Stratification

What Is Stratification?

Stratification refers to systematic inequalities

between groups of people that arise as intended or

unintended consequences of social processes and

relationships.

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Social Stratification

A relatively fixed, hierarchical arrangement in society by which groups have different access to resources, power, and perceived social worth.

Social Statification

In a sports organization:

◦ Owners control the resources of the teams.

◦ Players earn high salaries, yet do not control the team resources.

◦ Sponsors provide the resources.

◦ Fans provide revenue.

Diverse Sources of Stratification

Race, class, and gender are overlapping systems of stratification.

Class position is manifested differently, depending on race and gender.

Example: A Black middle-class man who is stopped by police when driving through a White middle-class neighborhood may feel his racial status is his most outstanding characteristic, but his race, class, and gender always influence his life chances.

Forms of Stratification

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The estate

system is a

politically based

system of stratification

characterized by

limited social

mobility.

The caste

system is a

system of stratification

based on hereditary

notions of religious

and theological

purity and generally

offers no prospects for

social mobility.

The class

system is an

economically based

system of

stratification with

somewhat loose

social mobility based

on roles in the

production process

rather than individual

characteristics.

Functional and Conflict Theories of

Stratification

Inequality

Functionalism

Motivates people to fill

positions that are needed

for the survival of the whole.

Conflict Theory

Results when those with the

most resources exploit

others.

Functional and Conflict Theories of

Stratification

Class Structure

FunctionalismDifferentiation is essential

for a cohesive society.

Conflict Theory

Different groups struggle

over resources and

compete for social

advantage.

Functional and Conflict Theories of

Stratification

Life chances

Functionalism

Those who work hardest

and succeed have greater

life chances.

Conflict Theory

The most vital jobs in

society are usually the least

rewarded.

Social Stratification Why Is There Inequality?

The Class Structure of the United States

Diverse Sources of Stratification

Poverty

How Is America Stratified Today?

The income gap between

high-income and low-

income individuals has

increased dramatically

over the last 30 years.

One out of two people

are living in or heading to

poverty in the United

States

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Inequality in the United States

Nearly 1 in 6 children in the U.S. live poverty:

◦30% of African American children

◦29% of Hispanic children

◦12% of Asian American children

◦9.4% of White non-Hispanic children

Inequality in the United States

15% of the U.S. population has no health

insurance.

The average cost of a day’s stay in the

hospital is $1, 217—two weeks’ pay for

the average worker

Inequality in the United States

1% of the U.S. population controls 38% of the

total wealth in the nation.

The bottom 20% owe more than they own.

CEOs of major companies earn an average of

$13.1 million dollars per year.

Workers earning the minimum wage make

$10,712 per year, if they work 40 hours a week

for 52 weeks per year and hold only one job.

Social Class in the U.S.

Upper class

Upper-middle class

Middle class

Lower-middle class

Lower class

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People Like Us

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The Laddered Model of Stratification

The Double Diamond Model of Stratification

Median Income by Race and Household Status

Wealth and Income

Wealth is the monetary value of

everything one owns, minus debt.

◦ It is calculated by adding all financial assets

and subtracting all debts.

Income is the amount of money brought

into a household from various sources

during a given period.

Distribution of Wealth and Income

The wealthiest 1% own 38% of all net

worth; the bottom 80% control only

17%.

The top 1% also owns almost half of all

stock; the bottom 80% own only 4% of

total stock holdings.

The Tax Burden: For Whom?

Defining Social Mobility

Social mobility is a person’s movement over

time from one class to another.

Social mobility can be up or down, although the

American dream emphasizes upward

movement.

Mobility can also be either intergenerational,

occurring between generations; or

intragenerational, occurring within a generation.

Table 7.1 Relative Social Prestige of Selected U.S. OccupationsYou May Ask Yourself, 2nd Edition

Copyright © 2011 W.W. Norton & Company

Social Mobility

Mobility is a collective effort that involves kin and sometimes community.

Upward Mobility

◦ People who are upwardly mobile are often expected to distance themselves from their origins.

Downward Mobility

◦ As income distribution is becoming more skewed toward the top, many in the middle class are experiencing mobility downward.

Who are the Poor?

In 2002, there were 34.6 million poor people in the U.S.

The poor:

◦ 31% of Native Americans

◦ 24% of African Americans

◦ 22% of Hispanics

◦ 10% of Asians and Pacific Islanders

◦ 10% of Whites

U.S. Poverty Rate Climbed To 15.1 Percent in

2011, Total Number Hit All-Time Record Total

Population - 312,000,000 – 47,000,00 in poverty

How do we compare to the world.

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The lines at the local food bank.

Who are the Homeless?

A 2001 survey of 27 cities found that the

homeless population is:

◦ 50% African American

◦ 35% White

◦ 12% Hispanic

◦ 2% Native American

◦ 1% Asian

Who are the Homeless? Battered women

Elderly

Disabled

Mentally Ill (20-25%)

Veterans

AIDS victims

What do you think are the Reasons

for Homelessness?

Unemployment and/or eviction

Reductions in federal support for

affordable housing

Eroding work opportunities

Inadequate housing for low-income

people

What do you think are the Reasons

for Homelessness Reductions in public assistance

Inadequate health care

Domestic violence

Addiction

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Explanations of Poverty

Culture of poverty - poverty is a way of

life that is transferred from generation to

generation.

Structural causes of poverty - poverty

is caused by economic and social

transformations taking place in the U.S.

Arguments Against

“The Culture of Poverty” Fewer than 5% of the poor are chronically

poor.

41% of the able-bodied poor work.

The pattern of “welfare cycling” is

promoted by wages too low to support a

family.