Social Stratification Class System Social Stratification: the ranking of entire groups of people based on their wealth, power, or prestige in society; suggests inequality Terms Income: Salaries and wages (usually earned) Wealth: all personal assets, including land, stocks, and material possessions (can be inherited).
Systems of Stratification Ascribed: social position that is inherited. CASTE SYSTEM: Your social position is forever related to the position of your parents. INDIA has the most infamous caste system ENDOGAMY (Marriage within your caste) is the norm BRAHMANS / WARRIOR CLASS = UPPER CLASS DALITS (UNTOUCHABLES) = LOWER CLASS
How could you argue that America has, to some degree, a caste system? Class Systems How could you argue that America has, to some degree, a caste system?
Achieved Status Achieved Status: social structure allows all individuals to rise up based on their abilities. CLASS SYSTEMS: Stratification of society based on wealth, power, or prestige (can be based on Ascribed status or Achieved status)
Class systems are inherently cruel Social Darwinism: The strong in society thrive and the weak perish. Based on the NATURAL SELECTION in nature, “Survival of the fittest” This is the basis of CAPITALISM an economic system with profound social implications. To many this seems like the most fair economic and social system
Is Capitalism FAIR for everyone? Is there a chance for SOCIAL MOBILITY Capitalism? Enemies of CAPITALISM contend that the rich and powerful want to keep their riches and have the means to stop even the strong from rising up, this perverts NATURAL SELECTION and creates bitterness among the lower classes
Karl Marx: Sociologist / Father of Communism
Marx studied society under capitalism during the industrial age He believed that there were two social classes: 1. Bourgeoisie: the rich who controlled the means of production (factories, and by extension banks, government) Proletariat: the workers who have nothing of value except their labor, which they trade for income.
Karl Marx: CONFLICT THEORIST Marx believed the Bourgeoisie kept the workers in a state of perpetual wage slavery. Workers create wealth but the owners keep it all for themselves and exploit the workers. MARX’s MOTTO: WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOUR CHAINS!
SOCIALISM A mix of CAPITALISM and COMMUNISM INDIVIDUAL success is rewarded (Millionaires and Billionaires) All citizens pay TAXES that pay for social needs (schools, defense, parks)
Where are we today? COMMUNISM IS DEAD. The global revolt of the workers Marx wanted never took place. Today we have a mix of CAPITALISM and SOCIALISM.
Social Class Sociologists MAX WEBER is connected to the identification social class Class can be measured several ways SES= SocioEconomic status: a comprehensive rating of an individuals wealth, income, educational level, and occupational prestige. Wealth and Income only Prestige only
The Class System: Geographic factors New Jersey Mississippi Wage differences between the Rich and Poor
NY Times interactive graph
WHAT LUXURIES CAN THE MIDDLE CLASS AFFORD? TV’s? Vacations? How many / year? Where ? (In state / out of state / out of country?) Cars? Number / quality? Boat? Second Home? College: In state? Out of state?