Egalitarianism

Social Inequality Max Weber’s criteria for measuring social inequality: Wealth - the extent to which they have accumulated economic resources Power - the ability to achieve one’s goals and objectives even against the will of others Prestige- social esteem, respect or admiration that a society confers on people

Wealth With a net worth of over $50 billion in October 2006, Microsoft’s Bill Gates represents the upper level of wealth in the United States and the world.

Three Types of Societies Based on levels of social inequality: Egalitarian - no individual or group has appreciably more wealth, power, or prestige than any other. Rank - unequal access to prestige or status but not unequal access to wealth or power. Stratified societies - considerable inequality in all forms of social rewards (power,wealth, and prestige).

Egalitarian Societies No individual or group has more wealth, power, or prestige than any other. Everyone, depending on skill level, has equal access to positions of esteem and respect. Found most readily among geographically mobile food collectors Ju/’hoansi of the Kalahari region Inuit Hadza of Tanzania

Egalitarian Societies Small-scale foraging societies, such as the Hadza of Tanzania, tend to be egalitarian.

Rank Societies Unequal access to prestige but not to wealth or power. Fixed number of high-status positions, which only certain individuals can occupy. Primogeniture is the exclusive right of the eldest usually the son) to inherit his father’s estate. Found most prominently in Oceania and among Native Americans of the Northwest.

Stratified Societies Considerable inequality in power, wealth, and prestige. As societies become more specialized, the system of social stratification becomes more complex.

Stratified Societies In stratified societies, different groups have different levels of power, prestige, and wealth. In the United States over the past three decades, the gap between those at the bottom and those at the top has widened.

Status Achieved status The status an individual acquires during the course of her or his lifetime. Ascribed status The status a person has by virtue of birth.

Class Versus Caste In class systems an individual can change his or her social position dramatically within a lifetime. Caste societies have no social mobility, membership in a caste is determined by birth and lasts throughout one’s lifetime.

Question At the low end of the inequality continuum are _______ societies, which maintain a high level of equality among the group's members. a) caste b) egalitarian c) ranked d) stratified

Answer: b At the low end of the inequality continuum are egalitarian societies, which maintain a high level of equality among the group's members.

Question ______ societies have unequal access to prestige, status, wealth, and power. a) Egalitarian b) Stratified c) State d) Rank

Answer: b Stratified societies have unequal access to prestige, status, wealth, and power.

Question In _______ societies, membership is determined at birth, and social mobility is not possible. a) caste b) stratified c) egalitarian d) rank

Answer: a In caste societies, membership is determined at birth, and social mobility is not possible.

U.S. Class Structure ClassIncomeEducationOccupation% Capitalist$1,000,000 Prestige universities CEOs, investors, heirs 1 Upper middle $100,000+ Top colleges /postgraduate Upper managers, professionals 14 Middle$55,000 High school /some college Lower managers, teachers, civil servants 30

U.S. Class Structure ClassIncomeEducationOccupation% Working$35,000High school Clerical, sales, factory 30 Working poor $22,000 Some high school Service, laborers 13 Underclass $10,000 or less Some high school Unemployed12

U.S.Class Structure: Donald Trump “You’re fired!” The capitalist class has considerable power over jobs held by the rest of society.

Hindu Caste Society The Dalits in India engage in only the lowest-status jobs.

Race Race - classification based on physical traits. Ethnicity - classification based on cultural characteristics. There are no pure races. Different populations have been interbreeding for thousands of years, resulting in a continuum of human physical types.

Comprehension Paragraph Write a paragraph on what egalitarianism is and the differences between it and stratified society.