Max Weber Social Stratification Definition n Social Stratification

Max Weber Social Stratification

Definition n Social Stratification : the unequal manner in which resources and social rewards are distributed among different social categories and groups. Both images within one mile in NYC

“Murdered Mozarts” (Malcolm X) n Life Chances refer to the likelihood of realizing a certain standard of living or quality of life, including health and well-being.

Stratification is a social process Characteristic of society, not simply individual differences • Persists over generations/centuries • Involves not just inequality but beliefs about inequality (If you are rich it’s fine) n Universal (everywhere) but variable n Think about last week –who is more likely to be rich? (How does that work)

Trophy Wives n Trophy wife is an expression used to refer to a wife, usually young and attractive, who is regarded as a status symbol for the husband, who is often older and wealthy (Wikipedia, September 15, 2013).

Won’t work in Caste system (India) - closed system based on status at birth - No chances of changing one’s social position - Interaction between people of different castes are prohibited (because Indians believe they contaminate members of the higher caste) - Such a system promotes endogamy ( i. (marriage within one’s own caste)

Estate system (England) Very pronounced, not permeable Nobility – the wealthy and powerful families that ruled the country and own the land (Not always rich – Gaskell, Bronte write on this) Landed gentry - is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income Bourgeoisie – Owners of factories, shops Workers – Actually work in those factories Underclass – underemployed, unemployed

Communist system Supposedly classless, actually has strata n Party chairmen are at top n Government administrators n Economic controllers n Police and military n White collar workers n Skilled specialists n Farmers in collectives n

America/Canada • Super rich, Rich and upper middle class own 86% of all wealth • Canada slightly better (72%)

America/Canada • Super rich, Rich and upper middle class own 72% of all wealth • Middle Class is largest group but eroding (Inflation) • Myth of moving up class (Hereto Algiers, Rocky genre) • Some people go up but a lot more go down so difference is about 1% going up generationally

Homelessness As many as 3. 5 million people experience homelessness in a given year (1% of the entire U. S. population or 10% of its poor) n 842, 000 people in any given week. n Most were homeless temporarily. n 40% are families with children— th fastest growing segment. n

Many slip between these classes

Weber (Wikipedia) Three-component theory of stratification n Social class is based on economically determined relationship to the market (owner, renter, employee etc. ). n Status class is based on non-economical qualities like honour, prestige and religion. n Party class refers to affiliations in the political All three dimensions have consequences for what Weber called "life chances" (opportunities to improve one's life (Malcolm X Murdered Mozarts) n