 Gender Stratification: the ranking of the sexes in such a way that women are unequal in power, resources, and opportunities

 Worldwide, women experience lower survival rates due to poverty and gender-biased cultural values.  -Women comprise 70% of world’s 1.2 billion poor (half a million die of pregnancy related complications each year).  -In many cultures (even those with little food available) men and boys eat first.  -In some countries girls and women die before men because of oppressive cultures.  -In India, million girls have gone missing and brides are often burned for dowry acquisition.  -Other concerns = female genital mutilation and acid burning of females.

 Comparative Studies  Relative Poverty – Some people lack basic resources relative to others in their society ▪ Characteristic of most developed countries  Absolute Poverty – Lack of resources such as food, housing and clothing that is life threatening and commonplace ▪ Characteristic of at least 60 low-income countries or half the world’s population Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

 2004, 37 million Americans were classified as living below the official poverty line  13 million of the poor were children under the age of 18  Another 3.5 million of the poor were were over 65 years of age  Millions more were female heads of households with children who were ill or disabled

 Poor children in the U.S. are the most neglected in the developed world  In million children under 18 lived below the poverty line in America Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

 Established in 1965 by Social Security Administration  Formula takes market basket (low cost, nutritional food budget) and multiplies by 3 (for non food costs).  Adjusted each year for inflation  Takes into account family size  Some believe it is out of date as formula is based on 1960’s standards. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010

 Whites are the largest group among poor families  About 10 percent of whites have income below the poverty line

 Minorities have a higher poverty rate than whites  25 percent of African Americans have income below the poverty line  23 percent of the Latino population have income below the poverty line

A large number of the poor are the working poor Sociologists often consider the severely poor to be those living at 50 percent of the poverty threshold. 43 percent of persons in poverty are severely poor by national standards

 Women  A growing number of women are among the poor, which has been called the feminization of poverty.  Children  In the U.S., thirty four percent of the poor are children under the age of eighteen.

 Increase in divorce rate  Increase in births to unmarried mothers  Lower wages paid to women

 About ¼ of all U.S. children lived with one parent in 2003  Effects on Children Living in Mother-Only Families:  Poorer academic achievement  More likely to drop out of school  More likely to divorce  More behavioral problems Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009

 In 2004, 30.5 percent of female-headed families were living below the poverty line.  Much of the increase in severe poverty seems to be due to a decrease in subsidies for low- income children and their mothers.  The United States leads the affluent nations in the proportion of its children it allows to live in poverty – the U.S. “safety net” is frayed

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

Wage gap: disparity in earnings between men and women. Women make 81¢ for every $1.00 men make. (full time) Wage gap increases by age. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved.

 Consequences for Adults  Consequences for Children  Physical Health  Children’s Mental Health, Adjustment, and Well-being  Academic and School Achievement Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Inadequate nutrition which leads to medical problems Limited access to health care Difficulty finding affordable housing Reduced educational opportunities Fewer years of schooling Less likely to graduate from high school or college Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010

 Higher rates of infant mortality  Higher rates of mortality due to childbirth  Less access to health care and less adequate treatment  Postponement of treatment for illnesses

 Poor are more likely to live in overcrowded housing  Poor more likely to live in less suitable habitats  Poverty and housing segregation  Poverty and homelessness