The Changing American The Changing American Society: Demographics and Society: Demographics and

Social StratificationSocial Stratification

DemographicsDemographics

What are they?What are they? Population Size and DistributionPopulation Size and Distribution OccupationOccupation EducationEducation IncomeIncome AgeAge

American GenerationsAmerican Generations

Pre-DepressionPre-Depression DepressionDepression Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y MillenialsMillenials

Pre-Depression GenerationPre-Depression Generation

Born before 1930sBorn before 1930s AKA Mature market/seniorsAKA Mature market/seniors CharacteristicsCharacteristics GerontographicsGerontographics

Healthy indulgersHealthy indulgers Ailing outgoersAiling outgoers Healthy hermitsHealthy hermits Frail reclusesFrail recluses

Depression GenerationDepression Generation

1930-19451930-1945 35 million people35 million people Age gracefullyAge gracefully

Baby BoomersBaby Boomers

1945-19641945-1964 80 million!!80 million!! CharacteristicsCharacteristics Higher educationHigher education ““Empty nest”Empty nest” Physical needsPhysical needs Active retirementActive retirement

Generation XGeneration X

1965-19761965-1976 ““Slackers”/ “Lost Generation”Slackers”/ “Lost Generation” TechnologyTechnology Increasingly importantIncreasingly important Less physicalLess physical

Generation YGeneration Y

1977-19941977-1994 CharacteristicsCharacteristics Technologically advancedTechnologically advanced More geared toward teensMore geared toward teens

MillenialsMillenials

1994-??1994-??

Social StratificationSocial Stratification

Societal RankSocietal Rank What affects it?What affects it?

Societal Class SystemSocietal Class System Status crystallizationStatus crystallization

U.S. Social StructureU.S. Social Structure

Upper Class- 14%Upper Class- 14% Upper-upper classUpper-upper class Lower-upper classLower-upper class Upper-middle classUpper-middle class

Middle Class- 70%Middle Class- 70% Middle classMiddle class Working classWorking class

Lower Class- 16%Lower Class- 16% Upper-Lower classUpper-Lower class Lower-Lower classLower-Lower class

The Upper ClassThe Upper Class

Upper-Upper ClassUpper-Upper Class AristocraticAristocratic

Lower-Upper ClassLower-Upper Class ““New rich”New rich” AthletesAthletes Conspicuous consumptionConspicuous consumption Nouveaux richNouveaux rich

Upper-Middle ClassUpper-Middle Class Successful professionals and busines peopleSuccessful professionals and busines people

The Middle ClassThe Middle Class

The Middle ClassThe Middle Class Majority of white collar, high-paid blue collarMajority of white collar, high-paid blue collar Balance current consumption and future plansBalance current consumption and future plans

The Working ClassThe Working Class Skilled and semi-skilled blue collar workersSkilled and semi-skilled blue collar workers Working Class AristocratsWorking Class Aristocrats

Backbone of AmericaBackbone of America ““A working class hero is something to be.”- John A working class hero is something to be.”- John

LennonLennon

The Lower ClassThe Lower Class

Upper-Lower ClassUpper-Lower Class Minimum wageMinimum wage Few benefitsFew benefits Usually have a high school degree or lessUsually have a high school degree or less

Lower-Lower ClassLower-Lower Class Government assistanceGovernment assistance ““Sin products”Sin products”

Measurement of Social ClassMeasurement of Social Class

Single-item IndexSingle-item Index ProblemsProblems

Multi-item IndexMulti-item Index Hollingshead Index of Social PositionHollingshead Index of Social Position Warner’s Index of Status CharacteristicsWarner’s Index of Status Characteristics Census Bureau’s Index of Socioeconomic StatusCensus Bureau’s Index of Socioeconomic Status ProblemsProblems