Social Inequality & Change

Social Stratification STRATIFICATION  Separation of society into:  Categories  Ranks  Classes  Societies are stratified based on:  Socioeconomic status  Gender  Race  Stratification results in inequality  Resources, opportunities, and privileges distributed based on social hierarchy GROUPS…not individuals

Stratification Systems Open System  Movement between classes (strata) is possible  Three types of social mobility  Horizontal  Movement within a class  No major change to wealth, power, or prestige  Vertical  Movement between classes  Change in wealth, power, or prestige  Intergenerational mobility  Assigned a status and remain throughout life  Ascribed  Caste system  People inherit their position in society Closed System

Stratification Systems cont’d CASTE SYSTEM  Closed stratification system  Position is inherited  Stratified by:  Race or ethnicity  Religious status  Economic status  Involves :  Endogamy  Hereditary transmission of occupation  Social identity India’s Caste System CasteOccupation BrahmanPriests and scholars KshatriyaNobles and warriors VaishvaMerchants and skilled artisans ShudraCommon laborers

Stratification Systems cont’d Class System  Distribution of resources and rewards is based on achieved status  Talent, effort, opportunity, exogamy  Allows for social mobility  Movement up or down the social ladder  Can be difficult at times

What determines social class? Karl Marx  Class is based on the ownership of the factors of production  Bourgeoisie  Owners in a capitalist society  Reap all profits  Proletariat  Sell labor for wages  Emphasis on recognition of situation Max Weber  Class is based on three factors:  Wealth (property)  All assets  Value of all things owned and income  Power  Ability to control behavior of others with or without their consent  Prestige  Respect, honor, recognition, or courtesy from others  Based on views of others  Can be based on many characteristics

Does inequality help societies survive?  Society must make certain that its positions are filled  Some positions are more important than others  Some positions require greater responsibility  More important positions must be filled by the most qualified  To motivate the more qualified people, society must offer them greater rewards  Incentives: Higher salary, company car, stock options, country club membership, private jet, etc.  Functionalists believe the stratification of society is inevitable because:

Problems with Functional View:  How do you measure the importance of one job versus another?  The positions filled may not be merit based  Some get ahead with hard work and ability; others inherit wealth  Social stratification does not benefit everyone  Some never have opportunities to advance their talents  Is it then dysfunctional?

Is conflict the basis of social stratification?  In every society groups struggle for control of limited resources  The group that gains control attempts to hold onto control  Human nature is self-centered  Use of social institutions to maintain control  Conflict theorists argue that society is stratified by power

How is social class determined?  Reputational method  Community members rank each other  Appropriate for use in small communities  Subjective method  Individuals determine their own social rank  Many place themselves in the middle class  Objective method  Includes 3 factors: income, occupation, education  Least biased method

Living in Poverty  Poverty  Standard of living below the minimum level considered adequate by society  Poverty level – minimum income  Income levels below this level are considered poor  Effects of poverty :  Life chances  Opportunities to share in benefits of society  Life expectancy  Inadequate nutrition and less access to medical care  Largely impacts young children Persons in family/household Poverty guideline 1$11, , , , , , , ,630 For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,020 for each additional person. Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2013)

MONOPOLY IN A STRATIFIED SOCIETY RESULTS: CLASS LEVEL INHERITANCE GROSS WORTH (Class Average) % ACHIEVING POSITIVE VERTICAL MOBILITY % EXPERIENCING NEGATIVE VERTICAL MOBILITY UPPER $2,000 + $2,500$3,44725% (2 out of 8) $4,000+ The Super Rich 0% (0 out of 8) MIDDLE $1,250 – $1,999 $1,500$2,09625% (3 out of 12)17% (2 out of 12) WORKING $750 – $1,249 $1,000$1,07542% (5 out of 12)25% (3 out of 12) LOWER < $749 $500$53813% (1 out of 8)25% (2 out of 8) < $250 – Extreme Poverty

American Class System  Upper Class  Makes up 1 to 5% of population  1% - $250,000 or more per year  5% - $150,000 or more per year  “Old money” vs. “New Money”  Lower Class  15% of population  Living below $23,050 (family of four)  Working poor and the underclass  Temporary or seasonal jobs  Middle Class (75% of population)  Upper middle class  Well-educated (post- secondary degrees)  High-paying white collar positions  $100,000 or more per year  Lower middle class  College education  Lower-level, white collar workers  Between $32,500 and 60,000 per year  Working class  Blue-collar class  Some education  Hourly pay  Salaries range between $23,050 to 32,500 per year

Global Stratification

Colonialism  Nations 1 st to industrialize took advantage  Began with 18 th century Europe  Led to exploitation of labor and natural resources  More recently  Use of “economic imperialism” Global Stratification

Global Stratification cont’d  World System Theory  Expansion of economic and political connections between nations – since the 1500s  Resulted in a capitalist world economy – dominated by the most industrialized nations  Four Groups:  Core nations  Developed capitalism first  Britain, France  Semi-periphery  Grew dependent on trade with core nations  Economies experienced less growth  Mediterranean nations  Periphery  Limited to selling cash crops to core nations  Eastern European nations  External area  Few economic connections with core nations (left out)  Many African nations

Global Stratification cont’d  Dependency Theory  Least Industrialized Nations grew dependent on Most industrialized  Result of production transformation  Brazil – coffee plantations  Least industrialized countries did not develop independent economy  Culture of Poverty  Least industrialized nations held back by their own culture  Way of life perpetuates poverty  Stick to traditional ways  Experimentation to risky  New farming or manufacturing techniques