1. Social Stratification
Sociology
4/22/2017
Social Stratification
Preview
Section 1: Systems of Stratification
Section 2: The American Class System
Section 3: Poverty
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 9

2. Section 1: Systems of Stratification
Read to Discover
What are the characteristics of caste systems and class systems?
How do the major theories of social stratification differ?

3. Section 1: Systems of Stratification
Caste System:
Closed and lifelong
Immobility and inherited status
Based on specific occupations
Ascribed status
Class System:
Open and mobile
Reward is determined by achieved status
Property, prestige, and power are important

4. Section 1: Systems of Stratification
Question
What are the major theories of social stratification?

5. Section 1: Systems of Stratification Cause of Stratification
Theory
Cause of Stratification
Criticisms of Theory
Functionalist
Stratification is needed to help society function smoothly by ensuring that specific roles are performed. Higher rewards guarantee that important roles that require more skill are filled.
 Society does not provide equal access to education and jobs.
 Lower-class talented people may be unable to contribute to society.
 Rewards do not always reflect the social values of roles.
Conflict
Groups compete for scarce resources. Those with power exploit and control others to maintain their position.
Unequal rewards are based in part on differences in talents, skills, and desires among people.

6. Section 1: Systems of Stratification
Functionalist Theorists—view stratification as a necessary feature of the social structure and argue that the more important a role and the more skill needed to perform it, the higher the reward
Conflict Theorists—view stratification as a result of conflict over scarce resources and argue that groups who gain power then use that power to maintain their advantage

7. Section 2: The American Class System
Read to Discover
What are the characteristics of the American class system?
How do different motivations and cultural values influence the American class system?

8. Section 2: The American Class System
Question
What are the characteristics of the American class system?

9. Section 2: The American Class System

10. Section 2: The American Class System
Upper Class—Attend prestigious universities; owners of large businesses, investors, heirs to family fortunes, top business executives
Upper Middle Class—Attend college or university; business executives, professionals
Lower Middle Class—High school, some college; lower-level managers, skilled craftworkers, supervisors

11. Section 2: The American Class System
Working Class—High school education; factory workers, clerical workers, lower-level salespeople, some craftworkers
Working Poor—Some high school; laborers, service workers
Underclass—Some high school; undesirable, low-paying jobs, unemployed, on welfare

12. Section 2: The American Class System
Question
How do different motivations and cultural values influence the American class system?

13. Section 2: The American Class System
Americans believe that people who possess enough ability and motivation will rise to the top.
Motivations include finances, status, prestige.
Such values influence Americans to try to do better financially than their parents and to help their children do the same.
These values and motivations keep the American system open and mobile.

14. Section 3: Poverty
Read to Discover
What groups of Americans are affected by poverty?
What steps have been taken by the federal government to lessen the effects of poverty?

15. What groups of Americans are affected by poverty?
Section 3: Poverty
Question
What groups of Americans are affected by poverty?

16. Section 3: Poverty
Characteristics of Poor Americans
Age As an age group, children have the largest percentage in poverty.
Race & Ethnicity African Americans and Hispanics are twice as likely as whites to be poor.
Sex Women represent 57% of the poor. Female-headed households: 50%

17. Section 3: Poverty
Age—Children have the largest percentage in poverty; 25% of Americans are under 18, but 35% of the poor are children; three times more African American and Hispanic children are poor than white children.
Race and Ethnicity—African Americans and Hispanics are more than twice as likely as white Americans to be poor.
Sex—Women are the largest segment (57%); female-headed households account for about half of all poor families; 34% of African American and Hispanic female-headed households are poor, as compared to only 20% of white female-headed households.

18. Section 3: Poverty
Government attempts to reduce inequality through various social-welfare programs using two approaches:
Transfer Payments—redistribution of money among various segments of society; major programs include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Subsidies—transfer goods and services rather than cash; include the Food Stamp program, housing, school lunches, and Medicaid

19. Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding Main Ideas
How do caste systems and class systems differ?
How do the functionalist and conflict explanations of stratification differ?
What are the six social classes recognized by most American sociologists?
What is the poverty level, and how is it calculated?
How can poverty affect the life chances of Americans?
How have government programs to assist poor Americans changed in recent years?