1. Social Stratification

2. Social Stratification
Division of society into layers (strata)
Occupants of different social strata have unequal access to social opportunities and rewards
Power: Ability to do what you want despite obstacles
Power Elite: Those who make the big decisions in the U.S.
Wealth and power go hand in hand

3. Social Class Group of individuals who occupy similar social statuses
Includes educational level, occupation, political influence, economic position

4. Structure of Stratification
Closed system
Position in social hierarchy is ascribed

5. Structure of Stratification
Open system
Position in social hierarchy is achieved
Social mobility is possible
Theoretically, we’re free to be what we want to be—equal opportunities, where you finish depends on your ability and effort

6. Structure of Stratification
Functionalist perspective:
Complex societies depend on individuals occupying a variety of positions
Societies develop systems of unequal rewards
Meritocracy:
Position in social hierarchy is determined by individual merit
Based on equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome
Social rewards are distributed on the basis of merit.

7. Social Mobility Movement up or down socioeconomic ladder
Upward Mobility:
Better off than one’s parents
Better off than one used to be in a lifetime
Downward Mobility:
Worse off than one’s parents
Worse off than one once was

8. Social Mobility Movement up or down socioeconomic ladder
Structural Mobility:
Structural changes in society ‘push’ and ‘pull’ people into higher and lower social levels

9. The American Class System
Capitalist Class
Upper Middle Class
Middle Class
Working Class
Working Poor
Underclass

10. Distribution of Wealth and Income
Money people earn from wages/salaries, interest, investments, etc.
Wealth:
Things people own; assets (stocks, real estate, savings bonds, cars, consumer goods)

11. Distribution of Wealth
From Domhoff, 2005

12. Distribution of Income
Top 1 percent
Next 19 percent
Bottom 80 percent
1982
12.8
39.1
48.1
1988
16.6
38.9
44.5
1991
15.7
40.7
43.7
1994
14.4
40.8
44.9
1997
39.6
43.8
2000
20.0
38.7
41.4
(old)
(2001)

13. CEO vs. Factory Worker
CEOs' pay as a multiple of the average worker's pay
2005=411:1; European average=25:1

14. % increase in pay

15. Poverty in America
2003: Over 36 million Americans (almost 14% of our population) officially poor
Poverty line: Governmental estimate of minimum budget for families of different sizes
2003: $18,400 for a family of 4

16. Poverty in America Who are the poor?
For most, poverty is a temporary condition
Non-Latino whites: 48%
Single moms living alone: 37%
Majority of poor live in suburbs, small towns, and rural areas (58%)
Proportion of children who are poor has climbed (now about 20%)

17. What does it cost to be poor in the US?
Costs more than being middle class:
Bank accounts
Loans for cars and houses
Car insurance
Health care
Housing
Furniture & other essentials

18. What does it cost to be poor in the US?
Costs more than being middle class:
“Ghetto tax”
Ghetto originally used to describe an urban neighborhood of a minority segregated from rest of the city
Now commonly used to describe poor, deteriorating, inner-city neighborhoods

19. Explaining Ghetto Poverty
‘Underclass’ explanation:
Acute, chronic poverty
Culture of poverty: No work ethic, no family values, no respect for law and order

20. Explaining Ghetto Poverty
William Julius Wilson:
Ghetto poverty a result of the combination of
Joblessness due to deindustrialization
Social isolation

21. Explaining Ghetto Poverty
Christopher Jencks:
Questions the existence of special category of poor as ‘ghetto poor’
Assuming these problems are linked together perpetuates stereotypes
This excuses inaction

22. Global Stratification
Most industrialized nations
Industrializing nations
Least industrialized nations

23. Theories of Global Stratification
Colonialism
Industrial nations use technology, military power to exploit labor, resources of weaker nations

24. Theories of Global Stratification
Dependency Theory
Poverty in poor nations the result of exploitation by wealthy nations
Related to colonialism—Colonies were encouraged to develop one or two prime exports

25. Theories of Global Stratification
World System Theory
World economic system must be seen as a unit
Core countries
Semiperipheral countries
Peripheral countries