1. Talking about work through the concepts of class. Roderick Graham – City College of New York

2. The Caste System  A Caste System- is a social system based on ascription, or birth.  A pure caste system is closed because birth alone determines one’s destiny, with little or no opportunity for social mobility based on effort.  Caste systems exist in agrarian societies because life long routines of agriculture depend on a rigid sense of duty and discipline.

3. Characteristics of Caste Systems  First, traditional caste groups have specific occupations, so generations of a family perform the same type of work.  Second, maintaining a rigid social hierarchy depends on people marrying within their own categories; “mixed” marriages would blur the ranking of children.  Third, caste norms guide people to stay in the company of “their own kind.”  Fourth, caste systems rest on powerful cultural beliefs.

4. The Class System Class System- social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement. Categorizing according to their color, sex, or social background comes to be seen as wrong in industrial and post-industrial societies, and all people gain political rights and roughly equal standing before the law.

5. The Class System Meritocracy- social stratification based on personal merit. In a class system the belief is that where you end up is based on “merit,” which is the job one does and how well one does it. Our course will focus on the class system.

6. The Class System: Major Theorists Karl Marx Max Weber

7. Marx: Capitalism and Class Conflict Bourgeoisie (owns means of production, attempting to produce profit) Proletariat (sells labor) 1)Two large groups with different access to the means of production 2)Antagonistic social relations

8. Marx: Capitalism and Class Conflict  What do we mean by owning the means of production?  Owning the resources we need to produce goods in society  What are the types of ways that someone can own means of production?  Money  Land  Machinery  Stocks

9.  Class is only one of several types of stratification groups  The importance of class can be reinforced or undermined by status groups and parties Weber: Competing Principles of Stratification and Group Formation

10. Weber: Three Dimensions of Inequality Class Relationship to the market “skilled” or “unskilled” Status Style of life Closed social circles Party Group organized to advance own interests

11. Weber: Three Dimensions of Inequality The contribution of Weber is that along with your class, other factors go into determining your place in society 1. The amount of prestige given in society is unequal, and some have more prestige than others (status) 2. The amount of political power in society is unequal, and some groups dominate politics (party) All three (class, status, party) are important dimensions, but Weber’s main contribution is status

12. Spheres (types) of Status in the U.S. Occupation Prestigious occupations are given honor/deference Lifestyles associated with occupations Education More prestigious schools grant more cultural capital Prepare students to retain class position

13. Spheres (types) of Status in the U.S. Place (Neighborhood/Region) Living in high income neighborhoods is considered more prestigious Living in urban areas is more prestigious Living in rich suburbs is more prestigious Race/Gender Members of racial groups do not associate, and white culture considered more prestigious Men and women have different cultures and behaviors

14. Marx or Weber  In this course, we are focusing on the relationship between work and family.  This means that a Marxian view that focuses mainly on occupation is the one I will refer to the most.  However, understanding that the world is more complex than that helps us explain our world

15. Marx or Weber Ex. We will read about the lifestyles of lower income women. From a Marxian view, all racial groups should have similar views, attitudes, and behaviors. However, it is clear that this is not the case. By using a Weberian understanding, we can see that race/ethnicity is also important.

16. (Social) Class Defined Class is a relative social rank in terms of income, wealth, education, status/position, and/or power. Class is also called “social class.” Sociologists measure class through income, education, occupation, and also social values. Generally, we combine one or more measures.

17. Measuring Class - Income  Level of income is a rough measure of class because people with similar incomes generally have similar jobs  Does a professional athlete making $20 million belong in the same social class with a physician making $150,000? Or a plumber and a government administrator?

18. Growing income disparity…

19. Differences in net worth between racial groups

20. Measuring Class – Education  The education one receives strongly affects the kind of work one receives  Also, those with higher levels of education may have different attitudes, beliefs, and lifestyles than those with lower levels of education  Formal education can increase the level of cultural and social capital that a person has  Cultural and social capital can be passed on to offspring

21. The relationship between education and income

22. Measuring Class - Values, Attitudes, and Lifestyles  Sometimes sociologists measure class through values and attitudes (although generally not the case)  Attitudes toward family life, raising children, the role of women, etc. vary from class to class.  People in various social classes exhibit markedly different lifestyles.  In your reading of Unequal Childhoods, you will see how class affects parenting styles

23. Example: Anheuser-Busch Positioning to Social Class Segments Michelob - Upper-middle-class product position: super premium price; prestige themes; status/professional backgrounds Upper-class lifestyle Upper-middle-class target market (12.5%) Upper-middle- class lifestyle Middle-class lifestyle Working-class lifestyle Middle-class target market (36%) Working-class target market (38%) Budweiser - Middle-class product position: premium price; achievement, sharing themes; middle-class backgrounds Busch - Working-class product position: popular price; sports themes; working-class backgrounds

24. Measuring Class - Occupation  What a person does for a living.  It is an indicator of other signs of class membership: income, personal associations, and status.  For this class, occupation will be our most important measure of class.

25. Measuring Class – Occupation and Income Upper Class – Top 5%. Families earn at least $185,000 a year. Own most of the countries private wealth. Middle Class – 40% – 45% of population. More ethnically and racially diverse. Earn between $45,000 – $185,000. Working Class – 33% of population. Low wage jobs. $25,000 - $45,000. Lower “Underclass” – 20% of population. Less than $25,000.

26. Measuring Class - Occupation The Upper Class  Earn at least $185,000  The upper class can be divided into the upper-uppers and lower-uppers.  Lower uppers generally did not inherit their money and are currently working for their money…

27. Measuring Class - Occupation The Middle Class  Are most of the population (45%)  Separated into upper middles ($100,000 to $185,000) and average middles ($45,000 to $100,000)  Are the “symbolic” class of the United States…all politicians talk about the middle class  Generally white collar workers  Build wealth over time  Ethnically and racially diverse

28. Measuring Class - Occupation The Working Class  Make between $25,000 and $45,000  Have little or no wealth  Sudden unemployment and illness is disastrous  Jobs for the working class offer few benefits

29. Measuring Class - Occupation The Lower Class  20% of the population  Low educational levels  Society segregates the lower class (especially minorities)…through housing in trailer parks and urban ghettos  Lower class families live in inner cities and in the rural south

30. From Class to Work: Class and Jobs Occupation is the main measure of class…in other words, the work you do is a good measure of class. Dual Labor Market Thesis There are two distinct labor markets in America. These two labor markets are associated with two distinct economic sectors. What is a market? What is an economic sector?

31. From Class to Work: Dual Labor Market Thesis Primary Labor Market Higher Wages Benefits Stable salaries Human capital is important! Secondary Labor Market Low wages (determined by hours worked…not education) Benefits are rare Salaries go up and down with economy Less chance for advancement Core/Monopoly Sector Large corporations (Microsoft, Bank of America) Large Industries (oil companies, steel, auto) Peripheral/Competitive Sector Smaller business (bodegas, restaurants) Service industries (security jobs, cleaning jobs, catering) More labor intensive

32. From Class to Work: Dual Labor Market Thesis  Minorities and women are disproportionately found in the peripheral/competitive sector. This means they have less benefits and lower salaries.  There is very little movement between these labor markets and sectors.  Although two workers can have the same skills, they may end up in different labor markets, and thus different economic sectors.

33. From Class to Work: Dual Labor Market Thesis  The type of work done in each sector has a certain effect on the family  Generally speaking, being in the core/monopoly sector puts one in the middle to upper class, while being in the peripheral/competitive sector puts one in the middle to lower classes  Work in the peripheral/competitive sector may make it difficult to raise a family or take care of that family

34. Conclusion/Wrap-Up  Two types of stratification systems - Caste and Class  Two main theorists of class – Marx and Weber  Four main ways to measure class – income, occupation, education, and lifestyle  Work can fall in the core or peripheral sector