Chapter 7: Social Class - The Structure of Inequality

Caste system

a form of social stratification in which status is determined by one's family history and background and cannot be changed

Simplicity movement

a loosely knit movement that opposes consumerism and encourages people to work less, earn less, and spend less, in accordance with nonmaterialistic values

Socioeconomic status (SES)

a measure of an individual's place within a social class system; often used interchangeably with "class"

Wealth

a measure of net worth that includes income, property, and other assets

Relative deprivation

a relative measure of poverty based on the standard of living in a particular society

Status inconsistency

a situation in which an individual holds differing and contradictory levels of status in terms of wealth, power, prestige, or other elements of socioeconomic status

Open system

a social system with ample opportunities to move from one class to another

Closed system

a social system with very little opportunity to move from one class to another

Meritocracy

a system in which rewards are distributed based on merit

Feudal system

a system of social stratification based on a hereditary nobility who were responsible for and served by a lower stratum of forced laborers called serfs

Social class

a system of stratification based on access to such resources as wealth, property, power, and prestige

Upper class

an elite and largely self-sustaining group who possess most of the country's wealth; they constitute about 1 percent of the U.S. population

Absolute deprivation

an objective measure of poverty, defined by the inability to meet minimal standards for food, shelter, clothing, or health care

Just-world hypothesis

argues that people have a deep need to see the world as orderly, predictable, and fair, which creates a tendency to view victims of social injustice as deserving of their fates

Everyday class consciousness

awareness of one's own social status and that of others

Structural mobility

changes in the social status of large numbers of people as a result of structural changes in society

Intergenerational mobility

movement between social classes that occurs from one generation to the next

Oligarchy

political rule by a small group of people, usually members of a wealthy or otherwise dominant class

Middle class

social class composed primarily of white collar workers with a broad range of education and incomes; they constitute about 30 percent of the U.S. population

Working class or lower-middle class

social class consisting of mostly blue collar or service industry workers who are less likely to have a college degree; they constitute about 30 percent of the U.S. population

Upper-middle class

social class consisting of mostly highly educated professionals and managers who have considerable financial stability; they constitute about 14 percent of the U.S. population

Social stratification

the division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy

Residential segregation

the geographical separation of the poor from the rest of an area's population

Slavery

the most extreme form of social stratification, based on the legal ownership of people

Vertical social mobility

the movement between different class statuses, often called either upward mobility or downward mobility

Intragenerational mobility

the movement between social classes that occurs during the course of an individual's lifetime

Horizontal social mobility

the movement of individuals or groups within a particular social class, most often a result of changing occupations

Social mobility

the movement of individuals or groups within the hierarchical system of social classes

Underclass

the poorest group, comprising the homeless and chronically unemployed who may depend on public or private assistance; they constitute about 12 percent of the U.S. population

Disenfranchisement

the removal of the rights of citizenship through economic, political, or legal means

Prestige

the social honor people are given because of their membership in well-regarded social groups

Apartheid

the system of segregation of racial and ethnic groups that was legal in South Africa between 1948 and 1991

Cultural capital

the tastes, habits, expectations, skills, knowledge, and other cultural assets that help us gain advantages in society

Social reproduction

the tendency of social classes to remain relatively stable as class status is passed down from one generation to the next

Heterogamy

the tendency to choose romantic partners who are dissimilar to us in terms of class, race, education, religion, and other social group membership

Homogamy

the tendency to choose romantic partners who are similar to us in terms of class, race, education, religion, and other social group membership

Digital divide

the unequal access to computer and internet technology, both globally and within the United States

Wealth gap

the unequal distribution of assets across a population

Social inequality

the unequal distribution of wealth, power, or prestige among members of a society

Hypergamy

marrying "up" in the social class hierarchy

Theories of Social Class

Conflict - social classes are highly stratified and continue to grow further apart Weberian - wealth, power, + prestige are interrelated, but one can also be converted into another Structural functionalism - stratification is necessary for society to function Postmodernism - social class is passed down from one generation to the next through cultural capital Symbolic interactionism - we judge people's social class constantly during everyday interactions

Case Study: Poverty

Structural Functionalism - poverty is functional for society, the poor take otherwise undesirable jobs and housing, purchase discount and secondhand goods, and provide work for thousands, including social service caseworkers and others who work with the poor Conflict Theory - social welfare programs that assist the poor are funded by tax dollars which some wealthy citizens may be reluctant to provide because taxes reduce their net income, this can create conflict between rich and poor groups in society Symbolic interactionism - poor and wealthy persons have differential access to the "props" used to project particular versions of self, in particular professional clothing such as business suits can be too expensive for poor individuals to purchase which can put them at a disadvantage in job interviews for which a professional image is necessary, organizations like Dress for Success provide professional clothing for those who can't afford it leveling the playing field a bit in terms of impression management

Approach to Social Inequality

Structural Functionalism - social inequality is a necessary part of society, different reward structures are necessary as an incentive for the best qualified people to occupy the most important positions, even poverty has functions that help maintain social order Conflict Theory - social inequality creates intergroup conflict, poor and rich groups have different interests and may find themselves at odds as they attempt to secure and protect these interests Symbolic interactionism - social inequality is part of our presentation of self, we develop everyday class consciousness as a way to distinguish the status of others

Intersectionality

a concept that identifies how different categories of inequality (race, class, gender, etc.) intersect to shape the lives of individuals and groups

White collar

a description characterizing lower-level professional and management workers and some highly skilled laborers in technical jobs

Blue collar

a description characterizing skilled and semi-skilled workers who perform manual labor or work in service or clerical jobs

Culture of poverty

entrenched attitudes that can develop among poor communities and lead the poor to accept their fate rather than attempt to improve their lot

Federal poverty line

federal index that defines "official" poverty in the United States based on household income; updated annually

Hypogamy

marrying "down" in the social class hierarchy

Working poor

poorly educated manual and service workers who may work full-time but remain near or below the poverty line; they constitute about 13 percent of the U.S. population