Social Inequality: Explanations, Theories and Evidence

Social class stratifies people according to income, prestige, and power. It intersects with stratification by gender, by race, and by ethnicity.

How many different patterns can you see?

Type of Explanation of Inequality Structure Culture (Weber and others) Individualist (Common idea) Functionalism (Durkheim and others) Conflict (Marx and others)

Structure: Functionalism Davis & Moore : Some tasks are more important and difficult. We offer more rewards so the best people take them. Inherited wealth makes for stable society. Those who inherit have been taught how to make their wealth produtive. Tumin ’s critique : How do we know which jobs are important? E.g., janitor who cleans operating room. Some of the “best people” do not rise to the top; some at top are not good. If this helped society, poverty would not be such a big problem.

Davis & Moore :

Some tasks are more important and difficult. We offer more rewards so the best people take them.

Inherited wealth makes for stable society. Those who inherit have been taught how to make their wealth produtive.

Tumin ’s critique :

How do we know which jobs are important? E.g., janitor who cleans operating room.

Some of the “best people” do not rise to the top; some at top are not good.

If this helped society, poverty would not be such a big problem.

Structure: Class Conflict Emphasize negative aspects of inequality: Exploitation of workers by owners Prejudice against working class and poor people Conflict of interests between workers and owners. Marx : All systems since hunter-gatherers have produced a dominant class. Lenski : The existence of an economic surplus leads to the question of how to distribute it.

Emphasize negative aspects of inequality:

Exploitation of workers by owners

Prejudice against working class and poor people

Conflict of interests between workers and owners.

Marx : All systems since hunter-gatherers have produced a dominant class.

Lenski : The existence of an economic surplus leads to the question of how to distribute it.

Culture: Culture of Poverty Culture of poverty Low motivation Poor work habits (late, absent, lazy) Can’t postpone gratification Poverty is passed to next generation because they learn these habits. Critics say situation of the poor does not reward middle-class work habits. Critics say the chaos and lack of resources in environment of poor people require flexibility, not stability.

Culture of poverty

Low motivation

Poor work habits (late, absent, lazy)

Can’t postpone gratification

Poverty is passed to next generation because they learn these habits.

Critics say situation of the poor does not reward middle-class work habits.

Critics say the chaos and lack of resources in environment of poor people require flexibility, not stability.

Culture: Transmission of status Education reinforces class differences. Students learn the skills and tastes of their class in their local schools. Major differences exist among schools. Our culture is rewards and reinforces the habits and ideas of the middle class. It tends to ignore or punish the habits and ideas of working class.

Education reinforces class differences. Students learn the skills and tastes of their class in their local schools. Major differences exist among schools.

Our culture is rewards and reinforces the habits and ideas of the middle class. It tends to ignore or punish the habits and ideas of working class.

Individualist explanations Common belief is that poverty or success depends on one’s effort. People tend to attribute their successes to effort and their failures to luck. When looking at another person, the reverse is true: success=luck and failure=lack of effort. In fact, few differences in attitude regarding reasons for success between poor, working class and middle class. Competitive labor market does reward the skills and talents of individual. Human capital of one’s parents is strong determinant of yours.

Common belief is that poverty or success depends on one’s effort.

People tend to attribute their successes to effort and their failures to luck.

When looking at another person, the reverse is true: success=luck and failure=lack of effort.

In fact, few differences in attitude regarding reasons for success between poor, working class and middle class.

Competitive labor market does reward the skills and talents of individual.

Human capital of one’s parents is strong determinant of yours.

Approaches to Poverty Reduction “ Trickle Down” Approach: Leave, or put money in at the top: for example by reducing the capital gains tax. Generally favored by the wealthy, Republicans, conservatives. “ Percolate Up” Approach: Provide for needs of the poor directly. Generally favored by the poor, Democrats, liberals.

“ Trickle Down” Approach:

Leave, or put money in at the top:

for example by reducing the capital gains tax.

Generally favored by the wealthy, Republicans, conservatives.

“ Percolate Up” Approach:

Provide for needs of the poor directly.

Generally favored by the poor, Democrats, liberals.

Famous experiments… A Girl Like Me Or YouTube Class Divided