1. Chapter 12 Inequalities of Social Class Dimensions of Social Inequality in America Social Class and Life Chances in the United States More Equality?

2. Basic Measures of Inequality Income Wealth Occupational prestige Educational attainment

3. Distribution of Wealth in the U.S. 6% of households have a net worth of $250,000 or more. 25% of households have a net worth of less than $5,000. Top 1% of Americans enjoy 40% of all wealth.

4. Jeffersonian View of Inequality Envisioned a society in which most families lived on their own farms or ran small commercial or manufacturing enterprises. Emphasized economic self sufficiency through hard work.

5. Changing Views of Social Inequality Great Depression - industrialization increased hostility between workers and owners of businesses. Mid-twentieth century- studies revealed existence of a complex social-class system and a racial caste system. Shift to an economy based on services resulted in an easing of class conflict.

6. Class Awareness In America Today Most people identify themselves as members of the middle class. They base class assignments on socioeconomic status derived from occupation, family status, education and income.

7. Upper Classes 1% of the U.S. population. Controls 40% of personal wealth Divided into two subgroups: high society and newly rich.

8. Middle Classes 45% of Americans classify themselves as middle class. Differ in income, education and access to wealth.

9. Middle Classes Tend to be employed in nonmanual occupations. Work hard to afford material things more easily acquired by the upper class. Spend almost half their income on three essentials: housing, utilities and health care.

10. Working Class 44% of white Americans and almost 57 % of African Americans. Undergoing rapid and difficult changes as industrialization spreads throughout the world.

11. Working Class Employed in skilled, semiskilled, or unskilled manual occupations, and many are union members. Can be divided into industrial workers and those employed in skilled crafts. More racial and ethnic diversity than in other classes.

12. The Poor According to official statistics, about 13% of Americans are living in poverty. Most have jobs that do not pay enough to support their families.

13. The Poor Categories: Single-parent families headed by women. Elderly with fixed incomes. Marginally employed rural workers. Part-time miners. Chronically unemployed manual workers. Disabled workers and their families.

14. Welfare Reform In 1996 Congress enacted major reforms in the welfare laws, which now require that adult aid recipients work. Data on the effects of the reforms indicate that they have had mixed results and may actually have worsened conditions for poor children.