Sociology- Ch.11 Social

The Working Poor

15% of poor families worked 50 weeks of the year and could not escape poverty. Anther 30% worked part time and remained poor despite being employed. Minimum wage cannot end working poverty unless it was 11.07.

What is the percent of the poor between 18-24?

20.6% of those between 18-24

What is the percent of the poor under 18?

21.9% of those under 18

Who is more likely to be impoverished, men or women?

59% of those impoverished are women, and 41% are men. Women as head of households are more likely to be poor.

What percent of the elderly are poor today?

7.8% of the elderly are poor. In the 1967 the poverty rate for elderly was 30%, but we now have better retirement programs.

What ethnic/ race is more likely to be poor?

77% of the poor are white,including Hispanics and whites, but in relation to population size, African Americans are more likely to be poor. They are 3x as more likely to be poor.

Intragenerational Social Mobility

A change in social position occurring during a person's life time.

Absolute Poverty

A lack of resources that is life-threatening.

The Working Class

About 1/3 of the population falls within this class, the core of the industrial class. Mostly hold blue-collar jobs. Have little to no wealth, vulnerable to financial problems caused by unemployment or illness. Little personal satisfaction in their jobs. Half own their homes in lower-cost neighborhoods.

What percentage of the U.S. population are poor?

About 15% of the U.S. population.

Schooling

Affects both occupation and income. Some categories of people have greater opportunities of _______ than others.

Historically, who has had less opportunity for social mobility?

African Americans, Women, Hispanic Americans. While, white men have had the most opportunity

Homelessness

An estimated 1.6 million people are homeless within the course of a year and it's increasing in the U.S. The homeless are more often people who lost a job, those escaping domestic violence, those forced out by rent increases,and others who are unable to pay the rent/ mortgage. However, the majority report to not work. 1/3 abuse drugs and 1/4 are mentally ill.

Ancestry

Being born into a particular family affects a person's opportunities for schooling,occupation, and income.

Horizontal Social Mobility

Changing jobs at the same class level

What contributes to downwards social mobility?

Dropping out of high school, losing a job, or becoming divorced.

What contributes to upwards social mobility?

Earning a college degree, landing a higher-paying job or marrying someone who earns a good income.

Income

Earnings from work and investments are unequal, with the richest 20% of families earning 13x as much as the poorest 20%

Is the American Dream still a possibility?

Earnings have stalled, jobs offer little income due to expansion of industry overseas, the 2008 recession brought economic decline which brought a drop in housing values and other investments, and 18-24 year olds are staying home. The wealthy are getting wealthier, and the poor are getting poorer basically.

Which ancestry has enjoyed the most wealth and greatest amount of power in U.S. society?

English ancestry.

Jay Zagorsky

Found that people who marry and stay married accumulate 2x as much as people who remain single or who divorce. Those who live together enjoy double incomes and also pay half the amount of bills that they would if they had stayed single.

Power

Income and wealth are sources of __________

Social Stratification involves what?

Income,wealth,power, occupational prestige, and schooling.

Lower Class

Insecure and difficult lives. 70% manage to complete high school but only 15% complete a four year degree. 43% are able to own their own homes in the least desirable neighborhoods.

What is the affect of global reorganization?

It has created upward social mobility for the educated, but has taken away jobs from the average worker and expanded them overseas, the average workers are now forced to work low-paying jobs in the service industry.

How does social position affect family life?

Lower-class families are generally larger because of less use of birth control and earlier marriages. Working-class parents encourage children to conform to social norms, and to respect authority figures. Higher class families encourage their children's individuality and imagination. Lower class families divide their responsibilities based on gender roles, while higher class couple share the responsibilities equally not based on gender roles.

Has been social mobility within the last century been high or low?

Mobility has been fairly high, most men and women show mobility in relation to their parents.

Race and Ethnicity

Non-Hispanic white families enjoy high social standing based on income and wealth. In contrast, African American and Hispanic families remain disadvantaged.

Gender

On average, women have less income,wealth, and occupational prestige than men. Families with the woman as the family head are twice as likely to be poor.

Lower-Uppers

Referred to as the "working rich"; This class will earn their money, rather than simply inheriting it. Generally live in large homes in expensive neighborhoods, own vacation homes near the water, and send their children to private schools and good colleges. Considered the "New rich" This is the epitome of the "American Dream"

How has social mobility been since the 1970's?

Social mobility has been rather uneven since the 1970's, real income has risen and fallen with overall smaller gains than before 1970.

In a single generation, is social mobility high or low?

Social mobility is usually small, because young families increase their income over time as they gain education and skills. Most social mobility involves limited movement within one class level.

Blame Society

Society is to blame for poverty because of the loss of jobs which doesn't allow families to support themselves.

Upper-Upper class

Sometimes referred as "blue bloods; membership is almost always a result of birth. Possess enormous wealth, which is primarily inherited. The more of a family's wealth that comes in the form of stocks and bonds,real estate, and other investments, the stronger the claim to being a member of this class. This class often lives in old, exclusive neighborhoods, children attend private school with those of similar background, and study liberal arts in college. "Old money"

Which ancestry remains the most disadvantaged?

The Latino population. By far the largest racial and ethnic minority.

Blame the Poor

The impoverished are to blame for being poor. We, as a society, put a high cultural value on self reliance. This view says that society offers enough opportunities to anyone who is able and willing to take advantage of their situation.

Relative Poverty

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

What is the long term trend of social mobility?

The long term trend is upwards due to industrialization and white-collar jobs.

How does social position affect politics?

The rich and the wealthy are more likely to be conservative over economic issues, by favoring lower taxes. However, they are more liberal when it comes to social issues such as abortion or gay rights. The lower class are economically liberal, but socially conservative.

What is the short term trend of social mobility?

The short term trend is downwards. The middle class has become smaller as income and wealth have declined due to the 2008 recession.

Wealth

The total value of all assets minus debts, is distributed more unequally than income, with the richest 20% of all families holding 89% of all wealth.

Feminization of Poverty

The trend of women making up an increasing proportion of the poor.

How does social position affect values and attitudes?

The upper-upper class or "old rich" have a strong sense of family history because their wealth is passed down from generation to generation. Upper-uppers also favor understated manners and taste. The new rich engage in conspicuous consumption. The higher your social standing, the more tolerant you are. The lower your social standing, the less tolerant you are.

Upper Middle

This class lives in comfortable homes in fairly expensive areas, own several cars, and build investments. 2/3 of this class's children will graduate from college and PhD's are common. Many will continue to work white-collar jobs. Play an important role in local political affairs.

How does social position affect health?

Those with higher incomes are more likely to seek medical assistance than those with lower incomes. Those with low incomes are 13x LESS likely to seek medical attention. Children of those born into poor families are 2x as likely to die from diseases,neglect,accidents, or violence during their early childhood. Rich people have a higher life expectancy by five years.

Average Middle

Typically work less prestigious white collar jobs, build a smaller amount of wealth during their working lives mostly in the form of a house of a retirement investment account. More likely to become high school graduates but 50/50 for them to be college graduates.

Intergenerational Social Mobility

Upward or downward social mobility of children in relation to their parents.

What affects does divorce have on social mobility?

Usually, it causes social mobility to go down. Women are often hurt more because men earn more than women, women will lose the income and the healthcare of the

Occupational Prestige

Work generates income and prestige. White-collar jobs generally offer more income and prestige than blue-collar jobs. Many lower-prestige jobs are performed by women and people of color.