SOCIAL CLASS—CHAPTER 9

STRATIFICATION=LAYERS OF SOCIETY

STUDIES

1966—LENSKI—”WHO GETS WHAT AND WHY” UNEQUAL AMOUNT OF DESIRABLE

RESOURCES UNEQUAL LIFE CHANCES UNEQUAL SOCIAL INFLUENCE

1989 WRIGHT---1 ½ MIL PEOPLE SPEND PART OF THE YEAR HOMELESS

3 DIMENSIONS 1-WEALTH

2-POWER

3-PRESTIGE

*CAN BE BUILT IN SYSTEM CLOSED---CASTE SYSTEM—BORN INTO IT OPEN----ACHIEVED STATUS

CLASS SYSTEM

BEST PREDICTOR OF YOUR CLASS POSITION ????

CLASS SYSTEM—NOT RANDOM DIFFERENT ROLES BASED ON AGE &

GENDER IN TRIBAL GROUPS NO SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE IS

PERFECTLY EQUAL

MARX—KEY IDEAS 1-CAPITALISM PRODUCES NEW

WEALTH 2-WEALTH DIVIDES SOCIETY

WHY? 3-OWNERS EXPLOIT THE WORKERS

WHY?*STRUCTURAL INEQUALITY IS KEY TO

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

MARX CONTINUED

4-CLASS INEQUALITY NOT A RESULT OF SOCIAL ACTIONS

5-WORKERS CAN’T COMPETE WITH OWNERS

6-REVOLUTION!

THEORIES

1-FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION Spencer/Durkheim—inequality is

functionally necessary

Davis/Moore—each person serves a function

Each is motivated by potential$ Some jobs not as important

MORE THEORIES 2-CULTURE

SLOW TO CHANGE SOME JOBS---MORE PRESTIGE EXAMPLES? GENDER/ETHNICITY/RACE CAN BE A FACTOR

VEBLEN-1899 BEST PAY FOR MOST UNDESIRABLE WORK

Garbage collector vs. teacher 3-POWER

BUREAUCRAT (GOV’T WORKER) HAS POWER NOT JUST OWNERS OF BUSINESSES

THEORIES 4-BOURDIEU—”CULTURAL CAPITAL”

5-KERBO—US CLASS STRUCTURE A-UPPER CLASS B-CORPORATE CLASS C-MIDDLE CLASS D-WORKING CLASS E-LOWER CLASS

SOCIAL MOBILITY—MOVEMENT BETWEEN CLASSES

RATE OF MOBILITY IS SLOWER STRUCTURAL MOBILITY

#’S AND CHANGES IN JOBS DECLINES DURING RECESSIONS INCREASES DURING ECONOMIC

GROWTH PERIODS EXAMPLES?

DOWNWARD MOBILITY

IMPACT ON IMMIGRANTS

1-take lower level & farm jobs 2-white collar workers have less

kids so can’t replace themselves in workforce

“socioeconomic index”—Blau & Dudley study Compare father & son’s education and

occupation