Social Stratification and Class Chapter 6

Social Stratification A structural ranking of entire groups of people in which some have more power, prestige, and wealth than others.

Class The group of people who share economic and social position in society. People in the same social class have common values and norms and recognize each other as members of their own class.

Max Weber Three independent dimensions on which people could be ranked in a stratification system.

Wealth and Property Wealth is the most easily measure dimension because it can be measured in numbers. In most societies, large assets and high income are concentrated in the hands of a small percentage of the population.

Power The ability to get one’s way despite resistance of others. Based on many things including special talents, personality characteristics, or use of force. A powerful person isn’t necessarily wealthy, but power often increases with wealth.

Prestige The respect or recognition they receive from other members of society. Prestige is often expressed through one’s lifestyle. People of similar prestige often form communities, invite one another for dinner, go to the same places, and marry one another.

Status Symbol Students: Wear t- shirts with school on it Families: Often cars and homes Marketing aspects: Credit card companies often have different levels of cards: Platinum, Gold, or silver levels.

Different Theories for Social Stratification Why unequal distribution of power and wealth at all?

Functionalist Theory Kingley Davis and Wilbert Moore first proposed that in all societies people in some positions perform functions that are more important to society than others Positions are unequal, a higher prestige goes to those that acquire skills to do the most important tasks. Based on the need to motivate, thus rewards follow.

Three factors as basis for prestige results in greater rewards Importance of task Rewards and prestige higher to encourage the most competent people are encouraged to perform the roles. Pleasantness of task If the task is enjoyable, there will be plenty of volunteers to do it, so rewards and prestige are not needed. Scarcity of talent and ability to perform task High rewards and prestige due to limited number of people having the ability to perform the tasks. Examples would be dentists and attorneys.

Conflict Theory “The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.” Based on competition for limited resources. Some are going to win, some are going to lose.

Systems of Stratification Rags to Riches

United States Value We believe in social mobility, the ability of individuals to change their social status during their lifetimes. We have an open system. Some would consider this a paragon of the American Dream

Closed system Feudalism Slavery Caste Systems Little social mobility exists. Individuals have no or little opportunity to change their social status during their lifetime. Slavery Caste Systems Lifelong statuses determined by the status of one’s parents. Marriage within the same caste is mandated. Feudalism Most are serfs (peasant servants) People can occasionally change their “estates” by doing a favor for a lord or king, by joining the priesthood, or marrying up.

Open Systems People have a significant chance of moving from one level to another. More likely to be achieved rather than ascribed statuses. Most have opportunities but result in the following stratifications:

Upper class Usually inherited wealth or successful business people.

Middle Class Owners of small businesses, professionals, managers, and civil servants.

Working Class Manual workers in industries such as manufacturing, mining and construction.

Lower Class Unskilled laborers, those in low-paying service jobs, and the permanently unemployed.

Poverty in America

Poverty Line The level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. 39.8 million people live in poverty in U.S. 13.2% of American people live in poverty Child poverty rate is even higher.

5 Factors Strongly Related to Poverty Race and ethnicity Most poor people are white, however, by percentage Latinos and African Americans are more likely to be poor. Female head of household Female headed households produce the greatest number of people in poverty. Region Some areas of the country have fewer economic opportunities. Age Aged are more likely to live in poverty than the rest of the adult population Disabilities 1/5 of all disabled people live below the poverty line.