1. A Down-to-Earth Approach 8/e
SOCIOLOGY
A Down-to-Earth Approach 8/e
James M. Henslin
Chapter Ten:
Social Class in the
United States
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2. What is Social Class? Social Class… Poor and Rich
Conflict view’s problem?
Those who own the means of production
and those who do not
More then just your relationship to production
3 Elements separate people according to Weber
Wealth , Power, and Prestige
Wealth
Distinction Between Wealth and Income
Wealth - What you own minus your debts
Income – Money received, usually from a job
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6. What is Social Class? What is income inequality then?
How does this impact us on our daily lives?
What is the impact of figure 10.3
Eastern University Example – Poverty in Latin America
Power – The ability to carry out your will, even over
the resistance of others
C. Wright Mills – The Power Elite – those who make
the nations major decisions
How Powerful are these elite? William Domhoff says,
“No major decision in the country is made without consulting
this group.”
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7. Prestige Occupations and Prestige They Pay More
They Require More Education
They Entail More Abstract Thought
They Offer Greater Autonomy
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8. Status Inconsistency
Ordinarily Wealth, Power, and Prestige are Similar
When they Don’t Match
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9. Sociological Models of Social Class
Updating Marx
Capitalists
Petty Bourgeoisie
Managers
Workers
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10. Sociological Models of Social Class
Updating Weber
Capitalist Class
The Upper Middle Class
The Lower Middle Class
The Working Class
The Working Poor
The Underclass
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12. Social Class in the Auto Industry - Ford
The Fords - Capitalist Class
Ford Executives - Lower Capitalist Class
Owner Ford Dealership - Upper Middle
Ford Salesperson - Lower Middle Class
Ford Mechanics - Working Class
Ford Detailer - Working Poor
Car Lot Cleaner - Underclass
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13. Consequences of Social Class
Physical Health
Mental Health
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14. Consequences of Social Class
Family Life
Choices of Husbands and Wives
Divorce
Child Rearing
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15. Consequences of Social Class
Education
Religion
Politics
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16. Consequences of Social Class
Crime and the Judicial System
Social Class and the Changing Economy
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17. Social Mobility Three Types Intergenerational Structural Exchange
Upward
Downward
Structural
Exchange
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18. Social Mobility Women and Social Mobility Studies of Boys
More Recent Studies with Girls
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19. Interpreting Statistics on Social Mobility
Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From Tree
The Pain of Social Mobility
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20. Poverty Who are Poor? Drawing the Poverty Line Geography
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22. Poverty Who are Poor? Drawing the Poverty Line Geography
Race-Ethnicity
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24. Poverty Who are Poor? Drawing the Poverty Line Geography
Race-Ethnicity
Education
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26. Poverty Who are Poor? Feminization of Poverty Old Age
Children of Poverty
Who are Poor?
Feminization of Poverty
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27. Myths About the Poor Most are Lazy Poor are Trapped and Few Escape
Most are Latino and African-American
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28. Myths About the Poor Most are Single Mothers and Kids
Most Live in Inner City
Most are on Welfare
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29. Dynamics of Poverty Culture of Poverty Most Poverty is Short-lived
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31. Dynamics of Poverty Culture of Poverty Most Poverty is Short Lived
Number of Poor Relatively Stable
The people who move out are being replaced people moving into poverty
Most will move out within one year
Some bounce back and forth for their entire life
Poverty than is dynamic, touching a lot more people than the official totals indicate
Although only 12% are poor at any given time, twice that number, almost 25%, has been poor at any give time.
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32. Why are People Poor? Social Structure Characteristics of individuals
Features of our society that deny some people access
Some find escape routes out to be locked
Race, age, gender, changes in the job market, and poor paying jobs.
Characteristics of individuals
Dropping out of school
Having children in the teen years
Having many more children than those in other social classes
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33. Poverty Welfare Reform
Welfare Restructured in 1996
Deferred Gratification – forgoing something in the present in hope of achieving greater gains in the future
Hard to practice these principles if you have never had them
Emergencies
Immediate Gratification
Behaviors of the poor are not a cause of poverty but a result of poverty c
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34. Poverty Where is Horatio Alger? Social Functions of a Myth
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