Topic 7 Social Stratification

Poverty and Economic Inequality

How to define and Measure Poverty

Absolute PovertyLack of resources that result in hunger

Relative PovertyDeficiency in material and economic

resources compared to other parts of population

Extreme Poverty Living on less than $1.25 a day

The problem with poverty

• Poverty threshold = $23,021 for a family of 4 (single = $14,000)

• Basic needs Budget = $45,000 for a family of 4

• Nearly 47 million Americans live in poverty• That’s 15% of our population

(poverty rate)

More than ¼ of the world’s population lives on less than $2 a day and about 2 % of the worlds people live on less than $1.25 a day

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2015/03/opinion/ctl-child-poverty/#0

Activity

www.playspent.org Write down your decisions and the results. Reflection: What did you learn?

Dimensions of Stratification

Definition Social Stratification is the

creation of layers of people who possess unequal shares of scares resources.

Each of the layers in a stratification system is a social class.

Social Stratification is often based on four dimensions:o Incomeo Wealtho Powero Prestige

The Economic Dimension

“For Karl Marx, the economy determines the nature of society.”

Income is the amount of money received within a given time period by an individual or group.

Wealth refers to all the economic resources possessed by an individual or group.

Answer this question: How unequally are resources distributed in the U.S.?

WEALTH INEQUALITY IN AMERICA VIDEO

Social Classes in the U.S.

Class consciousness is a sense of identification with the ideas and goals of a social class.

The Power Dimension Power is the ability to control

the behavior of others, even against their will.

According to Karl Marx, those who own and control the wealth have the power in a society.

Max Weber argued that power can derive from expert knowledge as well.o Lawyers = political powero Doctors = powero Scientist = power

The Prestige Dimension

Prestige is the recognition, respect and admiration attached to social positions.o Different based on culture.o People with similar levels of prestige tend to share

lifestyles and tend to bring their children up in these lifestyles.

Because Americans value wealth and power, those who are prestigious in our culture are typically wealthy and powerful.“Prestige is like a powerful magnet

that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. It causes you to work not on what you like, but what you’d like to like.” – Paul Graham

What values make these individuals prestigious?

Explanations of Stratification

Functionalist Functionalism?

Stratification assures that the most qualified people fill the most important positions.

In order to encourage individuals to strive for jobs that require more education and training, society placing a high level of prestige and wealth on them.

Conflict Theory Conflict theory?

Inequality exists because some people are willing to exploit others.

People don’t choose to be placed in a class, they are forced.

Thoughts?

Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic Interactionism?

People are socialized to accept the existing stratification structure.

Those is lower classes tend to have lower self-esteem (looking glass self).

Social MobilityIs it possible to move up in social class?

Definitions Social mobility is the movement of people

between social classes. Horizontal mobility involves changing from one

occupation to another at the same social class level.

Vertical mobility occurs when a person’s occupational status moves upward or downward in social class.

Intergenerational mobility is a change in class from one generation to the next.

EXAMPLES

Problems with Mobility Caste Systems “The only thing standing between any

American citizen and success is talent, a willingness to work, and perseverance.”

Reality=these leaps are rare. Only small movements typically happen.

Upward mobility is actually decreasing.

Downwardly mobile people experience lowered self-esteem, despair, depression, feelings of powerlessness and a loss of a sense of humor.

Assignment

Using one of the tools below, you are to create a 10 page children’s book that uses at least 5 key terms or main ideas from chapter 8. The story should also address a social problem with social stratification and social mobility. There are sample books on the back counter if you need a place to start. The book should have no spelling or grammar mistakes and be school appropriate.

Possible Tools:•Art supplies in classroom•http://www.powtoon.com/•http://www.flipsnack.com/•http://www.storyjumper.com/

Story Book Requirements

ComponentPerfect Score Requirements

Points Possible

Points Earned

Page Requireme

nt

The storybook is at least 10 pages in length.

5  

Key TermsAt least five key terms or ideas are correctly used

in the story.10  

Content

The story addresses a social issues regarding social stratification and

social mobility.

10  

Mechanics

There are no spelling or grammar mistakes in the

story. One of the suggested tools is used.

5  

Totals   30  

Poverty Plan With your group (1-3 members) create a 3 – 4

point plan that you think will fix the poverty problem.

Type your plan in a Google presentation or a Prezi.

Include AT LEAST two poverty statistics in your plan.