Sociology: Social Stratification

lower-upper class

"working rich"

social mobility

a change in position within the social hierarchy

intragenerational social mobility

a change in social position occurring during a persons life time

socioeconomic status

a composite ranking based on various dimensions of social inequality

absolute poverty

a lack of resources that is life threatening

structural social mobility

a shift in the social position of large numbers of people due more to change in society itself than to individual efforts

upper-middle class

above average income range of 113,000 to 200,000

2 explanations of why there are poor

blame the poor ( poor are primarily responsible for their own poverty ) blame society ( society is primarily responsible for poverty )

conspicuous consumption

buying and using products because of the statement they make about social position

horizontal social mobility

changing jobs at the same class level

who are the poor

children, young adults, people of color, women, rural poverty

3 dimensions of economic inequality states by weber

class position, status, and power

ideology

cultural beliefs that justify particular social arrangements, including patterns of inequality

status consistency

degree of uniformity in a persons social standing across various dimensions of social inequality

downward social mobility

dropping out of school, divorce, losing jobs

upward social mobility

earning a degree, higher paying job, marrying someone with good income

income

earnings from work or investments

disturbing trends of social mobility in u.s.

for many workers, earnings have stalled, more jobs offer little income, young people are remaining at home

reasons of not having a marxist revolution

fragmentation of the capitalist class, a higher standard of living, more worker organizations, greater legal protections

working poor

get sympathy from both sides

working class

have little or no wealth and are vulnerable to financial problems caused by unemployment or illness. income of 28,000 to 49,000 1/3 of population

class affects

health, values and attitudes, politics, and it shapes family life

white collar occupations

higher prestige jobs that involve mental activity

average-middle class

income of 49,000 to 113,000

things that affect social standing

income, wealth, occupational prestige, schooling, and ancestry, race and gender

blue collar occupations

lower prestige jobs that involve mostly manual labor

capitalists

people who own and operate factories and other businesses in pursuit for profit

proletarians

people who sell their labor for wages

upper-upper class

possess enormous wealth that is primarily inherited

4 conclusions about social mobility in the u.s.

social mobility over the course of the past century has been fairly high, within a single generation, social mobility is usually small, long-term trend in social mobility has been upward, social mobility since the 1970s has been uneven

caste system

social stratification based on ascription or birth ( closed system, allows little change in social position )

class system

social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement ( open system, permits much more social mobility )

meritocracy

social stratification based on personal merit

Davis-moore thesis

states social stratification has beneficial consequences for the operation of a society

Social stratification

system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy

alienation

the experience of isolation and misery resulting from powerlessness

relative poverty

the lack of resources of some people in relation to those who have more

wealth

the total value of money and other assets, minus outstanding debts

upper class

top 5 percent of u.s. earn at least $200,000. inherited wealth

feminization of poverty

trend of women making up an increasing proportion of the poor

intergenerational social mobility

upward or downward social mobility of children in relation to their parents

Middle class

40-45% of U.S. population

Aristocratic England

First estate - church leaders Second estate - hereditary nobility Third estate - commoners primogeniture - required all property to pass to the oldest son or other male relation

caste system determines direction of persons life in 4 ways

1) families in each caste system perform one type of work ( except farming ) 2) demands that people marry others of the same ranking 3) guides everyday life by keeping people in the company of their "own kind" 4) rest on powerful cultural beliefs

4 important principles of social stratification

1) is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences, 2) carries over from generation to generation, 3) is universal but variable, 4) involves not just inequality but beliefs as well

lower class

20 of population. lives are insecure and dificult