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Hot Button Question: Is homelessness a problem that should concern the American public? If so, what should be done to remedy the issue of homelessness?
Student Responses…YES! • Yes, homelessness should be a concern because people have a need and for most of them it isn’t their fault. Even if it is their fault, we should try to help. A remedy would be for everyone to donate food, or time to build shelters or talk to these people. • Yes. There should be a bigger effort to create homeless shelters where people can be educated and helped to find a job.
Student Responses…YES! • There is homelessness all over America, it just might not be seen in places that aren’t big cities. I think it should concern people. I don’t believe that people shouldn’t have a home. More people should be willing to open up homeless shelters and feed hungry and homeless people.
Student Responses…UMM… • Homelessness is a problem, but I think we should look at it on a person level. I believe we should ask the questions: Are they truly trying hard to get a job? Are they drug-free? • Homelessness is a problem that should be sympathized by the American public, but not one that should concern them because all societies have homeless people. We should just continue trying to create jobs and collecting food for charities.
Student Responses…NO! • No, homelessness is not an American problem, it is the homeless person’s problem. • Homelessness is not a concern America should be worried about because it’s an individual’s problem. • No. Most of the time it’s their fault.
Social Stratification • DEFINITION: the ranking of individuals based on the unequal distribution of power, prestige & property • Access to scarce resources & social rewards • Resources & Rewards: • Education, stable job and bank loan
Social Stratification • In most cases, power, prestige & property occur together; however, this is not always true • EXAMPLES?
Social Stratification • Property: • Net worth and/or wealth • Objective measurement • Power: • Capacity to influence people & events in order to obtain wealth & prestige • Objective measurement
Social Stratification • Prestige: • An individual’s status among his peers and in society • Subjective measurement
Social Stratification • Which careers do you think are most prestigious? • Least prestigious?
Socioeconomic Status • DEFINITION: a rating that determines an individual’s relative position within the system of stratification • Three Factors: • Education • Occupation • Income
Caste System • Position based on ascribed status • Fixed, closed boundaries • Not much potential for social mobility • Endogamy; exogamy not permitted • Status consistency
Class System • Position based on achieved status • Open boundaries • Greater potential for social mobility • Endogamy not required; exogamy allowed • Less status consistency
Social Class • DEFINITION: a group of people who share similar levels of wealth, influence and status (SES) • Sociologists use THREE methods to determine one’s social class
Social Class • Objective Method: analyzes “hard” facts • Subjective Method: asks people what they think of themselves • Reputational Method: asks what people think of others
Hot Button Question: Why are wealthy people wealthy? Why are poor people poor?
Student Responses…Wealthy people are wealthy because… • They work hard to earn a living. They save their money wisely in order to remain wealthy. • They worked harder or smarter than everyone else. • They are smart, work hard, and work in fields that are their strengths. • They went the extra mile to succeed and have the best education to get the best paying job.
Student Responses…Wealthy people are wealthy because… • They have money. • They either inherited the money or they know how the world works. • They can afford excess. • They either have an amazing job, or got money passed down. • Often wealthy people are wealthy because they are born into a family who has collected wealth for many years.
Student Responses…Poor people are poor because… • They are lazy and don’t work as hard as wealthy people. • They are lazy and don’t do enough for themselves and probably do drugs. • Poor people don’t know how to invest and save their money. Also, they don’t take advantage of the education given to them. • They don’t want to try as hard as those who are wealthier. • They want to work for someone instead of being an entrepreneur. • They are unwilling to work or have bad luck.
Student Responses…Poor people are poor because… • They have lower income jobs. • They either lost a job, grew up in a poor environment, don’t have an education, or couldn’t afford an education, or are just lazy and live off the government. • They were either born into a poor family and had less opportunities or did not work hard. • The poor are poor because of their pre-existing situation, economic tragedies that happened in their life, and their low access to higher paying jobs. • Poor people may not have the same opportunities as the wealthy.
And Finally… • Some people are wealthy because they worked hard to get a good job. Some people are poor because they haven’t worked for money. HOWEVER, more often people are born into a social class that gives them either advantages or disadvantages in society.
Lower Class • 15–20% of population • Less than $19,000/year
Lower Class • Characteristics: • Poverty, homelessness, unemployment • (Absolute poverty v. relative poverty) • Most do not have high school diplomas • Lack of adequate housing, food, clothing, safety, medical care, etc.
Working Class • 30–40% of population • Median: males ($40,000) & females ($26,000) • Minimally educated, though generally have high school diplomas • Manual labor
Working Class • Working poor: • Unskilled workers • Dishwashers, cashiers, maids, servers, etc. • Minimum wage; underpaid • No opportunity for career advancement; “dead-end job”
Working Class • Blue Collar: • Skilled workers; trade • Carpenters, plumbers, electricians, truck drivers, police officers, etc. • Better wages than the working poor
Middle Class, “Sandwich” • 40–50% of population • Median: males ($70,000) & females ($50,000) • Lower Middle: • Less education (B.A.) with lower incomes • Upper Middle: • Highly educated (M.A, PhD) with higher incomes
Upper Class • 1–3% of population • $350,000+ • 25% of total wealth
Upper Class • Lower-Upper: • “New” money • Made from investments, business ventures, etc.
Upper Class • Upper-Upper: • “Old” money • Aristocratic, high-society, inheritance
