1. An Introduction to Social Inequality Please take notes!

2. Social Stratification and Social Classes There are many types of inequality in our society Social stratification = ranking of people or groups according to their unequal access to scarce resources –Income, wealth = most important resources Social class = segment of society whose members hold similar amounts of resources and share values, norms, and an identifiable lifestyle

3. Breakdown of Social Classes –Upper class (only 1% of the American population!) –Middle class (40 to 50% of American population) –Working class (lower-middle class) (~33% of population) –Working poor (~13%) –Underclass (poverty stricken) (~12%)

4. Poverty in America Approximately 13% of Americans are poverty- stricken Absolute poverty = the absences of enough money to secure life’s necessities Relative poverty* = a measure of poverty based on economic disparity between those at the bottom of a society and the rest of society In the U.S. the poverty level is set at $22,300 total annual income for a family of 4 (as of 2008)

5. Relative Poverty* Better definition? “When a person’s income does not meet the needs of society”.

6. Poverty Rates ~27% African-Americans ~26% Hispanic/Latino ~9% Whites ~12% Asians

7. Racial and Ethnic Inequality Race and ethnic relations can manifest themselves in two ways: 1.Assimilation= blending in or fusing together Does this happen at Yorktown, more or less? or… 2. Conflict Genocide (extreme!) Subjugation (minority group denied equal access to society)  Examples: “Jim Crow” era, hate crimes Population transfer (relocation)  Example: “Trail of Tears”

8. Other types of inequality? Gender inequality Sex (or sex/gender identity) inequality Ageism