Social Class in the United Social Class in the United StatesStates

By Danny LeavyBy Danny Leavy

Social Class Definition DebateSocial Class Definition Debate• Max Weber defines social class as a large Max Weber defines social class as a large

group of people who rank close to one group of people who rank close to one another in terms of wealth, power, and another in terms of wealth, power, and prestige.prestige.

• According to Karl Marx there are two According to Karl Marx there are two groups in social class: capitalists who own groups in social class: capitalists who own means of production and workers who sell means of production and workers who sell their labor. their labor.

• Most sociologists adopt Max Weber's Most sociologists adopt Max Weber's components of social class.components of social class.

Wealth, Power, and PrestigeWealth, Power, and Prestige• Wealth is how much one's property is Wealth is how much one's property is

worth minus its debts.worth minus its debts.• Power is the ability to carry out your will Power is the ability to carry out your will

despite resistance from others.despite resistance from others.• Prestige is one's respect or regard.Prestige is one's respect or regard.• The top 20% of the population receives The top 20% of the population receives

almost half of the income.almost half of the income.• The bottom 20% of the population The bottom 20% of the population

receives slightly more than 4%receives slightly more than 4%

Occupations and PrestigeOccupations and Prestige• There are 4 features that determine the There are 4 features that determine the

prestige of an occupation:prestige of an occupation:

1. Greater pay1. Greater pay

2. Require more education2. Require more education

3. Entail more abstract thought3. Entail more abstract thought

4. Independence or self direction4. Independence or self direction

Status InconsistencyStatus Inconsistency Status inconsistency refers to people who Status inconsistency refers to people who

rank higher on some dimensions of social rank higher on some dimensions of social class and lower on others.class and lower on others.

Example: A janitor for an apartment Example: A janitor for an apartment complex often makes more money than complex often makes more money than many of the tenants they clean for.many of the tenants they clean for.

Class examples.Class examples.

Old Models vs NewOld Models vs New The old social class models of Karl Marx The old social class models of Karl Marx

and and Max Weber were very broad. and and Max Weber were very broad. Weber had just a definition and Marx had Weber had just a definition and Marx had only two levels of class.only two levels of class.

Erik Wright later modified Marx's model Erik Wright later modified Marx's model and added two more classes.and added two more classes.

Dennis Gilbert and Joseph Kahl's model Dennis Gilbert and Joseph Kahl's model consists of six social classes.consists of six social classes.

The new models are much more specific The new models are much more specific and clearly separate classes.and clearly separate classes.

Gilbert and Kohls ModelGilbert and Kohls Model Upper (Capitalists)- Income of $1,000,000+. Upper (Capitalists)- Income of $1,000,000+.

Investors, heirs, and top executives.Investors, heirs, and top executives. Upper Middle- $125,000+. Professionals and Upper Middle- $125,000+. Professionals and

upper managers.upper managers. Lower Middle- About $60,000. Lower managers Lower Middle- About $60,000. Lower managers

and craftspeople.and craftspeople. Working- About $35,000. Factory workers and Working- About $35,000. Factory workers and

retail sales.retail sales. Working Poor- About $17,000. Laborers and Working Poor- About $17,000. Laborers and

service workers.service workers. Underclass- Under $10,000. Unemployed and Underclass- Under $10,000. Unemployed and

part-time workers.part-time workers.

Social Class ConsequencesSocial Class Consequences The lower one's social class, the more The lower one's social class, the more

likely they are to die before the likely they are to die before the expected age.expected age.

People in lower classes are more likely People in lower classes are more likely to smoke, eat fats, abuse drugs and to smoke, eat fats, abuse drugs and alcohol, and get little or no exercise.alcohol, and get little or no exercise.

Mental problems are associated with Mental problems are associated with lower classes due to stress levels.lower classes due to stress levels.

Divorces are more likely to occur in Divorces are more likely to occur in lower class families.lower class families.

Social Class Consequences Social Class Consequences ContinuedContinued

Episcopalians are more likely to be upper Episcopalians are more likely to be upper or middle class.or middle class.

Baptists are generally lower class.Baptists are generally lower class. The higher people are on the social class The higher people are on the social class

ladder, the more likely they are to vote ladder, the more likely they are to vote Republican.Republican.

Members of the lower class are more likely Members of the lower class are more likely to be in prison, on probation, or on parole.to be in prison, on probation, or on parole.

Social Class and TechnologySocial Class and Technology The development of new technology helps The development of new technology helps

the capitalist and upper class expand the capitalist and upper class expand businesses worldwide. businesses worldwide.

Technology eliminates the need for Technology eliminates the need for specialized craft workers in the lower-specialized craft workers in the lower-middle class.middle class.

The working poor and the underclass are The working poor and the underclass are left with few job opportunities due to left with few job opportunities due to technology.technology.

Social MobilitySocial Mobility There are three types of social mobility.There are three types of social mobility. Intergenerational mobility refers to a Intergenerational mobility refers to a

change that occurs between change that occurs between generations.generations.

Structural mobility refers to a change in Structural mobility refers to a change in society that causes large numbers of society that causes large numbers of people to move up or down.people to move up or down.

Exchange mobility occurs when large Exchange mobility occurs when large numbers of people move up and down numbers of people move up and down but remain balanced.but remain balanced.

Women and Social MobilityWomen and Social Mobility Classic studies of social mobility did not Classic studies of social mobility did not

have women in their own classes, they have women in their own classes, they were attached to the class of their were attached to the class of their husband.husband.

Male sociologists claimed that they left Male sociologists claimed that they left women out because there were too few women out because there were too few women in the work force.women in the work force.

Studies show that most women in Studies show that most women in managerial positions were told by their managerial positions were told by their family to postpone marriage and get an family to postpone marriage and get an education.education.

Definition of PovertyDefinition of PovertyThe government computes a low-cost food The government computes a low-cost food budget and multiplies it by 3 to draw the budget and multiplies it by 3 to draw the poverty line.poverty line.This method was developed in the 1960s This method was developed in the 1960s when poor people spent about 1/3 of their when poor people spent about 1/3 of their money on food.money on food.It is now estimated that poor people spend It is now estimated that poor people spend about 1/5 of their money on food, meaning about 1/5 of their money on food, meaning they should multiply the number by 5 to they should multiply the number by 5 to draw the line. draw the line.

Characteristics of the PoorCharacteristics of the Poor Poverty by race: 10% of whites, 10% of Poverty by race: 10% of whites, 10% of

Asian Americans, 22% of Latinos, 24% of Asian Americans, 22% of Latinos, 24% of African Americans, and 26% of Native African Americans, and 26% of Native Americans live in poverty.Americans live in poverty.

3% of people who finish college end up in 3% of people who finish college end up in poverty.poverty.

More than 20% of high school dropouts More than 20% of high school dropouts end up in poverty.end up in poverty.

16% of rural Americans are poor.16% of rural Americans are poor.

Structural vs. Individual PovertyStructural vs. Individual Poverty Structural reasons for poverty includeStructural reasons for poverty include

racial, age and gender discrimination.racial, age and gender discrimination. Closing of plants, fewer unskilled jobs and Closing of plants, fewer unskilled jobs and

increase in minimum wage jobs are more increase in minimum wage jobs are more structural reasons for poverty.structural reasons for poverty.

Individual reasons for poverty include Individual reasons for poverty include dropping out of school and having children dropping out of school and having children in the teen years.in the teen years.

Changes in Welfare PolicyChanges in Welfare Policy U.S. Welfare was restructured in 1996U.S. Welfare was restructured in 1996 Change required states to place a lifetime Change required states to place a lifetime

cap on welfare assistance and compel cap on welfare assistance and compel welfare recipients to look for work and welfare recipients to look for work and take available jobs.take available jobs.

The maximum length of time someone can The maximum length of time someone can collect welfare is 5 yrs.collect welfare is 5 yrs.

People who oppose the law call it an attack People who oppose the law call it an attack on the poor while defenders say it will on the poor while defenders say it will rescue people from poverty rescue people from poverty

Horatio Alger MythHoratio Alger Myth The myth is the belief that limitless The myth is the belief that limitless

possibilities exist for everyone.possibilities exist for everyone. It encourages people to compete for higher It encourages people to compete for higher

positions and helps society a lot of the positions and helps society a lot of the time.time.

On the other hand, it implies that if you do On the other hand, it implies that if you do not make it, it is your own fault.not make it, it is your own fault.

Since the fault is viewed as the individuals, Since the fault is viewed as the individuals, societies arrangements can be regarded as societies arrangements can be regarded as satisfactory.satisfactory.