Class and Stratification

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Chapter 7

• Class and Stratification
• in the United States

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• Social stratification is the hierarchical
  arrangement of large social groups based on their
  control over basic resources
• Life chances (Weber) refers to the extent to
  which individuals have access to important
  societal resources such as food, clothing,
  shelter, education, and health care

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What is the American Dream?

• the belief that if people work hard and play by
  the rules, they will have a chance to get ahead.
• based on the assumption that people in the
  United States have equality of opportunity
  regardless of their race, creed, color, national
  origin, gender or religion.

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Comparing Income and Wealth

• Income is the economic gain derived from wages,
  salaries, income transfers (governmental aid),
  and ownership of property
• Wealth is the value of all of a persons or
  familys economic assets, including income,
  personal property, and income-producing property

M O N E Y
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Advantages of Wealth

• high social prestige
• political influence
• improved opportunities
• greater safety for self and family
• high-quality health care
• enhanced life chances

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Distribution of Income Wealth
M O N E Y

• is unevenly distributed in the United States
• is essential for acquiring goods and services

• Food
• Shelter
• Clothing
• Medical Care
• Legal Aid
• Education
• other things needed or desired . . .

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Marx

• Capitalist (bourgeoisie)
• Working Class (proletariat)

• Alienation
• Class Conflict

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Webers Multidimensional Model of Social Class
Placement
WEALTH
POWER
PRESTIGE
High
Low
Accumulation of assets and capital
transgenerational.
Ability to make things happen despite opposition
from others.
Social respect and admiration as a result of
social status
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Upper-Upper (Old Money)
Gilbert Kahl
Lower-Upper (New Money)

• Upper Class
• Upper-Middle Class
• Middle Class
• Working Class
• Working Poor
• Underclass

Weber

• Blue Collar
• Pink Collar

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Wright
Criteria for placement in the class structure

1. Ownership of the means of production
2. Purchase of the labor of others (employing)
3. Control of the labor of others (supervising)
4. Sale of ones own labor

Capitalist Class Managerial Class Small-business
Class Working Class
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Poverty in the United States

• Absolute poverty
• Relative poverty

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AGE
Who Are the Poor?
GENDER
RACE/ ETHNICITY
feminization of poverty
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Functionalist Perspective Davis-Moore Thesis

• Certain positions in society must be filled
• Some positions are more important
• Most important positions (1) scarce talent, (2)
  extensive training, (or both) and (3) must be the
  most highly rewarded
• Most rewarded positions (1) functionally unique
  and (2) reliance of other positions for
  expertise, direction, or financing

meritocracy positions are rewarded based on
ability and credentials
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Conflict Perspective

• Inequality is not a motivating force
• Maintenance of authority/position by powerful
• Stereotypes? inferiorizing the poor
• Laws/norms support inequality

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Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

• Upper class perpetuates position through social
  cohesion
• small groups
• face-to-face interactions
• Social deference
• confirms the inequality of the relationship
• Yes, maam Yes, sir.
• Reference to Women and Girls or Gals and Men as
  Boys
• Use of first name as opposed to title, i.e. Ms.
  Lopes
• Spatial demeanor social position and proximity

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Questions? Comments?