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Welcome To Rural Sociology 1000

Introduction to Rural Sociology

Welcome To Rural Sociology 1000

Introduction to Rural Sociology

Mary GrigsbyAssociate Professor of Rural Sociology

Division of Applied Social Sciences

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Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion Class Business Chintz and Shag http://www.pbs.org/people

likeus/games/index.html

Stratification Open and Closed

Stratification Systems

Ascribed and Achieved Characteristics

Marx and Stratification

Functionalist Perspective in Stratification

Weaknesses of Functionalist Perspective

Firms make it difficult for people to reduce hours

Cycle of work and spend Upscale “American Dream” 1980s

and 1990s “The New Consumerism”

competitive consumption

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1. What has contributed to increased hours of work? 1. What has contributed to increased hours of work?

2. What are the factors contributing to rising consumer desires?

2. What are the factors contributing to rising consumer desires?

Rise of inequality with affluent being the group to emulate

Media presents affluent as the average lifestyle

Heavy television viewers have skewed view of the average lifestyle

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3. What are the big three in the Consumption competition? Why are they so central?

3. What are the big three in the Consumption competition? Why are they so central?

Car, house, clothes If you are having a consumption

competition you need to be able to see what is being competed about.

Conspicuous consumption allows the comparison to be made easily

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4.What is the “aspirational gap” and what are the impacts of it?

4.What is the “aspirational gap” and what are the impacts of it?The gap between what people want

and what they can affort.It has led to rising levels of debt

without a safety net of savings by many people.

A tax revolt against having to fund public goods is linked to the pressures of private consumption

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5. What are impacts of over consumption?5. What are impacts of over consumption?Less time with familiesToo much stuffEnvironmental impactsDiscarding material goods at a

high rateInstead of a leisure society people

feel pressure to work and spend

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6. How can people change the pattern of competitive consumption?

6. How can people change the pattern of competitive consumption?

Deconstruct the symbolic meanings of consumer goods-identities wrapped up in products

Progressive consumption taxes-lower taxes or subsidize non-status labeled products

Personal practices-For instance, stop reading fashion magazines, stop going to the mall

Downshift consumption and work, adopt voluntary simplicity

Flexible work hours-right to work less, better vacations

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Open and Closed Stratification SystemsOpen and Closed Stratification Systems

Closed Caste Systems

People are ranked on the basis of traits over which

they have no control

Closed Caste Systems

People are ranked on the basis of traits over which

they have no control

Open Class System

People are ranked on the basis of merit, talent,

ability, or past performance

Open Class System

People are ranked on the basis of merit, talent,

ability, or past performance

Social Stratification

The systematic process by which people are divided into categories that are ranked on a

scale of social worth

Social Stratification

The systematic process by which people are divided into categories that are ranked on a

scale of social worth

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Social CategoriesSocial Categories

Choice, Effort, Ability

Acquired Intentionally

LifeChances

LifeChances

From Birth

Develop Over Time

No Effort, No Fault

AscribedCharacteristics

AchievedCharacteristics

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Class Structure in the U.S.Class Structure in the U.S.

Two Upper Classes1. Upper Upper-Old Money2. Lower Upper-New MoneyThree Middle Classes1. Upper Middle-Professional2. Middle Class-White Collar and Entrepreneurs3. Working Class-Blue CollarTwo Lower Classes1. Upper Lower-Unskilled Laborers2. Lower Lower-Socially and Economically

Disadvantaged

A Contemporary View of the American Class Structure (Gilbert 2003)A Contemporary View of the American Class Structure (Gilbert 2003)Class, Percent Households Source of Income Occupation

of Main EarnerTypical Education

Privilege Classes

Capitalist (1%) Investors, heirs executives Selective college or university

Upper-Middle (14%) Upper managers and professionals, medium-sized businesses

College, often post-graduate study

Majority Classes

Middle (30%) Lower managers, semi-professional, non-retail sales workers

At least some high school, often college

Working (30%) Operatives, low-paid craftsmen, clerical workers, retail sales workers

High school

Lower Classes

Working Poor (13%) Low wage service workers, laborers, low paid operative, clerical

Some high school

Underclass (12%) Unemployed or part-time, public assistance

Some high school

Share of Aggregate IncomeShare of Aggregate Income

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/historical/inequality/index.html

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Share of Aggregate Income Received by Each Fifth and Top 5 Percent

Share of Aggregate Income Received by Each Fifth and Top 5 Percent

Year LowestFifth

SecondFifth

Third Fifth

Fourth Fifth

Highest Fifth

Top5%

2009 3.4 8.6 14.6 23.2 50.3 21.7

2000 3.6 8.9 14.8 23.0 49.8 22.1

1990 3.8 9.6 15.9 24.0 46.6 18.5

1980 4.2 10.2 16.8 24.7 44.1 16.5

1970 4.1 10.8 17.4 24.5 43.3 16.6

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