2. Outline
Social Stratification and Inequality
Slavery, Caste system and Social Class
Social Classes Categories
Theories of Social Class
Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
Social Mobility
Is there a culture of poverty?
3. Social Stratification and Social
Inequality
Social Stratification-division of society into groups
arranged in a social hierarchy
Higher level groups will enjoy better access to rewards
and resources and lower levels will have worse access
Leads to social inequality (unequal distribution of
wealth, power, prestige)
1. Characteristic of society
2. Persists over generations
3. Different societies have different ways of ranking
4. Stratification maintained through widely shared
beliefs
4. Systems of Stratification
Slavery, Caste system, Social Class
Slavery-most extreme form of social stratification-
based on legal ownership of people-provide labor
No rights-bought and sold like commodities
Became enslaved through owing a debt, warfare,
committing a crime, or being captured and kidnapped
Illegal all over the world now but still continues in India,
South Asia, West Africa
Child slavery, serfdom, human trafficking, sex slaves
5. Caste System
Caste system-form of social stratification in which
status is determined by one’s family history and
background and can’t be changed
Must marry within group-caste ranking passed to kids
India-reflection of Hindu religion-Brahman, ksatriya,
chhetri, vaisya, sudra, untouchables
South Africa-Apartheid-system of segregation and
racial groups that was legal in South Africa 1948-91
6. Social Class Categories
Social class-system of stratification based on access to
resources such as wealth, property, power and prestige
[also referred to as socioeconomic status(SES)]
Practiced primarily in capitalist countries
Upper class-largely self-sustaining, wealthiest people
in a class system; in U.S., comprise about 1% of the
population and possess most of the wealth; $250,000+
Upper-middle class-mostly professionals and
managers who enjoy considerable financial stability;
about 14% of U.S. population
7. Social Class
Middle-class-comprised of mostly white-collar
workers with a broad range of incomes; 30% of U.S.
population; $55,000-$88,000
White collar-workers and skilled laborers in technical
and lower management jobs
Working class-(lower-middle class)-mostly blue-
collar or service industry workers who are less likely to
have a college degree; 30% of population; $23,000-
$54,000
Blue collar-workers who perform manual labor
8. Social Class
Working poor-poorly educated workers who work full
time but remain below the poverty line; comprise
about 20% of U.S. population
Many are high school dropouts; get unskilled, temporary
and seasonal jobs
Underclass-poorest Americans who are chronically
unemployed and may depend on public or private
assistance; 5% of U.S. population
Earn less than $7,500 a year; substandard housing or are
homeless
Status inconsistency-situation where there are
different elements of an individual’s SES
9. Theories of Social Class
Karl Marx-theory came out during Industrial
Revolution in 19th century Europe when class was
emerging out of the collapsing feudal system
*Argued that economic relationships were quickly
becoming the only social relationships what mattered
New social inequality was b/w bourgeoisie and
proletariat
Max Weber-believed class position came out of a
combination of wealth, power, and prestige (pg. 203)
Prestige-social honor people are given because of their
membership in well-regarded social groups
Can affect how people are perceived: doctor vs. janitor
10. Theories of Social Class
Pierre Bordieu-studied social reproduction-tendency of
social classes to remain relatively stable as social class
status is passed down from one generation to the next
Cultural capital-the tastes, habits expectations, skills,
knowledge, and other cultural dispositions that help us gain
advantages in society
Can shape others’ perceptions of us
Erving Goffman-we read identity by interpreting behavior
of others
Our clothing, speech, cars, what we do on vacation are all part
of our presentation of self
11. Socioeconomic Status & Life Chances
Belonging to a certain class brings with it either certain
privileges or hardships that members will endure
Education- $78,200 (advanced); $49,900 (bachelor’s);
$30,800 (high school) and $21,600 (non-graduates)
Schools don’t always meet needs of all students
Work – Lower class people have more problems with
jobs – unemployment, underemployment
Loss of “Blue Collar” jobs
Two income households
Widening income gap between those at the top and
bottom of the scale
12. SES and Life Chances
Criminal Justice – people of low SES are more likely to
have experience with the criminal justice system –
more likely to be arrested, sentenced, and even the
victims
Family – higher social class – older when they get
married and less children
Health – poor least likely to be get adequate nutrition,
shelter, clothing, healthcare-more prone to illness-
shorter life spans
We can’t take for granted the advantages and
disadvantages individuals deal with
13. Social Mobility
Social Mobility-movement of individuals or groups
within the hierarchal system of social classes
Closed system-system with very little opportunity to
move from one class to another (caste system)
Open system-system with ample opportunities to
move from one class to another (U.S.)
Intergenerational mobility-movement between
social classes that occurs from one generation to the
next
Intragenerational mobility-movement that occurs
between classes over the course of an individual’s
lifetime
14. Social Mobility
Horizontal Mobility-the occupational movement of
individuals or groups within a social class
Vertical Mobility-the movement between different
class statuses, often called either upward mobility or
downward mobility
Structural Mobility-changes in the social status of
large numbers of people due to structural changes in
society
15. Defining Poverty
Relative Deprivation-comparative measure of
poverty based on the standard of living in a particular
society
Absolute Deprivation- and objective measure of
poverty; defined by inability to meet minimal
standards for food, shelter, clothing, or healthcare
16. Culture of Poverty
Culture of Poverty – attitudes that develop among
poor that lead the poor to accept their fate and not
attempt to change their place in society
Controversial because it blames victims of poverty
Just World Hypothesis – see world as predictable &
fair – thus the poor “deserve” what they get
Melvin Lerner
Meritocracy-system in which rewards are distributed
based on merit
17. Invisibility of Poverty
Residential Segregation-
geographic separation of
the poor from the rest of
the population
Disenfranchisement-
poor are less likely to vote
Hide the homeless – get
them out of sight
About 2.5 mil. people will
experience homelessness
at least once during a given
year
