HOW BIG IS YOUR PIECE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM CHANCES ARE, YOU WILL NOT SEE A POT OF GOLD' - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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HOW BIG IS YOUR PIECE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM CHANCES ARE, YOU WILL NOT SEE A POT OF GOLD'

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INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL POLITICS. AVERAGE-MIDDLES. LESS PRESTIGE IN OCCUPATION ... POLITICS. DEGREE OF INVOLVEMENT AND OUTLOOKS. FAMILY AND GENDER ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: HOW BIG IS YOUR PIECE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM CHANCES ARE, YOU WILL NOT SEE A POT OF GOLD'


1
HOW BIG IS YOUR PIECE OF THE AMERICAN
DREAM?CHANCES ARE, YOU WILL NOT SEE A POT OF
GOLD.
2
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
A SYSTEM BY WHICH A SOCIETY RANKS CATEGORIES OF
PEOPLE IN A SOCIAL HIERARCHY.
  • IT IS A TRAIT OF SOCIETY
  • DOES NOT REFLECT INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES, BUT
    SOCIETYS STRUCTURE
  • IT PERSISTS OVER GENERATIONS
  • SOCIAL MOBILITY HAPPENS SLOWLY
  • IT IS UNIVERSAL
  • WHILE UNIVERSAL, IT VARIES IN TYPE
  • IT INVOLVES INEQUALITY IN BELIEF SYSTEM
  • IDEOLOGIES JUSTIFY EXISTENCE OF STRATIFICATION

3
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION BASED ON ASCRIPTION
HOW DO I LIKE MY WORK? WELL, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE
TO HAVE TO DO THIS EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE?
  • BIRTH DETERMINES SOCIAL POSITION IN FOUR DISTINCT
    WAYS
  • OCCUPATIONS
  • ENDOGAMY IS PRACTICED
  • SOCIAL LIFE IS RESTRICTED
  • BELIEF SYSTEMS ARE OFTEN TIED TO RELIGIOUS DOGMA
  • LACK OF MOBILITY

4
THE AMERICAN CLASS SYSTEM OF STRATIFICATION
A SYSTEM BASED ON INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT, NOT
ASCRIPTION
5
THE MOST OPEN SYSTEM IN THE WORLD
I DONT THINK YOU ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU DESERVE!
  • INEQUALITY AS IN CASTE SYSTEM, BUT SOCIAL
    MOBILITY IS POSSIBLE
  • EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO
  • EDUCATION
  • JOB OPPORTUNITIES
  • AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD
  • SYSTEM IS BASED ON THE IDEALS OF MERITOCRACY
  • YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE

6
THE DAVIS-MOORE PERSPECTIVE
  • THESIS
  • STRATIFICATION HAS BENEFICIAL CONSEQUENCES (ITS
    FUNCTIONAL) FOR THE OPERATION OF THE U.S..
  • KEY POINTS
  • MEMBERS OF SOCIETY HAVE NEEDS
  • SOME STATUSES IN SOCIETY ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN
    OTHERS WHEN IT COMES TO SEEING TO NEEDS
  • TO ATTRACT THE BEST QUALIFIED AND TO GIVE OF
    THEIR TIME, EFFORT, AND ENERGIES, REWARDS MUST BE
    SUFFICIENT IN NATURE (INCOME, PRESTIGE, POWER)
  • KEY CONCEPT
  • MERITOCRACY AND GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE
  • DOES EVERYONE IN AMERICA GET WHAT THEY DESERVE?

7
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE
KARL MARX BELIEVED THAT CAPITALIST SYSTEMS
OF STRATIFICATION WOULD ALWAYS BENEFIT A FEW AT
THE EXPENSE OF THE MANY
  • ONES PLIGHT IN LIFE IS TIED TO A PERSONS
    RELATIONSHIP TO THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION
  • A PERSON EITHER CONTROLS MONEY AND EQUIPMENT, OR
    WORKS FOR THOSE WHO DO
  • THROUGH INHERITENCE LAWS, SOCIAL CLASSES THEN
    REPRODUCE THEMSELVES OVER GENERATIONS
  • EVENTUALLY, YEARS OF CLASS OPPRESSION WOULD LEAD
    TO CAPITALISMS DEMISE
  • SOCIALISM REPLACES CAPTIALISM

8
MARX BELIEVED CAPITALISM HELD ITS OWN SEEDS OF
DESTRUCTION
  • INEVITABILITY OF MONOPOLIES
  • ELIMINATION OF COMPETITION
  • GOUGE CONSUMERS AND WORKERS ALIKE
  • OVER PRODUCTION OF GOODS
  • ECONOMIC SLUMPS, DEPRESSIONS, ETC.
  • PROFIT SEEKING CAPITALIST MOTIVES
  • ELIMINATION OF WORKERS BY MACHINES
  • CONTROL OF THE STATE BY THE WEALTHY
  • PASSING LAWS THAT FAVOR THE FEW

9
  • FRAGMENTATION OF THE CAPITALIST CLASS
  • WE CAN ALL HAVE A PIECE OF THE PIE THESE DAYS
  • WHITE-COLLAR JOBS AND A GENERAL RISING OF THE
    STANDARD OF LIVING
  • MORE PRESTIGE
  • INCREASE IN UNIONS
  • BETTER WAGES AND BENEFITS
  • ACCESS TO LEGAL PROTECTION
  • COURTS ARE SUPPORTING WORKERS CLAIMS
  • HOWEVER, MAJOR CLASS DIFFERENCES REMAIN

10
  • WEALTH STILL REMAINS HIGHLY CONCENTRATED IN THE
    UPPER CLASS
  • A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION STILL
    CONTROLS OVER HALF OF THE CORPORATE STOCK
  • WHITE-COLLAR JOBS OFFER LITTLE TO WORKERS
  • JOB SECURITY IS NO LONGER OFFERED TO WHITE-COLLAR
    WORKERS, AND WORKERS CAN EVEN EXPLOITED MORE
  • PROGRESS REQUIRES STRUGGLE
  • CONFLICT AND DISTRUST STILL REMAIN AS OBSTACLES
    BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS
  • LITTLE HAS BEEN WON RECENTLY
  • THE LAW STILL FAVORS THE RICH
  • ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE POOR HAS
    BEEN SEVERED
  • THE AVERAGE AMERICAN STILL CANNOT USE THE LEGAL
    SYSTEM TO THE SAME AS EXTENT AS THE RICH

11
THE KUZNETS CURVE
GREATER OPPORTUNITY AND EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW
COMES ABOUT IN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY. ALSO,
POLITICAL RIGHTS AND ECONOMIC LEVELING HELP
REDUCE SOCIAL DIFFERENCES.
HUNTING AND GATHERING
INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY
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MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, 1993
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19
The American Class System
20
  • SUPPORT FOR EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW
  • EQUAL RIGHTS ARE ACCORDED TO ALL
  • WE CELEBRATE INDIVIDUALITY
  • PEOPLE FORGE THEIR OWN LIVES
  • SIMILARITYAND ATTRACTION
  • BRIEF ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHERS
  • THE U.S. IS AN AFFLUENT SOCIETY
  • BELIEF THAT EVERYONE IS FINANCIALLY COMFORTABLE
  • THUS, IT REMAINS A TOPIC THAT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT
    REALLY UNDERSTAND, OR THEY ARE TAUGHT THAT IT IS
    NOT AN APPROPRIATE TOPIC FOR CONVERSATION

21
DIMENSIONS OF CLASS
  • INCOME
  • OCCUPATIONAL WAGES AND EARNINGS FROM INVESTMENTS
  • WEALTH
  • THE TOTAL VALUE OF MONEY AND OTHER ASSETS, MINUS
    ANY DEBT
  • SOCIAL POWER
  • THE ABILITY TO CONTROL, EVEN IN THE FACE OF
    RESISTENCE
  • OCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGE
  • JOB-RELATED STATUS
  • EDUCATION
  • KEY TO BETTER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

22
  • ANCESTRY
  • BORN TO PRIVILEGE OR POVERTY MAKES A BIG
    DIFFERENCE
  • RACE AND ETHNICITY
  • SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES STILL EXIST WHEN
    COMPARING MAJORITY AND MINORITY GROUPS ON SOCIAL
    AND FINANCIAL VARIABLES
  • GENDER
  • IT IS STILL A MANS WORLD IN AMERICA
  • RELIGION
  • PROTESTANT RELIGIONS ARE STILL IDENTIFIED AS
    CHURCHES WHOSE MEMBERSHIP ARE MOST AFFLUENT IN
    AMERICA

23
THE CLASS SYSTEM
  • THE UPPER CLASS
  • 5 OF THE POPULATION
  • THE MIDDLE CLASS
  • 45 OF THE POPULATION
  • THE WORKING CLASS
  • 30 OF THE POPULATION
  • THE LOWER CLASS
  • THE REMAINING 20 OF PEOPLE

24
THE UPPER CLASS
  • THE UPPER-UPPERS
  • THE BLUE BLOODS
  • MEMBERSHIP ALMOST ALWAYS BASED ON ASCRIPTION
  • THEY HAVE OLD MONEY
  • THEY ARE SET APART BY THE AMOUNT OF WEALTH THEIR
    FAMILIES CONTROL
  • MUCH TIME DEVOTED TO COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
  • THE LOWER-UPPERS
  • THE WORKING RICH PEOPLE
  • THE NEW RICH BY OLD MONEY STANDARDS
  • CAN STILL FIND THEMSELVES EXCLUDED FROM CERTAIN
    ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS

25
  • UPPER-MIDDLES
  • 50,000 TO 100,000 YEARLY INCOME
  • EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT
  • HIGH OCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGE
  • INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL POLITICS
  • AVERAGE-MIDDLES
  • LESS PRESTIGE IN OCCUPATION
  • FEW WHITE COLLAR, OR HIGH-SKILLED BLUE COLLAR
    JOBS
  • INCOME PROVIDES MODEST SECURITY
  • COLLEGE KIDS NORMALLY ATTEND STATE-SPONSORED
    COLLEGES

26
  • THE TRUE INDUSTRIAL PROLETARIAT
  • 15,000 TO 35,000 ANNUAL INCOME
  • ROUTINE TASKS AND LESS SATISFACTION
  • FEWER CHILDREN GO TO COLLEGE (ONLY ONE-THIRD)
  • SENSE OF FATALISM TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE IN THEIR
    LIVES
  • MUST LOOK DOWN TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES
  • AT LEAST I HAVE A JOB

27
THELOWER CLASS
  • LACK OF FULL-TIME WORK LITTLE INCOME
  • 1996 ALMOST 40 MILLION AMERICANS FELL INTO THIS
    GROUP
  • LIMITED SCHOOLING NEARLY FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE
  • CHILDREN FEEL IMPACT OF LABEL AND SEE LITTLE HOPE
    FOR FUTURE
  • WELFARE MAY BE VIEWED AS ONLY HOPE

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29
WAYS IN WHICH CLASS MATTERS TO YOU
  • HEALTH
  • AMOUNT AND TYPE OF HEALTH CARE
  • CULTURAL VALUES
  • TOLERANCE AND GRATIFICATION
  • POLITICS
  • DEGREE OF INVOLVEMENT AND OUTLOOKS
  • FAMILY AND GENDER
  • TYPE OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND SOCIALIZATION
    PRACTICES

30
  • UPWARD
  • CLIMBING UP FROM A LOWER CLASS
  • DOWNWARD
  • FALL DOWN FROM A HIGHER SOCIAL CLASS
  • HORIZONTAL
  • REMAIN IN THE SAME CLASS, WHILE MOVING BETWEEN
    JOBS
  • INTRAGENERATIONAL MOBILITY
  • MOVEMENT THAT TAKES PLACE WITHIN ONE PERSONS
    LIFETIME
  • INTERGENERATIONAL MOBILITY
  • MOVEMENT THAT TAKES PLACE ACROSS GENERATIONS
    WITHIN A FAMILY
  • GENERAL TRENDS
  • FAIRLY GOOD FOR MALES WHEN CONSIDERED
    INTERGENERATIONALLY

31
THE TRUTH ABOUT MOBILITY
  • AMONG MEN, MOBILITY HAS BEEN FAIRLY HIGH
  • LONG-TERM TREND HAS BEEN UPWARD
  • INTRAGENERATIONAL MOBILITY IS INCREMENTAL, NOT
    DRAMATIC
  • SHORT-TERM TREND HAS BEEN THAT OF STAGNATION WITH
    SOME INCOME POLARIZATION
  • MOBILITY BY INCOME (1980 - 1996)
  • RICHEST FIFTH OF AMERICANS HAVE HAD A WINDFALL
    WITH RESPECT TO INCOME
  • THIRD AND FOURTH FIFTHS HAVE SEEN MINOR INCREASES
    IN INCOME
  • THE TWO LOWER FIFTHS HAVE SEEN THEIR INCOME FALL

32
FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS EVOLVED
INTO AN AMERICAN NIGHTMARE!
  • EARNINGS HAVE STALLED FOR MANY WORKERS
  • MANY PERSONS NEED TO HOLD MORE THAN ONE JOB
  • MORE JOBS OFFER LITTLE INCOME
  • YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REMAINING AT (AND RETURNING TO)
    HOME

33
SOCIAL INEQUALITY MEANS POVERTY
  • POVERTY
  • RELATIVE (IN RELATION TO OTHERS)
  • ABSOLUTE (LIFE CAN BE THREATENED)
  • POVERTY THRESHOLD
  • IN 1993, FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR THE POVERTY
    THRESHOLD WAS SET AT 14,763 ANNUAL INCOME
  • EXTENT OF POVERTY IN AMERICA
  • 15.1 OF AMERICANS ARE SO CLASSIFIED
  • 12.5 OF AMERICANS ARE MARGINALLY POOR
  • A TOTAL OF 51.8 MILLION AMERICANS
  • REALITY CHECK
  • ROUGHLY 50 OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN CLASSIFIED AS
    POOR ENDURE HUNGER ON A DAILY BASIS IN AMERICA

34
WHO ARE THE POOR?
IS POVERTY MORE PRONOUNCED AMONG
CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE WITHIN OUR
POPULATION?
  • AGE
  • IN 1993, 22.7 OF ALL CHILDREN WERE POOR
  • RACE AND ETHNICITY
  • TWO-THIRDS OF ALL POOR ARE WHITE, BUT...
  • IN 1993, 33 OF ALL AFRICAN AMERICANS AND 30.6
    OF ALL LATINOS LIVED IN POVERTY
  • GENDER
  • THE FEMINIZATION OF POVERTY
  • LOWER PAYING JOBS
  • TEENAGE PREGNANCY
  • DIVORCE AND SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS

MOMMY! WHY CANT I HAVE THAT?
35
THE HOMELESS
THIS IS ALL GREAT, BUT DO YOU REALIZE HOW MANY OF
US ARE ONLY A COUPLE OF PAYCHECKS AWAY FROM BEING
HOMELESS!??!
  • NO PRECISE COUNT
  • HOW COULD THERE EVER BE?
  • EXPERTS GUESS-TI-MATE
  • 500,000 ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT
  • 1.5 MILLION AT SOME TIME DURING THE COURSE OF THE
    YEAR
  • TYPICAL VICTIM
  • FEMALE-HEADED, SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY WITH A COUPLE
    OF CHILDREN
  • CAUSES
  • THEY ARE POOR
  • LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS
  • ONE-THIRD ARE SUBSTANCE ABUSERS
  • ONE-FOURTH SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESSES

36
EXPLAINING POVERTY
BASICALLY, ONE HAS TWO CHOICES
  • CULTURE OF POVERTY THEORY
  • BLAME THE POOR FOR THEIR SITUATION.
  • SOCIETY OFFERS CONSIDERABLE OPPORTUNITY TO ANYONE
    WHO WANTS TO WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL GAIN.
  • THOSE WHO ARE POOR SIMPLY ELECT TO BE POOR. THEY
    REFUSE TO APPLY THEMSELVES AND ONLY HAVE
    THEMSELVES TO BLAME.
  • STRUCTURAL THEORY OF POVERTY
  • SOCIETY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING UP HOW
    RESOURCES ARE DISTRIBUTED AND IS THEREFORE
    RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POVERTY IN AMERICA.
  • LACK OF JOBS, LACK OF HOPE, AND ANOMIC ATTITUDES
    ARE JUST PART OF A VERY STRATIFIED ECONOMIC
    SYSTEM.
  • POOR PEOPLE ARE SIMPLY A CONSEQUENCE OF THE
    CAPITALISTIC SYSTEM.

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