1. How America Divides SOCIAL CLASSES

4. Old $$$ vs. New $$$ Old Money = wealth that has been in the family for generations (born into, inherit) Ex: The Kennedy’s, Rockefeller’s, Vanderbilt’s New Money = newly rich, acquired their money through own efforts rather than inheritance. (Not as prestigious, but can still buy it) Ex: Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Michael Jordan

5. The Upper Class The Richest Americans

6. Upper Class- Bill Gates’ Home

7. Reception Room- Gates’ home

8. View from Gates’ home

9. Bill Gates’ Car

11. Social Class Divisions Upper Middle Class  10% of population Education Level: College/ University Degree Occupation: High income business people, professionals Membership based on income, not assets (career oriented) Influence in community, not nationally. Income: $100,000-$250,000

12. Social Class Divisions Lower Middle Class  20% of the population Education Level: High School, some College Occupation: White collar workers (management, supervisors, sales) Income: $50,000- $100,000 They live well, but have to work to keep their way of life and position in society.

13. Social Class Divisions The Working Class  20% of the population Education Level: High school diploma Occupation: Blue Collar or Manual labor jobs (factory workers, tradespeople, low service jobs) Income: $30,000- $50,000 They work very hard and often do not have much reserve to deal with extra expenses.

14. Social Class Divisions The Working Poor  45% of the population Education Level: Some high school, (often dropouts) Occupation: Lowest paying jobs, (housecleaning, minimum wage jobs, migrants) Income: less than $30,000 They rarely make a living wage.

15. Social Class Divisions The Underclass  3% of the population Education Level: some high school Occupation: some work, but it is undesirable, experienced unemployment and poverty over several generations. They require public assistance to survive. 50% move up to a higher class.

16. Types of Jobs/ Salaries The divide b/t rich and poor: Bill Gates = $50 billion net worth Dave Matthews= $28 million/ yr. Jerry Seinfeld = $98 million/yr. Tyra Banks= $14 million/ yr. Lawyer= $98,930/ yr. Firefighter= $39,090/ yr. Janitor= $19,390/ yr. Cashier= $16,260/ yr.

17. Social Mobility How can you move between or within the classes? 1) Horizontal- movement within a social class to a job of equal social ranking (doesn’t change status) 2) Vertical- movement up or down classes that changes a person’s social standing 3) Intergenerational- a status change in a family between generations.

18. Social Mobility Factors that affect upward mobility: - Individual Effort - Technology shifts - Education Level Factors that affect downward mobility: - Illness - Divorce - Retirement - Technology changes - Low Unemployment- lack of quality jobs in field

20. Poverty US Census- defines poverty as: minimum annual amount of income needed to survive The poverty line is established by: calculating the cost of an adequate diet (USDA standards) and multiplying that by 3 (1/3 of income is spent on food) In 2000, 1 Person = $8,794 2 People = $11,239 3 People = $13,738 4 People = $17, 603 5 People = $20,819

21. Poverty States with the largest rates of poverty (over 15%):

23. Poverty Patterns of Behavior More likely to be divorced. More likely to be arrested, convicted and sent to prison. (commit crimes that police pursue more- burglary, auto theft) More likely to be victims of crimes.

25. Poverty Welfare A program designed in the 1980’s to aid those who could not afford a living wage. Financial assistance is given to recipients in the form of money and goods (such as food) to those who are in need. Initially, it created a “welfare class”, a group of people who refused to find work and lived off the government until 1996. Limits were put into effect that required welfare recipients to find work within in a two year period. **the number of recipients has decreased from 14.1million in 1993 to 6.3 million in 1999.

26. Poverty Welfare (con’t) Some Barriers to getting off of welfare: - very poor mental or physical health - education less than high school - last worked three or more years ago - has an infant - Spanish interview Those reporting barriers: NONE = 22.9 ONE = 33.3 TWO = 43.8