Stratification
Stratification
What Is Stratification?
Stratification refers to systematic inequalities
between groups of people that arise as intended or
unintended consequences of social processes and
relationships.
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Social Stratification
A relatively fixed, hierarchical arrangement in society by which groups have different access to resources, power, and perceived social worth.
Social Statification
In a sports organization:
◦ Owners control the resources of the teams.
◦ Players earn high salaries, yet do not control the team resources.
◦ Sponsors provide the resources.
◦ Fans provide revenue.
Diverse Sources of Stratification
Race, class, and gender are overlapping systems of stratification.
Class position is manifested differently, depending on race and gender.
Example: A Black middle-class man who is stopped by police when driving through a White middle-class neighborhood may feel his racial status is his most outstanding characteristic, but his race, class, and gender always influence his life chances.
Forms of Stratification
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The estate
system is a
politically based
system of stratification
characterized by
limited social
mobility.
The caste
system is a
system of stratification
based on hereditary
notions of religious
and theological
purity and generally
offers no prospects for
social mobility.
The class
system is an
economically based
system of
stratification with
somewhat loose
social mobility based
on roles in the
production process
rather than individual
characteristics.
Functional and Conflict Theories of
Stratification
Inequality
Functionalism
Motivates people to fill
positions that are needed
for the survival of the whole.
Conflict Theory
Results when those with the
most resources exploit
others.
Functional and Conflict Theories of
Stratification
Class Structure
FunctionalismDifferentiation is essential
for a cohesive society.
Conflict Theory
Different groups struggle
over resources and
compete for social
advantage.
Functional and Conflict Theories of
Stratification
Life chances
Functionalism
Those who work hardest
and succeed have greater
life chances.
Conflict Theory
The most vital jobs in
society are usually the least
rewarded.
Social Stratification Why Is There Inequality?
The Class Structure of the United States
Diverse Sources of Stratification
Poverty
How Is America Stratified Today?
The income gap between
high-income and low-
income individuals has
increased dramatically
over the last 30 years.
One out of two people
are living in or heading to
poverty in the United
States
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Inequality in the United States
Nearly 1 in 6 children in the U.S. live poverty:
◦30% of African American children
◦29% of Hispanic children
◦12% of Asian American children
◦9.4% of White non-Hispanic children
Inequality in the United States
15% of the U.S. population has no health
insurance.
The average cost of a day’s stay in the
hospital is $1, 217—two weeks’ pay for
the average worker
Inequality in the United States
1% of the U.S. population controls 38% of the
total wealth in the nation.
The bottom 20% owe more than they own.
CEOs of major companies earn an average of
$13.1 million dollars per year.
Workers earning the minimum wage make
$10,712 per year, if they work 40 hours a week
for 52 weeks per year and hold only one job.
Social Class in the U.S.
Upper class
Upper-middle class
Middle class
Lower-middle class
Lower class
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People Like Us
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The Laddered Model of Stratification
The Double Diamond Model of Stratification
Median Income by Race and Household Status
Wealth and Income
Wealth is the monetary value of
everything one owns, minus debt.
◦ It is calculated by adding all financial assets
and subtracting all debts.
Income is the amount of money brought
into a household from various sources
during a given period.
Distribution of Wealth and Income
The wealthiest 1% own 38% of all net
worth; the bottom 80% control only
17%.
The top 1% also owns almost half of all
stock; the bottom 80% own only 4% of
total stock holdings.
The Tax Burden: For Whom?
Defining Social Mobility
Social mobility is a person’s movement over
time from one class to another.
Social mobility can be up or down, although the
American dream emphasizes upward
movement.
Mobility can also be either intergenerational,
occurring between generations; or
intragenerational, occurring within a generation.
Table 7.1 Relative Social Prestige of Selected U.S. OccupationsYou May Ask Yourself, 2nd Edition
Copyright © 2011 W.W. Norton & Company
Social Mobility
Mobility is a collective effort that involves kin and sometimes community.
Upward Mobility
◦ People who are upwardly mobile are often expected to distance themselves from their origins.
Downward Mobility
◦ As income distribution is becoming more skewed toward the top, many in the middle class are experiencing mobility downward.
Who are the Poor?
In 2002, there were 34.6 million poor people in the U.S.
The poor:
◦ 31% of Native Americans
◦ 24% of African Americans
◦ 22% of Hispanics
◦ 10% of Asians and Pacific Islanders
◦ 10% of Whites
U.S. Poverty Rate Climbed To 15.1 Percent in
2011, Total Number Hit All-Time Record Total
Population - 312,000,000 – 47,000,00 in poverty
How do we compare to the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpKbO6O3O3M
The lines at the local food bank.
Who are the Homeless?
A 2001 survey of 27 cities found that the
homeless population is:
◦ 50% African American
◦ 35% White
◦ 12% Hispanic
◦ 2% Native American
◦ 1% Asian
Who are the Homeless? Battered women
Elderly
Disabled
Mentally Ill (20-25%)
Veterans
AIDS victims
What do you think are the Reasons
for Homelessness?
Unemployment and/or eviction
Reductions in federal support for
affordable housing
Eroding work opportunities
Inadequate housing for low-income
people
What do you think are the Reasons
for Homelessness Reductions in public assistance
Inadequate health care
Domestic violence
Addiction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-naXAOUslM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICx3AfSlc-w&feature=related
Explanations of Poverty
Culture of poverty - poverty is a way of
life that is transferred from generation to
generation.
Structural causes of poverty - poverty
is caused by economic and social
transformations taking place in the U.S.
Arguments Against
“The Culture of Poverty” Fewer than 5% of the poor are chronically
poor.
41% of the able-bodied poor work.
The pattern of “welfare cycling” is
promoted by wages too low to support a
family.