Chapter 8

Social Stratification

Chapter Outline Using the Sociological Imagination Dimensions of Stratification Explanations of Stratification Stratification in American Society

Chapter Outline Poverty in America Consequences of Stratification Social Mobility Global Stratification

Stratification Social Stratification ranks individuals

by wealth, prestige, and power. A stratification structure is

composed of: Social classes Segments of a population whose

members hold a similar share of resources.

Occupational Prestige Occupations with the greatest

prestige: Pay the most Require the greatest amount of

training, skill, and ability Provide the most power Are considered the most important

Percentage Change in After-Tax Income 1977–1999

Shares of Wealth

Prestige Rankings of Selected Occupations in the U.S.

Occupation Prestige Score

Surgeon 87

Lawyer 75

College professor 74

Engineer 71

School principal 69

Pharmacist 68

Prestige Rankings of Selected Occupations in the U.S.

Occupation Prestige Score

Registered nurse 66

Accountant 65

Professional athlete 65

Public grade school teacher

64

Banker 63

Druggist 63

Prestige Rankings of Selected Occupations in the U.S.

Occupation Prestige Score

Veterinarian 62

Police officer 61

Actor 60

Journalist 60

TV anchorman 60

Businessperson 60

Theoretical Perspectives: Social Stratification

Perspective Research Topic

Functionalism Relationship between job performance and pay

Conflict theory Relationship between social class and the likelihood of punishment for a crime

Symbolic Interactionism

Link between social class and self-esteem

Functionalism and Stratification Stratification:

Motivates people to prepare themselves for difficult and important jobs.

Motivates people to perform well once they are in those jobs.

Social Classes in America Upper class Middle class Working class Lower class Underclass

American Class Structure

The Distribution of Poverty in the United States

Measuring Poverty Absolute poverty

Determined by annual income. Anything below a determined

(absolute) amount is poverty. Relative poverty

Contrasts income groups at the bottom of the stratification structure with those above them.

Percentage of the U.S. Population in Poverty

Ideology of Individualism

1. Each individual should work hard to succeed in competition with others.

2. Those who work hard should be rewarded with success.

Ideology of Individualism

3. Because of widespread and equal opportunity, those who work hard will be rewarded with success.

4. Economic failure is an individual’s own fault and reveals lack of effort.

Perceived Reasons for Poverty in the United States

Reasons for Poverty

Importance

Very Somewhat Not

Lack of proper money

management64% 30% 6%

Lack of effort 53 39 8

Perceived Reasons for Poverty in the United States

Reasons for Poverty

Importance

Very Somewhat Not

Loose morals and

drunkenness44 30 27

Low wages 40 47 14

Perceived Reasons for Poverty in the United States

Reasons for Poverty

Importance

Very Somewhat Not

Failure of society to

provide good schools

46 29 26

Prejudice and discrimination

31 44 25

Global Inequality

People Living on Less than $1 a Day

Region1987

% of pop.1998

% of pop.

Sub-Saharan Africa 46.6 46.3

South Asia 44.9 40.0

Latin America & Caribbean 15.3 15.6

East Asia & Pacific 26.6 15.3

Eastern Europe & Central Asia

0.2 5.1

Middle East & North Africa 4.3 1.9