Families and Social Class Chapter 4

Discussion Outline: Social Class and the Family I. Social Stratification What is Social Class? Theories of Social Class Social Class and Parenting Styles II. The American Class Structure III. Social Mobility and Class Persistence

Social Class and Parenting Practices Annette Lareau and Class Parenting Concerted Cultivation Natural Growth

The American Class Structure Class Identity-Awareness of belonging to a social class Measuring social class helps us to study and understand the nature of social life and the problems we face, both individually and collectively, connected to social class inequality Social Classes in America can be measured many ways…What characterizes each of these classes? Capitalist and corporate managerial class The middle class The working Class The lower class

Family Income and Increasing Inequality

Economic Trends and Income Inequality At the Bottom: Keeping the poor from improving their lot I.e.: Minimum wage? In the middle: Divergent Fortunes I.e.: De-industrialization At the Top: The New Superrich I.e.: tax cuts and trickle down economics

The Government and Determining Benefits/Family Welfare Progressive taxation Setting and defining the poverty line The level of income below which the federal government defines a family or individual as poor How much money do you think a family needs to make to support their basic needs? What are a families basic needs? Increases in families in poverty and suburban poverty-The New Homeless

Key Facts About Poverty in the United States  Poverty increased dramatically during the 2000s.  Poverty is concentrated by race/ethnicity.  Poverty is closely related to family structure.  People in poverty suffer from serious deprivation.  Homelessness has declined but remains a serious problem.

Social Mobility and Class Persistence Social Mobility Is America truly the land of opportunity and meritocracy compared to other nations?