CHAPTER 8

SOCIAL STRATIFICATION: UNITED STATES

AND GLOBAL
Key Topics

8-1 What Is Social Stratification?

8-2 Dimensions of Stratification
8-3 Social Class in America
8-4 Poverty in America
8-5 Social Mobility
8-6 Global Inequality
8-7 Sociological Explanations: Why There Are Haves
and Have-Nots
What Is Social Stratification?
Social Stratification

Social stratification: a hierarchical ranking of

people in a society who have different access to
valued resources
Resources: property, power, and prestige
Can be relatively closed or open
Social Stratification

Closed stratification systems: movement from one

social position to another is limited due to ascribed
statuses
Based on sex, skin color, or family background
Include slavery and caste systems
Social Stratification

In slavery, some people own others and have

control over their lives.
Slaves are abducted, inherited, or given as gifts to
pay debts.
In chattel slavery, people are bought and sold as
commodities.
Although banned by the United Nations in 1948,
slavery persists.
Social Stratification

In caste systems, social categories are based on

heredity.
Status is ascribed at birth.
Caste restricts social relationships, residence, and
occupation.
Social Stratification

The Indian system is the classic example of a caste

system.
The system was outlawed in 1949.
Social distinctions persist.
Social Stratification

Indian Castes
Brahmins: educated priests and scholars
Kshatriyas: kings and warriors
Vaishyas: merchants and farmers
Shudras: peasants and laborers, craftspeople
Dalits: poor, untouchables, menial and unpleasant
jobs
Social Stratification

Open stratification systems: social classes are

relatively fluid
Based on achieved statuses
A social class is a category of people who have a
similar rank based on wealth, education, power, or
prestige.
Dimensions of Stratification

The dimensions of stratification are wealth, power,

and prestige.
Dimensions of Stratification

Wealth: money and economic assets

Includes property (what people own) and income
(money that comes in regularly.
Wealth is cumulative, passed on to the next
generation, and produces income.
Income inequality is increasing in the U.S.
Dimensions of Stratification
Dimensions of Stratification

Prestige: respect, recognition, or regard

Based on wealth, family background, fame,
occupation, and leadership.
Prestigious occupations require more formal
education, pay more, involve mental activity, offer
autonomy, and are seen as more socially important.
Dimensions of Stratification

Power: the ability of individuals to achieve goals,

control events, and maintain influence over others
despite opposition.
Power is based on tradition, personal charisma, and
social class.
Power elite: a small group of white men who make
the important decisions in U.S. society
Social Class in America
Social Class

Socioeconomic status (SES): an overall ranking of

peoples positions based on their income, education,
and occupation
Classes differ in values, power, prestige, social
networks, and lifestyle.
Four general social classes in U.S.: upper, middle,
working, lower
Social Class
Social Class

Upper Classes
Upper-upper classenormous wealth, inherited
fortunes, considerable economic and political power
Lower-upper classnouveau riche, engage in
conspicuous consumption (lavish spending to
display status)
Social Class

Middle Classes
Upper-middle classlive on earned income,
professional and managerial occupations
Lower-middle classnon-manual,
semiprofessional occupations, rely on two incomes,
maintain comfortable lifestyle
Social Class

Working Class
Working classskilled and semiskilled laborers,
possess high school education
Social Class

Lower Classes
Working poorwork at least 27 weeks a year but
live in poverty
Underclasspersistently poor, segregated
residentially, relatively isolated, chronically
unemployed, lack skills and education
Social ClassApplication

Identify the class illustrated by each example.

Maria is a dental technician working in a large clinic.
Kevin dropped out of high school, works in
agriculture only in the summer, has trouble making
ends meet.
William inherited family wealth, attended private
schools, and became a politician.
Social Class

Life chances: the extent to which people have

positive experiences and can secure good things in
life
Food, housing, good health, education
Life chances are a consequence of social
stratification.
Poverty in America
Poverty in America

Poverty is increasing in America.

15% of the population lives in poverty.
Poverty in America

Absolute poverty: not having enough money to

afford the most basic necessities
Relative poverty: not having enough money to
maintain an average standard of living
Poverty in America

Poverty line: the minimal level of income that the

federal government considers necessary for basic
subsistence
Used to determine eligibility for government
assistance
2010 poverty line was $22, 113 for a family of four
Poverty in America

Children under 18 years old are 36% of the poor.

Women are 58% of those over 18 living in poverty.
Feminization of poverty: higher likelihood that
female heads of households will be poor
Poverty in America

There are more poor whites than Latinos or blacks.

The poverty rate is higher for blacks and Latinos
(27%) than for whites (10%).
Poverty in America

Explanations for poverty focus on individual

characteristics or societal characteristics.
Poverty in America

Explanations blaming the poor (based on individual

characteristics)
Poor people are genetically deficient.
A culture of poverty transmits values, beliefs, and
attitudes that encourage poverty.
The poor are lazy. A majority of Americans believe is
it possible to get rich through hard work.
Poverty in America

Explanations blaming society (based on structural

characteristics)
Societys organization creates and sustains poverty.
Poverty persists because many people benefit from
the consequences.
Poverty in America

Evidence supports the structural view.

People are poor because of economic conditions,
disabilities, and lack of social support such as health
insurance.
Social Mobility
Social Mobility

Social mobility: a persons ability to move up or

down in the stratification hierarchy
Horizontal mobility: moving from one position to
another at the same level
Vertical mobility: moving up or down the
stratification ladder
Social Mobility

Intragenerational mobility: the extent to which

an individual experiences upward or downward
mobility
Intergenerational mobility: the degree to which
one is better or worse off then ones parents
Social MobilityApplication

Identify the type of mobility for each example.

Cameron graduated from college, left welfare, and
secured a semiprofessional position.
Tom left his job in the factory to work in
maintenance at the college.
Cecelia grew up with a mother who worked cleaning
motels, but Cecelia is a doctor.
Social Mobility

Since the 1980s U.S. upward mobility has decreased.

Social Mobility

Mobility is affected by:

Structural factors: changes in the economy,
government policies and programs, immigration
Demographic factors: education, gender, race
and ethnicity
Individual factors: family background,
socialization, connections and chance
Global Inequality
Global Inequality

World Banks Classification

High-income countries have a developed
industrial economy and 96% of the worlds income.
Middle-income countries have a developing
industrial economy and a lower GNI per capita.
Global Inequality

World Banks Classification

Low-Income countries are the least
industrialized and largely agricultural.
Many people are impoverished with a low standard of living.
Many lack access to clean water, education, or health services.
Global Inequality

Modernization theory suggests that low-income

countries lack modern, progressive cultures.
Dependency theory contends that low-income
countries are exploited and dominated by high-
income countries.
Global Inequality

World systems theory argues that high-income

countries extract raw materials from low-income
countries and set export prices.
Sociological Explanations: Why Are There Haves and Have-Nots?
Sociological Explanations

Functionalism
Stratification benefits society.
It is necessary and inevitable.
Sociological Explanation

The Davis-Moore Thesis

Every society must fill a variety of positions and ensure that
important tasks get done.
Some positions are more important than others.
The most qualified people fill the most important positions.
Society offers greater rewards to motive the most qualified.
Sociological Explanations

Meritocracy: a society that rewards individuals for

what they do and how well, rather than on the basis
of their ascribed status
Sociological Explanations

Conflict Perspective
Stratification hurts individuals and society.
Capitalism pits the bourgeoisie (owners of the
means of production) against the proletariat
(workers).
Corporate welfare subsidizes business rather than
workerssubsidies, tax breaks, direct assistance
Sociological Explanations

Feminist Perspective
Women are almost always at the bottom.
Patriarchy benefits most men.
Men control a disproportionate share of wealth,
prestige, and power.
Sociological Explanations

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

People create and share stratification.
Social position affects attitudes, behaviors, and
lifestyle.
People socialize their children to acquire and use the
symbols of their class.
Sociological ExplanationsApplication

Identify the theory:

Inequality ensures that important jobs are filled by
the most talented.
High-income countries set prices for raw materials
and labor.
Parents teach children the habits and attitudes of
their children.
Chapter Review

1. What is social stratification?

2. Describe the different stratification systems.
3. Describe the dimensions of stratification.
4. Describe the social class structure in America.
5. Describe poverty in the U.S.
Chapter Review

6. What is social mobility?

7. Describe inequality across societies.
8. What are the different explanations for poverty and
inequality?