sociology a down-to-earth approach 8/e sociology chapter ten: social class in the united states this...

SOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGYA Down-to-Earth Approach 8/eA Down-to-Earth Approach 8/e

SOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGYA Down-to-Earth Approach 8/eA Down-to-Earth Approach 8/e

Chapter Ten: Chapter Ten: Social Class in the Social Class in the

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James M. HenslinJames M. HenslinJames M. HenslinJames M. Henslin

Chapter 10: Social Class in the United States

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 2

Social Class… Poor and Rich Conflict view’s problem?Those who own the means of production

and those who do notMore then just your relationship to production3 Elements separate people according to Weber

Wealth , Power, and Prestige

WealthDistinction Between Wealth and IncomeWealth - What you own minus your debtsIncome – Money received, usually from a job

What is Social Class?What is Social Class?



What is income inequality then?How does this impact us on our daily lives?What is the impact of figure 10.3Eastern University Example – Poverty in Latin America

Power – The ability to carry out your will, even over

the resistance of othersC. Wright Mills – The Power Elite – those who make

the nations major decisionsHow Powerful are these elite? William Domhoff says,

“No major decision in the country is made without consulting

this group.”

What is Social Class?What is Social Class?



Occupations and Prestige

They Pay More

They Require More Education

They Entail More Abstract Thought

They Offer Greater Autonomy

PrestigePrestige



Ordinarily Wealth, Power, and

Prestige are Similar

When they Don’t Match

Status InconsistencyStatus Inconsistency



Updating Marx

Capitalists

Petty Bourgeoisie

Managers

Workers

Sociological Models of Social ClassSociological Models of Social Class



Updating Weber

Capitalist Class

The Upper Middle Class

The Lower Middle Class

The Working Class

The Working Poor

The Underclass

Sociological Models of Social ClassSociological Models of Social Class



The Fords - Capitalist Class

Ford Executives - Lower Capitalist Class

Owner Ford Dealership - Upper Middle

Ford Salesperson - Lower Middle Class

Ford Mechanics - Working Class

Ford Detailer - Working Poor

Car Lot Cleaner - Underclass

Social Class in the Auto Industry - FordSocial Class in the Auto Industry - Ford



Physical Health

Mental Health

Consequences of Social ClassConsequences of Social Class



Family Life

Choices of Husbands and Wives

Divorce

Child Rearing




Education

Religion

Politics




Crime and the Judicial System

Social Class and the Changing Economy




Three Types

Intergenerational Upward

Downward

Structural

Exchange

Social MobilitySocial Mobility



Women and Social Mobility

Studies of Boys

More Recent Studies with Girls

Social MobilitySocial Mobility



Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From Tree

The Pain of Social Mobility

Interpreting Statistics on Social MobilityInterpreting Statistics on Social Mobility



Who are Poor?

Drawing the Poverty Line

Geography

PovertyPoverty



Who are Poor?


Geography

Race-Ethnicity

PovertyPoverty



Who are Poor?


Geography

Race-Ethnicity

Education

PovertyPoverty



Who are Poor?

Feminization of Poverty

PovertyPoverty

Old Age

Children of Poverty



Most are Lazy

Poor are Trapped and Few Escape

Most are Latino and African-American

Myths About the PoorMyths About the Poor



Most are Single Mothers and Kids

Most Live in Inner City

Most are on Welfare

Myths About the PoorMyths About the Poor



Culture of Poverty

Most Poverty is Short-lived

Dynamics of PovertyDynamics of Poverty



Culture of PovertyMost Poverty is Short Lived Number of Poor Relatively Stable

The people who move out are being replaced people moving into povertyMost will move out within one yearSome bounce back and forth for their entire lifePoverty than is dynamic, touching a lot more people than the official totals indicateAlthough only 12% are poor at any given time, twice that number, almost 25%, has been poor at any give time.

Dynamics of PovertyDynamics of Poverty



Social StructureFeatures of our society that deny some people accessSome find escape routes out to be lockedRace, age, gender, changes in the job market, and poor paying jobs.

Characteristics of individualsDropping out of school Having children in the teen yearsHaving many more children than those in other social classes

Why are People Poor?Why are People Poor?



Welfare Reform Welfare Restructured in 1996

Deferred Gratification – forgoing something in the present in hope of achieving greater gains in the future

Hard to practice these principles if you have never had them

Emergencies Immediate Gratification Behaviors of the poor are not a cause of poverty but a

result of poverty

c

PovertyPoverty



Where is Horatio Alger?

Social Functions of a Myth

PovertyPoverty

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