Social Inequality Unit

Chapter 8: Social Stratification Case Study: Rural Poverty Section 1: Systems of Stratification Section 2: The American Class System Section 3: Poverty Simulation: Applying What You’ve Learned

Case Study: Rural Poverty Most Americans equate poverty with images of the urban poor, but 20 percent of poor Americans live in rural areas. Poverty rates are much higher among rural minorities than among rural whites. Most of the rural poor have little access to government services, and the shift to a service economy has hit them especially hard. Both types of poverty are examples of how people around the world are affected by the unequal distribution of a society’s resources and rewards.

Section 1: Systems of Stratification Main Idea Many societies rank their members based on certain criteria, a process called social stratification. Reading Focus What are the characteristics of the two types of stratification systems? What are the three dimensions of social stratification? How do the major theories explaining social stratification differ?

The Power of Popularity Do some groups at your school seem to have more power than others?

Types of Stratification Systems Social stratification is the division of society into categories, ranks, or classes. These divisions lead to social inequality—the unequal sharing of resources and social rewards.

Open Vs. Closed Access to rewards also varies depending on the degree to which the stratification system is open or closed. In a closed system, movement between the status levels, or strata, is impossible. A person is assigned a status at birth and remains at that level throughout life. Movement between strata is possible and ease of movement depends on the degree of openness in the system

Closed System Open System -Ex: Caste System -Person’s status is assigned at birth -Individual remains in that status -Person’s flexible -Societies range from open to very open

Types of Stratification Systems Caste Systems Closed stratification system Resources and social rewards distributed based on ascribed statuses Lifelong status, or caste, determined by the status of parents Effort and talent might affect position within your caste, but not move you higher Which parent’s status should be used? Prohibits exogamy, or marriage outside of caste; Promotes endogamy, or marriage within caste Caste system in India has been challenged but still plays a major role

Indian constitution in 1950 outlawed discrimination of Harijans and declared everyone equal…still dominant in rural areas. Indian Caste system was developed more than 3,000 year ago, and it assigned people into one of four casts, the last of which are outcasts [unclean, avoided, cannot be touched or you’re considered unclean]

Class Systems Class system more open than closed stratification system Resources and rewards distributed according to achieved statuses Some control over place in society Marx divided society into: Bourgeoisie, or the owners of the means of production Proletariat, or workers who sell their labor in exchange for wages Weber described three factors of class: Property Prestige Power

Weber’s Dimensions of Social Stratification Wealth Made up of his/her assets [value of everything the person owns], and income [money earned through salaries, investment returns, and other capital gains] Power Ability to control the behavior of others, with or without their consent. Can be based on force, possession of special skill social status, personal characteristic, or custom. Prestige The respect, honor, recognition, or courtesy an individual receives from others. Determined by occupation, education, family background, and area of residence. Weber’s Dimensions of Social Stratification To rank people according to these 3 dimensions, sociologists use Socioeconomic status which is a rating that combines social factors such as educational level, occupational prestige, and place of residence with the economic factor of income.

Activity: Rank by Prestige ACCOUNTANT ACTOR AIRLINE PILOT CHILD CARE WORKER COMPUTER PROGRAMMER ELECTRICIAN FARMER FIREFIGHTER GARBAGE COLLECTOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER JANITOR LAWYER MAIL CARRIER MUSICIAN/COMPOSER PHYSICIAN POLICE OFFICER REGISTERED NURSE RETAIL APPAREL SALESPERSON SOCIOLOGIST WAITER/WAITRESS Read through the list of jobs Write down jobs in the order of prestige as YOU SEE IT from most prestigious to least prestigious

-Most prestigious: physician and lawyer Results: -Most prestigious: physician and lawyer -Least prestigious: waiter and janitor

Explaining Stratification Functionalist Theory: sees stratification as necessary feature Certain roles must be performed for stability of society Without varying rewards some jobs would go unfilled Critics point out that not everyone has same access to resources

Conflict Theory: see competition over scarce resources as the cause Stratification comes from class exploitation A group in power can shape policy to maintain its power Critics point out that not everyone is suited for every position

Cultural Diversity and Sociology Social Stratification Around the World All societies have ways to group their members based on specific characteristics. Ascribed statuses such as race, gender, and age are the most commonly used. Kiwai Papuans: a simple society where everyone lived in similar dwellings and did the same work, but some men “a little more high” and women “down a little bit” Mosuo: matriarchal and matrilineal, females are leaders Democratic Republic of the Congo: stratified by gender, women don’t have same legal rights Maasai: nomadic group, stratified by age-sets South Africa: racial stratification, officially ended in 1994 but still affects life –

Thinking Critically How do these systems of stratification lead to social inequality? Do you think that societies around the world should allow social stratification to continue? Explain your answer.

Section 2: The American Class System Main Idea Most sociologists use six class divisions when describing the American class system. Because it is an open system, people are able to move between classes. Reading Focus How do sociologists determine social class? What are the characteristics of social classes in the United States? What are the types of social mobility?

Does everyone have access to the nation's best universities?

Determining Social Class The fewer ascribed statuses used to determine class, the more open the class system. In theory, Americans have equal access to the resources needed for social advancement…but because we have so many social classes, the rate of social mobility is not equal for every segment. Three techniques are used to rank individuals.

Individuals are asked to determine their own social rank Reputational Method Individuals in the community are asked to rank other members based on what they know of their characters and lifestyles Suitable only for small communities Cannot be used across communities Subjective Method Individuals are asked to determine their own social rank Most people choose middle class Objective Method Income, occupation, and education Statistical nature makes this method least biased Choosing different factors brings different results

Social Classes in the United States The Upper Class: 1 percent of population “Old money” have been rich for generations “New money” is not as prestigious The Upper Middle Class: 14 percent of population High-income businesspeople and professionals such as doctors and lawyers Many are politically and socially active The Lower Middle Class: 30 percent of population Most hold white-collar jobs that require less education and provide less income such as nursing, middle management, sales Live a comfortable life but must work to maintain it

The Working Class: 30 percent of population Many hold jobs that require manual labor or blue-collar jobs Jobs may pay more, but have less prestige than white-collar Unexpected crises can push individuals into lower classes The Working Poor: 22 percent of population Lowest-paying jobs such as housecleaning, migrant farm work, and day labor Many rely on government programs and are high school dropouts The Underclass: 3 percent of population Have experienced unemployment and poverty for several generations Most rely on government programs Life is a day-to-day struggle

Thesociologicalcinema.com

Social Mobility Social mobility is the movement between or within social classes. Horizontal mobility refers to movement within a social class or stratum. Vertical mobility refers to the movement between social classes or strata. There are two kinds of vertical mobility: intragenerational mobility (within a person’s lifetime) intergenerational mobility (several generations of one family) –

Social Mobility Causes of Upward Mobility Causes of Downward Mobility Individual effort Technological change Change in merchandising patterns Increase in population’s general educational level Causes of Upward Mobility Personal factors such as illness, divorce, or retirement Technological change altering the demand for labor Overall economic health Causes of Downward Mobility –

Section 3: Poverty Main Idea Reading Focus Americans living below the poverty level have fewer opportunities. Government welfare programs attempt to remedy this situation. Reading Focus How is poverty defined in the United States? What groups of Americans are affected by poverty? What are the effects of poverty on poor Americans? What steps have been taken by the federal government to reduce the effects of poverty?

Poverty Poverty is the condition of people who lack adequate income and wealth. Absolute vs. Relative Poverty Absolute poverty is the absence of enough money to secure life’s necessities – enough food and a safe place to live. Relative poverty comparing the economic conditions of those at the bottom of society and the rest of society. According to this measure, the definition of poverty can vary. For example it would not be the same in India as the U.S.

PERSONS IN FAMILY/HOUSEHOLD POVERTY GUIDELINE 1 $11,770 2 $15,930 3 $20,090 4 $24,250 5 $28,410 6 $32,570 7 $36,730 8 $40,890

Who is Poor? Women 70% of Americans in poverty are women 55% of these women are Caucasian / 33% are African American Workers 50% of poor people work FULL time (consider elderly) 1 in 5 jobs earn 25% the poverty line Children in Poverty 20% of America’s children 46% of African American children 40% of Latino children 17% of Caucasian children Minorities: The Elderly 14% of people over 65 are in poverty (28% of A.A. / 21% of Latinos) The South

Figure 10.2 Inequality of U.S. Income Bill Gates is the wealthiest person in the world. His fortune runs between $ 50 billion and $100 billion, depending on the value of stock. Home in Seattle appraised at $110 million Gates has given more to poor and minorities than any individual in history

Top 10 States with the Highest Poverty Rate, 2011 1. Mississippi 22.6% 2. New Mexico 21.5% Louisiana 20.4% Arkansas 19.5% Kentucky 19.1% Alabama 19.0% 7. South Carolina 18.9% 8. District of Columbia 18.7% 9. West Virginia 18.6% 10. Texas 18.5%

Figure 10.7 Patterns of Poverty Source: Statistical Abstract 2002: Table 673. Note: Poverty varies tremendously from one state to another. In the extreme, poverty is almost three times as common in New Mexico (19.3%) than it is in Maryland (7.3%).

Can you imagine having to struggle for a one-cent raise? Coalition of Immokalee Workers who pick tomatoes in FL: work 12-hr shifts, have too fill 125 32-lb buckets [2 tons] to earn $50/day… protested against fast food to pay extra one cent per tomatoes..allows them to earn now 0.77 per bucket they pick instead of 0.45

Why are people poor? Human Capital Theory- Lack of education, job training, job skills or language proficiency. Racism, Discrimination and Segregation Family Type – absence of 2 parent families Culture- assumes there are cultures that value education, self improvement and motivation more than others. Lack of Employment Opportunities and Low Wages Lack of Political Power

Defining Poverty in the United States Although the United States is one of the richest countries in the world, about 13 percent of its population lives below the poverty line. Poverty is a standard of living that is below the minimum level considered adequate by society. What one society sees as poverty might be seen as adequate by another society. Poverty level is the minimum income needed by a family to survive, calculated as the cost of an adequate diet. Criticism of the method of calculating poverty has led to attempts to find a better definition of poverty.

Government Responses to Poverty In 1964 President Lyndon Johnson declared a “war on poverty,” and the federal government has taken an active role in attempting to reduce inequality. Almost 37 million Americans still live in poverty. Increased Social Security benefits and Medicare have reduced poverty among the aged. Transfer payments redistribute money within society by funneling a percentage of tax revenues to groups that need public assistance. Subsidies transfer goods and services rather than cash. In 1996 federal law turned some welfare over to the states. Those who get off welfare face difficulty feeding their families.

Where Does the Public Stand on the Matter? The majority feel that something needs to be done The majority lacks faith in government to do it People tend to support work programs (as opposed to direct aid) The majority of Americans support raising the minimum wage. The majority support a tax hike on the wealthy

Simulation: Applying What You’ve Learned Only What You Can Afford What are the significant, everyday lifestyle differences between people of different classes in the United States? In this simulation you will glimpse what some of the American social classes look like from within using three imaginary families. Create a budget for each month. 1. Introduction Figure out how much money your family has for each month. Decide what percentage of the family’s income should go toward housing, transportation, food, health care, personal care, and miscellaneous items. 2. Creating Your Budget –

Simulation (cont.) 3. Discussion What did you learn from this lab? As a group, discuss the following: How did the options for each family differ? Which families bought and which rented? How did the amount of money for unnecessary expenses vary? Did your families have any money for emergencies? How might government programs change the Drake family budget?

Poverty on Global poverty http://www.thesociologicalcinema.com/1/post/2011/03/poverty-statistics-that-make-sense.html Almost 2 minutes

The Miniature Earth

The Miniature Earth Summary:  Updated for 2010, this short clip paints a portrait of the earth based on if the world were comprised of a 100-person community. Given that large numbers can be difficult to put into perspective (and thus important information about the world runs the risk of becoming meaningless or unremarkable), this video illustrates for students how the global community fares on such indicators as hunger, religious affiliation, literacy, wealth, education, government expenditures, among many others. The clip is not only useful for helping students understand global inequality and differences, but it also reminds students of the enormity of their own social privilege relative to the majority of the world.  http://www.thesociologicalcinema.com/1/post/2011/01/the-miniature-earth.html 3:15