WarmUp: Journal One Complete the following Quotes in your journals for

#1-3. Then answer #4-5.1. Poor people are poor because…2. Rich people are rich because…3. The government’s responsibility in helping poor people is…

4. What is the difference between individual government welfare & financial “bailouts” for big businesses?5. Do we as a society view these 2 ideas (welfare & bailouts) differently? Why or why not?

Chapter 9.2Social Stratification

Objectives: Identify the characteristics of the

American class system Explain how different motivations &

cultural values influence the American class system

Describe the steps that have been taken by the federal government to lessen the effects of poverty

American Class System

Upper Class 1% of

population “old money” vs

“new money” prestigious

schools, heirs, investors, large business owners & top executives

Upper Middle Class 14% of

population high income

business people & professionals

college educated & advanced degrees

Lower Middle Class 30% of population high school or

college educated lower level

managers, skilled craft workers, supervisors

Working Class 30% of population high school education blue collar jobs pay as much, if not more, than

white collar, but less prestige

Working Poor 22% of population some high school laborers, service

workers (gardeners, house cleaners, etc)

Underclass 3% of population some high school undesirable, low-

paying jobs, unemployed, or on welfare for some time

Poverty the standard of living that is below the

minimum level considered adequate by society

Characteristics of Poor

Americans

Sex women are the

largest segment at 57%

female-headed households account for about ½ of all poor families

Age children are the largest group at 37% 3X as many African-American & Hispanic

children are poor than white children

Race and Ethnicity African-Americans & Hispanics are far

more likely than white Americans to be poor

The 2009 Poverty Guidelines for the48 Contiguous States & the District of Columbia Persons in family Poverty guidelines 1 $10,830 2 14,570 3 18,310 4 22,050 5 25,790 6 29,530 7 33,270 8 37,010 for families with more than 8 persons,add $3,740 for each additional person