This document discusses systems of social stratification and examines the American class system and poverty. It outlines different stratification systems such as caste and class and describes the major social classes in the United States. The document also analyzes the causes and effects of poverty, government responses to poverty, and social mobility within stratified systems. Students are assigned a project to further analyze dimensions of social stratification covered in the chapter.

1. Section 1: Systems of Stratification
Section 2: The American Class System
Section 3: Poverty

2. Every society has system of separating its members
based on some characteristics
Social stratification: division of society into
categories, ranks, classes
Most common divisions: ancestry, race, age, physical
appearance, gender

3. Divisions, however, lead to social inequality - unequal
sharing of scarce resources and social rewards
closed system: movement = impossible
open system: movement = possible
Left and Right of system - caste -vs- class

4. CASTE SYSTEM: scarce resources and social rewards are
distributed on the basis of ascribed statuses
 Newborn child’s lifelong status (or caste) determined by
the status of his/her parents
 Can you marry outside status? Exogamy (marry outside)
Endogamy (marry inside)
 Country models of the Caste System - India

5. CLASS SYSTEM: distribution of scarce resources and
rewards is determined on the basis of achieved statuses
 Individuals have some control over place within system
 Circumstances may assist individuals to “move up” or
“move down” social class ladder
 Looking at the class system: Karl Marx first thought social class
depended on means of production. The bourgeoisie own the means of
production while the proletariat sell their labor in exchange for wages.
Marx divided society into two main divisions based on property. Later,
Max Weber expanded on this and thought that social class
depended on not only property, but also prestige and power.

6. Social Class: a grouping of people with similar levels
of wealth, power, and prestige
Wealth - made up of his/her assets. Richest 1% of
population controls more than 1/3 of country’s
wealth in US
Power - ability to control the behavior of others, with
or without consent. Can be based on force,
possession of a special skill, social status, personal
characteristics, tradition.
Prestige - the respect, honor, recognition an
individual receives from other members of society.
Can be based on income, occupation, education,
family, area of residence, possessions, membership

7. Socioeconomic Status (SES) - combined factors used to
determine an individual’s relative position in
stratification system (combines factors such as education
level, occupational prestige, etc…)

8. Functionalist Theory on Stratification: stratification is
a necessary feature; certain roles must be filled if system
is maintained; high rewards are needed to fulfill needs -
ex. Why be a doctor if I can be a salesclerk and be paid
the same?
Conflict Theory on Stratification: stratification comes
from exploitation (usually by the owners of the means of
production); from there owners can then keep power and
prestige; some American conflict theorists are C. Wright
Mills, Irving Louis Horowitz, G. William Domhoff

9. Some sociologists say that neither theory gives us a
true explanation for stratification. Many have tried to
combine the two to better explain this societal
system. Ralf Dahrendorf and Gerhard Lenski are two
sociologists studying this phenomenon.

10. In theory: all Americans have equal access to resources
needed for social advancement
Is this true in act?
The actual number of social classes in US varies
How do sociologists rank class? Reputational method:
individuals in community asked to rank other community
members based on what they know of their
characteristics and lifestyles

11. How do sociologists rank class? Reputational method:
individuals in community asked to rank other
community members based on what they know of their
characteristics and lifestyles
Subjective method: individuals determine own social
rank
Objective method: sociologists define social class by
income, occupation, and education

12. SOCIAL CLASSES in the US
-The Upper Class: 1% of population; control sizable
proportion of country’s wealth; “old money” and
“new money”
-The Upper Middle Class: high-income businesspeople
and professionals; most have high degrees; large
houses, expensive cars, yearly vacations, college
education for children, luxuries; politically and
socially active
-The Lower Middle Class: white-collar jobs-work that
does not involve manual labor; jobs require less
education, provide lower income; nursing, middle
management, sales; live comfortable life but must
work hard; usually politically conservative

13. -The Working Class: manual labor jobs; factory workers,
tradespeople, less skilled workers, blue-collar jobs; carry
little prestige
-The Working Poor: lowest-paying jobs; housecleaning,
migrant farming, day laboring; depend on government-
support programs; high school drop-outs; usually not
involved politically; believe situation will remain same
-The Underclass: experienced unemployment an poverty
over several generations; public assistance

14. SOCIAL MOBILITY
-horizontal mobility: movement within a social class
-vertical mobility: movement between social classes or
strata
-intergenerational mobility: status differences between
generations in the same family

15. Structural Causes of Upward Mobility: advances in
technology, changes in merchandising patterns (credit
and real estate), increase in level of education
Structural Causes of Downward Mobility: personal
factors, changes in economy

16. Poverty: a standard of living that is below the minimum
level considered adequate by society
Relative measure
Minimum income=poverty line
1 person=8794
8 persons=29701

17. AMERICAN POVERTY
 Age: as age group children have largest percentage in
poverty (under 18 make up 35% of population)
 Sex: 57% of the poor are women; women head 1/2 of poor
families
 Race and Ethnicity: African Americans and Hispanics have
twice the rate of whites in poverty

18. The Effects of Poverty
 -life chances: health, length of life, housing, education
 -life expectancy: average number of years a person born in a
particular year can expect to live
 Inadequate nutrition, less access to medical care
 Patterns of behavior: are divorce rates higher? Arrests? Convictions?
Prison rates?

19. Government Responses to Poverty
 Johnson’s “war on poverty”
 Poverty rates improved?
 Social-welfare programs - transfer payments (from taxes)
SSI, TANF, AFDC, Food Stamp program
 Was a permanent “welfare class” created?

20.  In this chapter we will look at the various systems of stratification within
societies. Then, we will take an even greater look at the American system
followed by an in-depth look at how poverty affects individuals, groups,
and the society as a whole. For this chapter you may select one of the
following pieces to complete:
 -write either poem or song lyrics expressing hardships of Americans living
in poverty
 -write paper distinguishing rural and urban poverty – write about country
of choice –include personal reflection
 -artwork about poverty: or essay on influential artist who dissects poverty
within society
 -an analysis of social-welfare in America
 -“pictures of poverty” collage
 -book report: Nickeled and Dimed – read the write a book report
 -analysis of school lunch program in American schools
 These are some ideas. If you have other ideas or an idea to build with
these topics, please let me know.