criticisms of Functional Theory
Ex Post Facto Judgment of Functional Importance of Positions
Critics question the functional importance of certain highly rewarded positions such as actors and sports figures, in contrast to positions such as school teachers or social workers
The Stratification System itself Inhibits Talent and Abilities
Many barriers are placed in the way of individuals from lower classes to keep them from competing effectively

12. Theories of Stratification: Marxist Conflict Theory
Suggests that social stratification is determined by the the relations of production
bourgeoisie--capitalists who own the means of production
proletariat--wage laborers who sell their labor to bourgeoisie
Interests of these two classes are intrinsically opposed
Power of the capitalists allows them to impose their will and realize their interests
According to Marx, the proletariat will eventually develop a class consciousness, and ultimately overthrow the capitalists

13. Comparing Functional and Conflict Theories
Functional Theory
Conflict Theory
Stratification is universal, necessary and inevitable
Stratification is universal, but not necessary or inevitable
The social system shapes the stratification system
The stratification system shapes the social system
Stratification arises from societal need for integration and coordination
Stratification arises from group competition and conflict
Stratification facilitates the optimal functioning of society
Stratification impedes the optimal functioning of society
Stratification is an expression of commonly shared social values
Stratification is an expression of the values of powerful groups
Power is distributed legitimately in society
Power is distributed illegitimately in society
Tasks and rewards are allocated equitably
Tasks and rewards are not allocated equitably
The economic dimension is subordinate to other dimensions of society
The economic dimension is paramount in society
Stratification systems generally change through evolution
Stratification systems change through revolution

14. Social Class in the United States
Sociologists are not agreed as to how social classes should be distinguished
Most commonly, 5 classes are identified:
Upper Class
Upper-Middle Class
Lower Middle Class
Working Class
Lower Class
Each of these classes represent differences in both income and lifestyle characteristics

15. Occupational and Educational Correlates of Social Class
Upper Class
Corporate Ownership;
Upper-Echelon Politics;
Honorofic positions
Liberal Arts education at elite schools
Upper-Middle Class
Professional and technical fields; managers; proprieters
College and graduate school training
Lower-Middle Class
Clerical and sales; small business owners; semi-professionals
High School; some college
Working Class
Skilled and semiskilled manual labor; crafts; foremen
Some or all of high school
Lower Class
Unskilled labor; service work; farm labor; private household work

16. Income Distribution Across the Social Classes Percentage of All Income
Quintile
Average Income
Percentage of All Income
Wealthiest 5%
$142,021 +
21.5%
Wealthiest Quintile (20%)
$79,372 +
49.4%
Fourth Quintile
$50,520 - $79,374
23.2%
Third Quintile
$32,000 - $50,519
14.9%
Second Quintile
$17,196 – 31,999
8.9%
Poorest Quintile
Less than $17,196
3.6%

17. Visit PovertyNet Online
Approximately 12 million people officially live in poverty
As explained on the following several slides:
Poverty does not affect all segments of the population equally
There is disagreement among social scientists about how to measure poverty, and hence disagreement about how much poverty exists in the United States
Visit PovertyNet Online

18. Poverty’s Biggest Victims: Ethnicity

19. Poverty’s Biggest Victims: Gender
Female headed families are greatly overrepresented among those in poverty
Female householders without husbands had average annual income of $23,732 in 1999
Male householders without wives had average annual income of $37,396 in 1999
This phenomenon has come to be called “the feminization of poverty”

20. How Do We Count the Poor?
The official “poverty index” was developed by the Social Security Administration in 1964
It was based on earlier studies that found that families of 3 or more people typically spent about 1/3 of their budget on food
The poverty index is thus based on the annual cost of a frugal but adequate diet x 3
The threshold of poverty will thus depend on the number of individuals living in a household

21. Threshold of Poverty, 1999 Size of Household Poverty Threshold
1 person (under 65)
1 person (over 65)
$8,501
$7,990
2 people (under 65)
2 people (over 65)
$11,214
$10,075
3 people
$13,290
4 people
$17,029
5 people
$20,127
6 people
$22,727
7 people
$25,912
8 people
$28,967
9 people
$34,417

22. Myths About the Poor Myth #1: People are poor because they are lazy
Fact: About half of the poor are not of working age; most of those of working age are either working or looking for work
Myth #2: Most poor people are African-American and most African-Americans are poor
Fact: Most poor people are white; about 28% of African-Americans are poor
Myth #3: Most of the poor are single mothers with children
Fact: Female-headed families with children represent about 44% of the poor
Myth #4: Most people in poverty live in the inner city
Fact: Less than 22% of the poor live in central cities
Myth #5: Welfare programs are straining federal budgets
Fact: Only about 14% of the federal budget went to welfare programs in 1996, compared to 43% that went to other social assistance programs such as social security and Medicare

23. Consequences of Social Stratification
Longevity
Health and Illness
Childbearing and Childrearing
Crime and Criminal Justice Contacts