This document provides an overview of social stratification and social class. It discusses key concepts like social mobility, different social classes in the US and worldwide, dimensions of social stratification including economic, power and prestige, explanations of stratification from different sociological perspectives, poverty in America, and responses to poverty. Overall, the document presents foundational information on social stratification and class through definitions of key terms and concepts.

1. JOURNAL
Symbolic Interactionists (p. 251) contend
that a person is socialized to accept that
social class is a result of hard work, talent
and effort. Do you agree? Explain your
answer.
SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION AND
SOCIAL CLASS
Chapter 8 Section 1 & 2

2. Social Stratification and Social
Class
 Humans have the tendency to form
rank
 Social Stratification: the creation of
layers of people who possess
unequal shares of resources.

3. Social Classes
 Social Classes: the layers of stratification
where members hold similar amounts of
scarce resources and share norms,
values, and lifestyle
 Developed Countries:
Upper, Middle, and Lower Classes
 Developing Countries:
Upper and Lower Classes

4. Mumbai, India

5. The Economic Dimension
 Karl Marx: Formed economic foundations of
social class
 Marx theorized that capitalism would lead to
two classes:
 Proletariat: working class
 Bourgeoisie: class that owns the means of
production

6. Income and Wealth in the U.S.
 Over a span of 22 years, the top fifth saw an
increase of income of 43% while the bottom
fifth saw a 9% decrease.
 The top 1% (3 Million People) hold 39% of the
wealth while the bottom 80% (245 million) hold
only 16%.
 Income vs. Wealth

7. Occupy Wall Street
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50rpJ7EQW
uI

9. Power Dimension
 Max Weber believed power
and prestige, not just money
stratified society
 Power can come from:
Money
Knowledge
Fame
Social positions
Charisma

10. Prestige Dimension
Prestige: Recognition, respect, and
admiration connected to social
positions.
Defined by the culture you are in
Voluntarily given, not claimed
Similar prestige=similar lifestyles
Most important social positions are
the most presigious

11. Explanations of Stratification
Chapter 8 Section 2

12. Functionalist View
 Most qualified people fill most
important positions.
 Some jobs are more important than
others and require special skills.
 Money and prestige are awarded for
sacrifice

13. Conflict Theory View
 Some people are willing to exploit
others (Marx-exploiter & exploited)
 Those in power are able to spread a
belief system that legitimizes their
position (Schools, Media)
 Lower class accepts these ideas and
values – False Consciousness

14. Symbolic Interactionism and
Stratification
 People are socialized to accept
existing structure
 Lower class-Lower self esteem
System tells them that they are
inferior
 Upper class- Higher self esteem
System tells them that they are
superior

15. SOCIAL CLASSES IN
AMERICA
Chapter 8 Section 3

16. United States Social Classes
 6 typical social classes
 Unlike in India, the United States never
really developed class consciousness:
identification with a particular social class.
 Classes are subject to change
Full of exceptions

18. The Upper Class
 Includes 1% of the population
 Upper-Upper class
“Old-Money”
(Rockafeller, Ford, etc.)
Based on blood, not hard work.
 Lower-Upper Class
Wealth is from achievement or
earned, not inherited.
Often excluded by upper-upper
class.

19. The Upper Middle Class
Upper Middle Class
14% of population
Professionals and
entrepreneurs
Most are college-educated
High goals for
children
Active in the
community

20. The Middle Class
 Middle-Middle Class
30% of Population
Small-Business owners, farmers,
lower-class professionals (teachers,
firefighters)
Many have some college-education

21. The Working Class (Lower-
Middle)
 33% of Population
 Roofers, Truck Drivers, Sales People
 Often lack same benefits as middle class
(insurance, retirement)
 Employment is unstable
 Most have no college education

22. The Working Poor
 13% of Population
 Working Poor: people
employed in low-skill jobs with
the lowest pay.
 Manual Labor, Service Jobs
 Lack steady employment
 Do not earn enough to rise
above the poverty line
($19,484)
 Most are high school students,

23. The Underclass
 12% of the Population
 Underclass: People who are usually
unemployed and who come from families
with a history of unemployment.
 Part-Time, menial jobs
 State Assistance
 Lack of Skills
 Many paths in, few paths out

24. POVERTY IN
AMERICA
Chapter 8 Section 4

25. Measuring Poverty
Absolute Poverty: The absence of
enough money to secure life’s
necessities
Relative Poverty: Comparing the
bottom of society to the top.

26. Identifying the Poor
 50% of poor people in America are white;
HOWEVER only 9% of white people are
poor.
 African-Americans and Latinos make up
only 25% of the population but they make
up 50% of the poor.
 Feminization of Poverty:
Women and children make up larger
percentage of poor.
50% of poor households are headed by

28. Responses to Poverty
 1964 “War on Poverty”
Help the poor help themselves
John F. Kennedy
Self Improvement, not aid
Critics feared abuse of the system
 Welfare Reform
Hot debate issue
Regulations on who is eligible, and how
long a person can stay on welfare

29. SOCIAL MOBILITY
Chapter 8 Section 5

30. Social Mobility
 Social Mobility: Movement between social
classes.
 Horizontal: Changing jobs in the same
social class.
 Vertical: Job status or social class moves
up or down.
 Intergenerational: when social class
change takes place over a generation
moving up or down.

31. Caste System
 Social class is inherited and mobility
cannot occur.
 Statuses and jobs are assigned at
birth.
 Can be based on race, job, and
religion.
How do these systems stay in place?

33. Open-Class System
 Social class is based on merit and individual
effort.
 Movement is allowed and common.
 Not always the case in the United States
because of built in disadvantages for
minorities and lower classes.

34. Up & Down Mobility
 U.S. offers more opportunities than most
countries to move up.
 Most still fail to move up.
 Boom of upward mobility after WWII.
 Today there is more downward mobility
because people lack the education
necessary to obtain high-paying jobs.