Sociology 101

Chapter 7

Class & Stratification in the U.S.

Stratification: Layering of SocietySlaveryThe caste systemThe class system

Stratification Can Be Based On:

Achieved StatusGender (Ascribed Status)Race/Ethnicity (Ascribed Status)Class (Ascribed Status)

Wealth Vs. Income Wealth

Refers to property such as buildings, land, farms, houses, factories and cars, as well as other assets such as stock, bonds, bank accounts, insurance policies

Computed by taking the value of all of the above and subtracting all debt obligations

Americans were worth about $56.8 trillion in 2010 10% of the nation’s families owns 77% of all

available wealth in 2010 The richest 1% of the nation’s families are worth

more than the entire bottom 90% of Americans

Income Refers to wages, salaries, governmental aid,

and money earned through ownership of property (e.g. rent)

The top 5% receive around 20% of all income This is more than the total that the bottom 95%

receive The income of the top 5% increased by 28%

between 1980-1995

Source: Wealth, Income & Power (William Domhoff) http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

Income Distribution in the United States

What is Poverty?The Social Security Administration

calculates the poverty line In 2010, the OPL was $22,162 for a

family of 4 with 2 children under the age of 18

This is $5,540/person per year or $462/month per person

Who Are The Poor? 46.2 million Americans were poor in 2010

This figure is low because it is easy for the census to miss the poor and the OPL is very low

Concentration of the poor Racial minorities Women

2/3 of poor adult population Children

The child poverty rate is higher in the U.S. than in any other industrialized country

Location The south has the highest rate of poverty

The Poor-poor Those living at or under ½ the OPL

Avoiding PovertyFinish high schoolGet married before having your first

childDon’t have a child before you reach

the age of 20Go to collegeStay marriedAvoid alcholism/drug abuse

Theories of StratificationWeberianFunctionalismConflict

The Functionalist Perspective Durkheim, Kingsley Davis &

Wilbert Moore Feel that stratification is

inevitable and necessary for society to function smoothly

Typically supports the status quo

Can be summarized as follows:

Society has several tasks that must be filled

some positions are more important than others

The most important positions need to be filled by the most qualified

positions that require scarce talent and/or extensive training must be highly rewarded

The most highly rewarded should be those that are functionally unique

They assume that social stratification results in a meritocracy a hierarchy in which all

positions are rewarded based on people’s ability and credentials

Ignores inequalities based on inherited wealth, favoritism, etc.

The Conflict Perspective Marx suggests that capitalistic

societies consist of 2 classes: Bourgeoisie: those who own the

means of production Proletariat: those who sell their

labor Always a conflict between these

2 classes Workers (proletariat) are exploited

by capitalists (bourgeoisie) This exploitation leads to

worker’s alienation: a feeling of powerlessness

Marx predicted that this exploitation would lead to class conflict Eventually, the workers would

overthrow the capitalists

Marx’s View of History

Ancient(Slave vs. Owner

Primitive

Modes of Production: The 6 EpochsFeudal

(Lord Vs. Serf)Capitalism

(Cap. Vs. Worker) Socialism

Communism

The Interpretive Perspective Max Weber felt that Marx

focused too much on economics felt that there were other ways

in which classes could be stratified

Class/property/Economics Refers to Wealth & income This is what Marx focuses on

Party/power/politics CEO, Senior civil servants

Status/prestige/culture People may not have much

wealth or income but lots of prestige

E.g. College professors, Priests

Erik Wright’s Critique of Marx Wright assumes that these criteria can be

used to determine the class placement of all workers, regardless of race/ethnicity, in a capitalist society: Ownership of the means of production Purchase of the labor of others (employing

others). Control of the labor of others (supervising

others on the job). Sale of one’s own labor (being employed by

someone else).