1. Chapter 10 Stratification: Class, Race, Ethnicity, and Caste

2. Chapter Outline Trouble in Paradise Explaining Social Stratification Class Systems Race: A Cultural Construction Ethnicity Caste Bringing It Back Home: Government Responsibility versus the Gospel of Wealth

3. Trouble in Paradise In September 1931 Thalia Massie claimed that she was gang-raped by a carload of native Hawaiians. In court, the prosecutor played on white fears and urged the all-white jury to “protect its [white] women from natives.” The jury was deadlocked and the judge called a mistrial.

4. Trouble in Paradise In January 1932, Massie’s husband, mother, and two sailors kidnapped and killed Joe Kahahawai, one of the native defendants. They were defended by Clarence Darrow, who encouraged a now ethnically-mixed jury to understand that a man has the right to defend his wife, especially when she is white and the perpetrator is not. The four defendants were found guilty of manslaughter, but later pardoned by the Hawaiian governor.

5. Trouble in Paradise Later, the governor had the Pinkerton Agency investigate the accusations of rape and they came to the conclusion that the rape may never have happened. As a result of this historical event, the term “local” was applied solely to native Hawaiians and long-time Pacific Islanders and Asians; white could never again achieve the category of “local” status – no matter how long they lived in Hawaii.

6. Social Stratification A relatively permanent unequal distribution of goods and services in a society The ways this distribution takes place depends on the organization of production, cultural values, and the access that different individuals and groups have to the means for achieving social goals in society.

7. Theories of Stratification Functionalism specifies that specific cultural institutions function to support the structure of society or serve the needs of individuals in society. Weaknesses: Not all of society’s most difficult jobs are well rewarded. Social stratification does not always result in recruiting to right people for difficult jobs. Money’s ability to motivate people has limits. While inequality may be inevitable, it does sometimes erupt into violence.

8. Theories of Stratification Conflict theory focuses on inequality as a source of conflict and change. Weaknesses: Conflict theorists sometimes ignore the social mechanisms that promote solidarity across class, racial, ethnic, and caste lines.

9. Criteria of Stratification Power is the ability to control resources in one’s own interest. Wealth is the accumulation of material resources or access to the means of producing these resources. Prestige is social honor or respect.

10. Class Systems A class is a category of persons with about the same opportunity to obtain economic resources, power, and prestige and who are ranked high and low in relation to each other. There are possibilities for movement between the classes or social strata, called social mobility.

11. Ascribed vs. Achieved Status Ascribed status is the social position into which a person is born (sex, race, kinship group). Achieved status is the social position that a person chooses or achieves (spouse, parent, professor, artist).

12. Social Class in the United States Status depends on occupation, education, and lifestyle. “The American Dream” is based on the democratic principle of equality and opportunity for all. Social class in the United States correlates with attitudinal, behavioral, and lifestyle differences.

13. Income and Social Class Income is the most important determinant of social class. Sufficient and steady income is essential toward saving and accumulating assets.

14. Income and Social Class From 1980-2010: The after-tax income of the top 1% of American households jumped 139% to more than $700,000. The income of the middle fifth of households rose 17%, to $43,700. The income of the poorest fifth rose only 9%.

15. Life Chances Life chances are the opportunities people have to fulfill their potential in society. They include: chances of survival and longevity. opportunities to obtain an education. opportunities to participate in cultural life. opportunities to live in comfort and security.

16. Social Classes as Subcultures Many studies demonstrate that social class correlates with differences in attitudes, behavior, lifestyle, and values. A social class has aspects of a subculture. Members share similar life experiences, occupational roles, values, educational backgrounds, affiliations, leisure activities, buying habits, religious affiliation, and political views.

17. The Cultural Construction of Race Race is a culturally-constructed category based on perceived physical differences. Based on perceived hereditary differences Not a natural category, but a social and cultural fact Used to justify differential treatment and discrimination Affects the lives of both racial majorities and minorities

18. Race and Racism Highly correlated with industrial pollution and natural disasters (such as Hurricane Katrina). Affects jobs and educational opportunities, access to fair credit, salary levels, social mobility, home ownership, mortgage rates, use of public space, etc.

19. Intersection of Race and Class Long-standing inequalities in: income and wealth educational opportunities Involuntary minorities suffer discrimination in their own country. Voluntary minority are immigrants who put emphasis on education as the main route to economic success.

20. Race and Ethnicity in the U.S. With the election of President Barack Obama and the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, how have the definitions of ethnicity and race been challenged in the United States?

21. Ethnicity Is a constructed narrative that focuses on cultural rather than racial differences Nation-states may be characterized by ethnic stratification, as different ethnic groups have differential access to political and economic resources.

22. Ethnicity in U.S. Until the mid-20 th century was based upon the ideology of assimilation: Immigrants should abandon their cultural distinctiveness and become mainstream Americans. After civil rights era of 1960s, ideology shifted to multiculturalism: Cultural diversity is a positive value that makes an important contribution to contemporary society.

23. Caste System System of stratification based on birth (ascribed status). Movement from one caste to another is not possible. Castes are hereditary, endogamous, ranked in relation to one another and usually associated with a traditional occupation.

24. Caste System in India The Castes Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaisyas Shudras Dalits

25. Hindu Caste System Four caste categories, and one lower group 1. Brahmins are priests and scholars. 2. Kshatriyas are the ruling and warrior caste. 3. Vaisyas are merchants. 4. Shudras are menial workers and artisans. 5. Dalits are “untouchables.”

26. Changes in the Caste System Caste ranking appears to be less sharply defined within the higher caste categories. Caste is less relevant for occupations. Differences in caste are referred to as cultural differences, rather than as a hierarchy based on spiritual purity.

27. Bringing it Back Home: Government Responsibility vs. Wealth The expansion of the American middle class from the 1940s to the 1970s was largely based on government programs including the G.I. Bill, Social Security, unemployment insurance, a progressive income tax, and federal mortgage assistance programs.

28. Bringing it Back Home: Government Responsibility vs. Wealth This expansion involved the vision that government should improve citizens’ economic security and economic opportunities. Supporters of this view hold that expansion policies put more money in the hands of consumers, leading to increased demand for goods, a growing economy and a more equitable distribution of wealth.

29. Bringing it Back Home: Government Responsibility vs. Wealth The opposing view, the “gospel of wealth,” argues the following: Government regulations stifle entrepreneurial initiative. Progressive taxation and policies like a minimum wage undermine investment. Government entitlement programs, like social security, welfare, and health care, lead to a declining sense of individual responsibility.

30. Bringing it Back Home: Government Responsibility vs. Wealth You decide: Do you believe education, hard work, and personal character will be rewarded with a higher material standard of living for yourself and your children? What evidence do you use for your view in your own life or those of other people you know?

31. Bringing it Back Home: Government Responsibility vs. Wealth You decide: What impact do you think government policies have had on your success in the American stratification system? Have these policies opened up or constrained the possibilities for achieving your American Dream?

32. Bringing it Back Home: Government Responsibility vs. Wealth You decide: What role should government policies and programs play in shaping the social stratification system of the United States?

33. Quick Quiz

34. 1. The view that social stratification and inequalities in a state result from competition for scare goods and services, and that the elite classes attempt to maintain control over the state apparatus is called a) functionalism. b) evolutionary theory. c) conflict theory. d) cultural relativity. e) structuralism.

35. Answer : c The view that social stratification and inequalities in a state result from competition for scare goods and services, and that the elite classes attempt to maintain control over the state apparatus is called conflict theory.

36. 2. Social scientists refer to the opportunities that people have to fulfill their potential in society as a) social statuses. b) roles. c) social mobility. d) life chances. e) random.

37. Answer: d Social scientists refer to the opportunities that people have to fulfill their potential in society as life chances.

38. 3. Social class in American society can be described by all except which of the following statements? a) People of a social class share cultural patterns, so a class can be also seen as a "subculture." b) Members of a social class associate with one another, more than with people in other social classes. c) Friendship and marriage generally occur between people of the same social class. d) Social class is determined almost exclusively by income level and wealth.

39. Answer: d Social class in American society cannot be described by the following statement: One's social class is determined almost exclusively by one's income level and amount of accumulated wealth.

40. 4. If one looks at how social stratification may benefit a state-level society and/or its members, one is taking a(n) ________ perspective. a) anthropological b) functionalist c) historical d) evolutionary e) conflict

41. Answer: b If one looks at how social stratification may benefit a state-level society and/or its members, one is taking a functionalist perspective.