Social Stratification Chapter Nine

Systems of Stratification Section One

I. Description Simply dividing society into categories, ranks, or classes based on ascribed statuses (ancestry, race, age, physical appearance, and gender) or achieved statuses (education and occupation) Eventually leads to social inequality

II. Types of Stratification Closed vs. Open Systems Closed—movement is impossible Open—movement is possible, but may be easy or very difficult

B. Caste Systems Closed, based on ascribed statuses, caste is determined at birth based on parents’ statuses Exogamy (marriage outside one’s caste) is forbidden Were once very popular in South Asia The Indian Caste System Developed more than 3000 years ago

Indian Caste System—continued Brahmans—priests and scholars Kshatriyas—rulers, nobles, and soldiers Vaisyas—merchants, bankers, and business people Sudras—laborers and artisans Harijans/Dalits—unclean, undesired

Indian Caste System—continued Castes were subdivided into thousands of sub-castes People avoided the Harijans and if they touched a higher-caste person, the person had to go through a special cleansing ritual to remove the “stain” of uncleanliness

Indian Caste System—continued The Indian Constitution, 1950 Outlawed discrimination Declared all Indians equal Encouraged interaction between castes in schools and government jobs Reality: lines are somewhat blurred in the cities, although there is still poverty; they remain intact in the country

Answer the following questions from your book: Answer the question under Interpreting Visuals on page 206. Answer the question under Interpreting Visuals on page 207. Answer #1 under Thinking Critically on page 228.

Indian Caste System Watch the video and answer the following questions. Explain why members of the lower castes are seeking reform. What are the demands of the lower caste reformers? How would you like to live in this society?

C. Class Systems Based on achieved statuses Given talent, effort, and opportunity, a person can move up the social-class ladder (or down with a lack of talent, effort, or opportunity) Karl Marx—there is a struggle between the bourgeoisie (owners) vs. the proletariat (workers) Max Weber—three factors effect social class mobility: property, prestige, and power

Occupational Prestige Survey Complete the handout—rank the occupations on how much prestige (or respect) you feel each deserves. 1 is the lowest 100 is the highest

Compare Your Results From the National Opinion Research Center: Doctor 82 Teacher 60 Plumber 41 Farmer Author Professor 78 Judge 76 Accountant 57 Dancer 38 Mechanic 37 Lawyer Maid 14 Actor 55 Nurse 62 Janitor 16 Cab Driver 22 Architect 71 Police Officer 48 Electrician 49 Mail Carrier 42 Minister 70 Athlete 51 Engineer Cashier 31 Dentist 74 From the National Opinion Research Center:

Social Stratification—continued Power: the ability to control the behavior of others, with or without their consent Prestige Includes: respect, honor, recognition, or courtesy a person receives from others in society May reflect: income, occupation, education, family background, residence, possessions, club memberships, etc.

IV. Explaining Stratification Functionalist Theory It’s a necessity; without certain rewards, some jobs would go unfilled Ex: why would anyone spend the time and money to become a doctor without the benefits? Conflict Theory Competition causes social inequality; whoever “wins” maintains the rewards

Read through Applying Sociology on page 210 Read through Applying Sociology on page 210. Answer the two questions in the blue box. Answer #2 and #4b of the Section 1 Review on page 212. Complete the reading on page 219. Answer the two questions under Think About It.

The American Class System Section Two

I. Introduction The fewer the number of ascribed characteristics used to determine access to rewards, the more open the class system The U.S. has laws forbidding discrimination based on ascribed characteristics

II. Determining Social Class The Reputational Method: community members rank other members of their community The Subjective Method: individuals rank themselves as upper, middle, or lower class; most people say middle class whether it’s true or not The Objective Method: defines social class by income, occupation, and education

A. The Upper Class 1% of the population Old money vs. new money Politically conservative Attend prestigious universities Business owners, top executives, investors

B. The Upper Middle Class 14% of the population Politically and socially active, but limited to the local level College degrees; career minded

C. The Lower Middle Class 30% of the population Mostly white-collar jobs, but not all have college degrees Politically conservative

D. The Working Class 30% of the population Blue collar jobs requiring manual labor Have few financial reserves High school diplomas

E. The Working Poor 22% of the population Hold the lowest paying jobs, often seasonal Dropouts Rarely make a living wage; rely on government support

F. The Underclass 3% of the population Generations of poverty and unemployment Rely on public assistance; only 50% of children reach a higher class

IV. Social Mobility Definition: the movement between classes or within classes Types Horizontal: within a class; change jobs, but not classes Vertical: move to a higher or lower class Intergenerational mobility: when a child is able to change class from the one he/she was born into

Social Mobility—continued Structural Causes of Upward Mobility Individual effort Changes in technology Changes in merchandising patterns (credit and insurance increases) Increases in levels of education Structural Causes of Downward Mobility Personal factors (illness, divorce, widowhood, retirement) Changes in the economy

Budget Activity—how much do you need to live in Lorain County?

Poverty Section Three

I. Poverty Definition: a standard of living that is below the minimum level considered adequate by society Relative: level can vary from society to society Includes more than 31 million people—11% of the population

II. Defining Poverty in the U.S. The Poverty Level The minimum annual income needed by a family to survive Calculated by determining the cost of an adequate diet, times three Problems with the Level Outdated—was developed in the 1960s Excludes the price of clothing, housing, and other personal expenses

For each additional person, add $4,160.00 Poverty Rate for 2017 NUMBER IN HOUSEHOLD POVERTY GUIDELINE 1 $11,880 2 $16,020 3 $20,160 4 $24,300 5 $28,440 6 $32,580 7 $36,730 8 $40,890 For each additional person, add $4,160.00

III. American Poverty Age—37% are children Gender—57% are women Race and Ethnicity—most are African Americans and Hispanics States with over 15% of their population living under the poverty level: New Mexico, Mississippi, Louisiana, New York, and West Virginia

IV. The Effects of Poverty Life Chances: the likelihood a person has of sharing in the opportunities and benefits of society The poor have lower health, housing, and levels of education A lower life expectancy (number of years a person will live); 60% of infants are more likely to die No money = less nutrition and poorer healthcare

Effects of Poverty—continued Patterns of Behavior Higher divorce rates Higher arrest rates and prison terms

V. Government Responses to Poverty First “War on Poverty” declared by LBJ in 1964; rate is the same as the early 1970s Senior citizens are in better shape due to Social Security and Medicare

Government Responses—continued Transfer Payments: takes tax money and redistributes it SSI—Social Security Insurance TANF—Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (formerly AFDC—Aid to Families with Dependent Children) Subsidies: transfer goods and services; no cash Food Stamps Medicaid School Lunches

Chapter 9 Review Read the Case Study on page 224 and answer the questions in the purple box. Answer the questions (start with #2) under Thinking Critically on page 228. Complete Building Social Studies Skills on page 229. What would be the best way the government could take care of poverty?