Sociology Per. 4April 9 th 2014 End Time: 10:53 Unit: Social Inequality Warm-Up: In your IN (p. 74), respond to the prompt: Who is responsible for solving the problems of economic inequality? (the government, businesses, individuals, etc.) Explain why they are responsible. HW: Prepare notes for quiz game tomorrow. Winning team will get extra points.

Social Class**2008 Statistics % of Population Yearly Income Upper 1%$1 Million + Upper Middle 14%$100K + Lower Middle 30%$35-100K Working Class 30%$16-34 K Working Poor 22%$less than 15K Underclass 3%

Socioeconomic Status -Income -Occupational Prestige -Level of Education

Sheldon Adelson

Social Mobility A person’s movement over time from one class to another

Types of Social Mobility Upward – moving to a higher class Downward – moving to a lower class Intragenerational – change in social position during a person’s lifetime - a well-paid athlete starting out in the working class Intergenerational – upward or downward social mobility of children in relation to their parents - the daughter of working-class parents is in the middle class Horizontal – changing jobs but remaining within the same class - a doctor becomes a lawyer

Money vs. Wealth Income -Earnings from work of investments - Next paycheck Wealth -The total value of money and other assets, minus outstanding debts -Savings -Investment -Possessions -House

Poverty -According to the government, 40 million people are poor % of the population -Roughly 49% of the poor are young people -Under the age of 24 -About 70% of the poor are white, but in relation to their population, African Americans and Latinos are more likely to be poor

Poverty Explanations of Poverty Blame Individuals – The “culture of poverty” thesis states that poverty is caused by shortcomings in the poor themselves - Oscar Lewis - In 1996, Congress changed welfare to address “culture of poverty” - Before, there was Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) - Changed to Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) - In most cases, benefits stop after two years on welfare - The change is designed to force people to be self-supporting

Poverty Explanations of Poverty Blame Society – Poverty is caused by society’s unequal distribution of wealth and lack of good jobs - William Julius Wilson - Blaming individuals is blaming the victim - Government should fund jobs and provide affordable child-care - Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced the income tax in Introduced social security, welfare, and jobs program - The original income tax was 94% after $25,000 - The highest income tax now is 35-39%

-$55 million in taxpayer money -Going to DePaul University -For basketball arena in the South Loop

Poverty Relative Poverty – the lack of resources of some people in relation to those who have more Absolute Poverty – a lack of resources that is life-threatening Feminization of Poverty – the trend of women making up an increasing proportion of the poor

Poverty Feminization of Poverty -The trend of women making up an increasing proportion of the poor -In 1960, 25% of poor households were headed by women -In 2008, 48% of poor households were headed by single women 1.Women are paid less 2.Occupational Segregation – jobs that women are socialized for, pay less 3.Welfare has changed - TANF replaced AFDC - Harder for single-parent families to receive aid 4.Divorce -90% of women take care of children – support costs money -Only 50% of fathers pay court-ordered child-support -Child support doesn’t cover daycare