Transcript soc_ch09
Sociology Chapter 9 Social Stratification Preview Section 1: Systems of Stratification Section 2: The American Class System Section 3: Poverty Chapter Wrap-Up Sociology Chapter 9 Section 1: Systems of Stratification Read to Discover • What are the characteristics of caste systems and class systems? • How do the major theories of social stratification differ? Sociology Chapter 9 Section 1: Systems of Stratification Caste System: Class System: • Closed and lifelong • Open and mobile • Immobility and inherited status • Reward is determined by achieved status • Based on specific occupations • Property, prestige, and power are important • Ascribed status Sociology Chapter 9 Section 1: Systems of Stratification Question What are the major theories of social stratification? Sociology Chapter 9 Section 1: Systems of Stratification Theory Cause of Stratification Functionalist Stratification is needed to help society function smoothly by ensuring that specific roles are performed. Higher rewards guarantee that important roles that require more skill are filled. Conflict Groups compete for scarce resources. Those with power exploit and control others to maintain their position. Criticisms of Theory Society does not provide equal access to education and jobs. Lower-class talented people may be unable to contribute to society. Rewards do not always reflect the social values of roles. Unequal rewards are based in part on differences in talents, skills, and desires among people. Sociology Chapter 9 Section 1: Systems of Stratification • Functionalist Theorists—view stratification as a necessary feature of the social structure and argue that the more important a role and the more skill needed to perform it, the higher the reward • Conflict Theorists—view stratification as a result of conflict over scarce resources and argue that groups who gain power then use that power to maintain their advantage Sociology Chapter 9 Section 2: The American Class System Read to Discover • What are the characteristics of the American class system? • How do different motivations and cultural values influence the American class system? Sociology Chapter 9 Section 2: The American Class System Question What are the characteristics of the American class system? Sociology Chapter 9 Section 2: The American Class System AMERICAN CLASS SYSTEM 30 Underclass 25 Working Poor 20 Working Class 15 Lower Middle Class Upper Middle Class Upper Class 10 5 0 Percent of Population Sociology Chapter 9 Section 2: The American Class System • Upper Class—Attend prestigious universities; owners of large businesses, investors, heirs to family fortunes, top business executives • Upper Middle Class—Attend college or university; business executives, professionals • Lower Middle Class—High school, some college; lower-level managers, skilled craftworkers, supervisors Sociology Chapter 9 Section 2: The American Class System • Working Class—High school education; factory workers, clerical workers, lower-level salespeople, some craftworkers • Working Poor—Some high school; laborers, service workers • Underclass—Some high school; undesirable, low-paying jobs, unemployed, on welfare Sociology Chapter 9 Section 2: The American Class System Question How do different motivations and cultural values influence the American class system? Sociology Chapter 9 Section 2: The American Class System • Americans believe that people who possess enough ability and motivation will rise to the top. • Motivations include finances, status, prestige. • Such values influence Americans to try to do better financially than their parents and to help their children do the same. • These values and motivations keep the American system open and mobile. Sociology Chapter 9 Section 3: Poverty Read to Discover • What groups of Americans are affected by poverty? • What steps have been taken by the federal government to lessen the effects of poverty? Sociology Chapter 9 Section 3: Poverty Question What groups of Americans are affected by poverty? Sociology Chapter 9 Section 3: Poverty Characteristics of Poor Americans Age As an age group, children have the largest percentage in poverty. Race & Ethnicity African Americans and Hispanics are twice as likely as whites to be poor. Sex Women represent 57% of the poor. Female-headed households: 50% Sociology Chapter 9 Section 3: Poverty • Age—Children have the largest percentage in poverty; 25% of Americans are under 18, but 35% of the poor are children; three times more African American and Hispanic children are poor than white children. • Race and Ethnicity—African Americans and Hispanics are more than twice as likely as white Americans to be poor. • Sex—Women are the largest segment (57%); femaleheaded households account for about half of all poor families; 34% of African American and Hispanic femaleheaded households are poor, as compared to only 20% of white female-headed households. Sociology Chapter 9 Section 3: Poverty • Government attempts to reduce inequality through various social-welfare programs using two approaches: • Transfer Payments—redistribution of money among various segments of society; major programs include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) • Subsidies—transfer goods and services rather than cash; include the Food Stamp program, housing, school lunches, and Medicaid Sociology Chapter 9 Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding Main Ideas 1. How do caste systems and class systems differ? 2. How do the functionalist and conflict explanations of stratification differ? 3. What are the six social classes recognized by most American sociologists? 4. What is the poverty level, and how is it calculated? 5. How can poverty affect the life chances of Americans? 6. How have government programs to assist poor Americans changed in recent years?