Social Stratification Systems of Stratification Vocabulary Social stratification

Social Stratification Systems of Stratification Vocabulary: Social stratification – purposeful classification of people and groups which are used to establish and/or reinforce differences in relative social worth (social ranks) • Almost every society throughout history has separated its members on the basis of certain characteristics. Social inequality – the disproportionate sharing of scarce resources and social rewards • The level of social inequality in a society depends on the degree to which that society’s stratification system is “open” or “closed”. Caste system – a system of social stratification in which resources and rewards are distributed on the basis of ascribed statuses (age, gender, race, family heritage) • India provides the best example of this system of stratification Exogamy – marriage outside one’s social category Endogamy – marriage within one’s social category

Social Stratification Systems of Stratification Vocabulary cont. Class system – the distribution of scarce resources and rewards is determined on the basis of achieved statuses (some special skill, knowledge, or ability) • Given talent, effort, and opportunity, individuals can move up the socialclass ladder. Bourgeoisie – the owners of the means of production in a capitalist society Proletariat – the workers who sell their labor in exchange for wages • Karl Marx believed that society was divided into these two basic groups. • According to Marx, the only determining feature of class is the ownership of property. Social class – a grouping of people with similar levels of wealth, power, and prestige • Max Weber expanded Marx’s ideas, he believed that class consists of the three factors above. Wealth – a combination of an individual’s assets (the value of everything the person owns) and income (money earned through salaries and investments) • In the United States, wealth is concentrated overwhelmingly in the hands of a small minority of the population.

Social Stratification Systems of Stratification Vocabulary cont. Power – the ability to control the behavior of others, with or without their consent • Power can be based on… force, possession of a special skill/type of knowledge, a particular social status, personal characteristics, or custom/tradition Prestige – the respect, honor, recognition, or courtesy an individual receives from others • Factors that often determine prestige… occupation, education, family background, and area of residence • In the U. S. , occupation tends to be the most important determinant of prestige. Americans typically place jobs that require higher levels of education (and tend to produce higher incomes) at the top of the list. Socioeconomic status – a rating that combines prestige with the economic factor of income in order to determine an individual’s relative position in a stratification system

Social Stratification The American Class System Methods to Determining Social Class • Reputational Method – individuals in the community are asked to rank other community members based on what they know of their characters and lifestyles • Subjective Method – individuals are asked to determine their own social rank • Objective Method – sociologists define social class by income, occupation, and education

Social Stratification The American Class System Vocabulary: Social Mobility – movement between or within social classes • Sociologists study two types of social mobility: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal mobility – refers to movement within a social class or stratum • When an individual moves from one job to another of equal social ranking. Vertical mobility – the movement between social classes or strata • This movement can be either upward or downward. Intragenerational mobility – changes in social position during one person’s life Intergenerational mobility – status differences between generations in the same family • The child of a mechanic who becomes a doctor experiences this.

Social Stratification The American Class System 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Six Social Classes in the United States Upper Class – Upper Middle Class – Lower Middle Class – Working Poor – Underclass – Class work What are some general characteristics of the Six Social Classes in the United States?

Homework Assigned: 2/24/2020 Due: 2/25/2020 Write three paragraphs evaluating the methods of determining social class. Consider the applicability of the results, the personal feelings of the respondents, and the social factors selected for measurement.

Social Stratification Poverty Vocabulary: Poverty – a standard of living that is below the minimum level considered adequate by society • Poverty is a relative measure… What one society considers poverty might be seen as an adequate standard of living in another. Poverty level – the minimum annual income needed by a family to survive • Determined by calculating the cost of providing an adequate diet based on the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s minimum nutritional standards. Life chances – the likelihood that individuals have of sharing in the opportunities and benefits of society • Life chances include such things as health, length of life, housing and education Life expectancy – the average number of years a person born in a particular year can expect to live • Rates of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, pneumonia, and tuberculosis are highest among those living in poverty… Poor people have shorter life expectancies.

Social Stratification Poverty The government tries to reduce the effects of poverty through various social welfare programs. Those programs use one of two methods – transfer payments or government subsidies. Transfer payments – used to redistribute money within society by funneling a percentage of tax revenues to groups that need public assistance • The major transfer payment programs include… Supplemental Security Income – provides income support for people 65 years of age and older (and for blind and disabled adults and children), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – gives cash payments to families with children Government subsidies – a method used to assist poor Americans through the transfer of goods and services (rather than cash) • The Food Stamp Program – is, perhaps, the best-known government subsidy. Under this program, poor people receive cards that can be used to buy food. • Other subsidies include those for housing, school lunches, and Medicaid – a health-insurance program for the poor

Social Stratification Poverty Effects of Poverty on Life Chances Effects of Poverty on Behavior Patterns • Higher rates of disease • Poor nutrition • Unsafe housing and working conditions • Exposer to environmental hazards • Higher divorce rates • More likely to be arrested, convicted, and sent to prison • Increased likelihood of being a victim of a crime

Social Stratification Test Review Vocabulary: • • • Social Stratification Social Inequality Caste System Class System Exogamy Endogamy Bourgeoisie Proletariat Power Prestige Vocabulary cont. • • • Wealth Socioeconomic Status Social Mobility Horizontal Mobility Intra-generational Mobility Inter-generational Mobility Poverty Level Life Chances Life Expectancy

Social Stratification Test Review Short Answers: • List 4 factors that often determine prestige. • Identify 3 methods to determine social class. • List the 6 social classes in the United States. • Define transfer payments and government subsidies… Identify at least 2 examples of each.

Classwork/Homework Due Date: 3/5/2020 Social stratification occurs throughout the United States to varying degrees. You may witness its effects on a daily basis… Write a 5 paragraph essay analyzing how Social Stratification has affected your community institutions such as neighborhoods, schools, and jobs. **Provide detailed examples to support your analysis.