1. Social Stratification
Chapter 8

2. Types of Stratification Systems
Caste Systems
Scarce resources & social rewards are distributed based on the basis of ascribed statuses.
Class Systems
Distribution of scarce resources & social rewards is determined on the basis of achieved statuses

3. Caste Systems Ascribed & lifelong
Achieving a higher status is impossible… one can only improve their status “within” their caste.
Elaborate rules & norms govern the system
Exogamy is forbidden (marriage outside one’s social category) endogamy encouraged.

4. Social Class (Class Systems)
A grouping of people with similar levels of wealth, power & prestige.
Wealth-
Value of everything the person owns (assets and income)
Power-
the ability to control the behavior of others with or without their consent.
Prestige-
the respect, honor, recognition or courtesy an individual receives from other members of society.

5. Explaining Stratification
Functionalist Theory
Assumes certain roles must be performed in society & as such there are higher rewards ensuring their fulfillment.
The more important the role, the more skill needed to perform the role, the higher the reward.
Fails to consider equal access to things like education

6. Explaining Stratification
Conflict Theory
See competition over scarce resources as the cause of social inequality.
Stratification comes from class exploitation
Once power is gained, policy & opinion can be shaped to give/maintain advantage for the dominant group.
Fails to consider talent and skill

7. Determining Social Class
Reputational Method-
Asking a neighbor/friend to rank someone’s social class
Subjective Method-
Asking individuals what social class they think they are
Objective method-
Social class objectively determined by occupation, income, & education

8. Social Classes in the U.S.
Upper Class
Upper Middle Class
Lower Middle Class
Working Class
Working Poor
The Underclass

9. Social Mobility Movement between or within social classes.
Horizontal Mobility-
movement within social class.
Vertical Mobility-
movement between social classes either upward or downward

10. Poverty
A standard of living that is below the minimum level considered adequate by society.
Poverty line is a relative measure (Poor in one society may not be the same in the other)
What do you think the poverty line was for a family of four in the U.S. in 2017?
$25,100 (

11. Defining Poverty
The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty in terms of the minimum annual income needed by a family to survive (family of 4 in 2009 = $22,050) People who fall below this level are considered poor by our government
Poverty researchers question the usefulness of these numbers as the calculations were developed in the 1960s and do not consider changes since then to eating and spending habits

12. Defining Poverty
Another definition would base the poverty level on average spending for:
Food
Clothes
Housing
And some personal expenses
This would raise the poverty level by a few thousand dollars (why is this critical?)
several more million Americans would be classified as poor

13. American Poverty Who is most likely to be poor in America? Why?
Children (37% of the poor are under age 18)
Women (account for 57% of the poor)
African Americans and Hispanics are more likely than whites to live in poverty

14. Effects of Poverty
The lower the social class, the less life chances (likelihood that you have of sharing in the opportunities and benefits of society)
The Most important life chances are:
Health
Length of Life (Life Expectancy)

15. Visualizing the effects of Poverty& Income Inequality
Miniature Earth
Extreme Poverty
Millennium Development Goals
Action Against Hunger
Clean Water

16. Effects of Poverty
Poor children are 60% more likely to die in the first year of life than those not born into poverty
Patterns of behavior are different in the poor
Higher divorce rate
Higher incidence of arrest & imprisonment
Poor are more often crime victims
Why?
Poor/inadequate nutrition
Less access to medical care/often uninsured
More dangerous jobs/living conditions & communities

17. Rural Poverty
How are the characteristics of rural poverty similar to and different from poverty characteristics nationwide or in the city?
The “invisibility” of rural poverty intensifies the problem. What steps would you take to bring the issue to the public’s attention?

18. Government Responses to Poverty
Since 1964 “War on Poverty”
Lower poverty among the elderly because of social security & Medicare
Social welfare programs meant to reduce inequality
Transfer payments (money aid)TANF, AFDC
Subsidies (goods as aid) WIC, Food Stamps

19. Welfare Reform
Began in the 1980’s to stop those “living off of the government”
Limited time for payments
Welfare to work
Unclear results as many continue to live in poverty and return to assistance or live without basic necessities like food as a consequence of restrictions