1. SOCIAL CLASS IN THE
U.S.
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2. What is social class?
Sociologists have no clear-cut

definition of social class.
 The two schools of thought are:
 Marx
 Weber

3. Marx and Social Class
Conflict theorists (based Marx’s

teaching) see 2 social classes: those
who have means of production &
those who do not.
 Ex-The doctor who makes $500,000 a
year has access to resources that the
$13,0000 a year burger flipper does
not.

4. Weber and Social Class
Weber defined social class as “a large

group of people who rank close to one
another in wealth, power, and
prestige” (Henslin, 2007:260).
 There are distinctions between wealth
and income:
 Wealth is the value of a person’s
property minus its debts. Examples of
this would be land, buildings, back
accounts etc.

5. Income is the flow of money.

Examples of this would include
paycheck, disability benefits, stocks &
bonds etc.

6. Distribution of the property of How Income is distributed among
Americans Americans
Who owns the Wealth and
Income in the U.S.?
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7. DISTRIBUTION OF
INCOME OF AMERICANS
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8. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

9. The More Things Change The
More They Stay The Same…
Income really hasn’t changed since

the end of the Great Depression.
 The richest 20% receive all most half
of the nation’s income (46.2%), while
the poorest 20% receive only 4.2% of
the nation’s income.
 Despite government anti-poverty
efforts, the poorest 20% of the
population receive the same % of
income they did in 1935.

10. THE HIGHEST PAID CEO’S
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11. It’s not just about $, it’s about
lifestyle…
Having access to money gives you

access to resources (i.e.
healthcare, food, shelter etc.).
 For people on the lower end of the
scale not having access to resources
could cause them to make some
tough decisions (i.e. do I buy food or
pay the heating bill this month?).

12. Power
Power is defined as: “the ability to

carry out your will, even over the
resistance of
others”(Henslin, 2007:263).
 Some sociologists believe that the a
small group of people make the big
decisions for U.S. society.
 Mills called this the “power elite”
(Henslin,2007:263).

13. Prestige
Prestige is respect or regard.

Occupations and Prestige
They Pay More
They Require More Education
They Entail More Abstract
Thought
They Offer Greater Autonomy

14. Sociological Models of Social Class
Updating Marx
business owners.
Capitalists-large
Bourgeoisie-small business owners.
Petty
sell their own labor but
Managers-who
have authority over others.
who simply sell their
Workers-people
labor.

15. Sociological Models of Social
Class
Updating Weber
Capitalist Class-this top 1% is worth more then the bottom
90%of the country.
The Upper Middle Class-most shaped by education.
Often works for the capitalist class.
The Lower Middle Class-work lower-level
management, but are often able to climb the social ladder.
The Working Class-have a high school education.
Consider “suits” as having no real skills.
The Working Poor-work minimal jobs, often high school
dropouts.
The Underclass-here poverty persists across generations.

16. Consequences of Social Class
Health
Physical
Mental Health


18. Consequences of Social Class
Education
Religion

Politics


19. Consequences of Social Class
Crime and the Judicial System

Social Class and the Changing

Economy

20. Social Mobility
Women and Social Mobility
Studies of Boys

More Recent Studies with Girls


21. Interpreting Statistics on Social
Mobility
Doesn’t Fall Far From Tree
Apple
The Pain of Social Mobility


22. Poverty
Who are Poor?
Drawing the Poverty Line

Geography


23. POVERTY BY STATE
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24. POVERTY-RACE
ETHNICITY

25. POVERTY-EDUCATION

26. Poverty
Who are Poor?
of Poverty
Feminization
Old Age

 Children of Poverty

28. Myths About the Poor
are Lazy
Most
Poor are Trapped and Few Escape

Most are Latino and African-American


29. Myths About the Poor
Most are Single Mothers and Kids

Most Live in Inner City

Most are on Welfare


30. Dynamics of Poverty
of Poverty.
Culture
 Most Poverty is Short-lived.

32. Dynamics of Poverty
Number of Poor Relatively Stable.


33. Why are People Poor?
Structure
Social
 Features of Society
 Characteristics of Individuals

34. Poverty
Reform
Welfare
◦ Welfare Restructured in 1996
Deferred Gratification


35. Poverty
is Horatio Alger?
Where
yourself up by your boot straps. Anyone can get
Pull
ahead.
Social Functions of a Myth

Having this myth places blame on the
squarely on the person, so there is no
need to change society.