8.3 Research On Social Stratification Today Flashcards
(25 cards)
Are There Sharply Defined Boundaries Between Classes
No. And no real argument among sociologists about where the boundaries should fall
Upper Class
À social class broadly composed of the more affluent members of society, especially those who have inherited wealth, own businesses, or hold large numbers of stocks (shares)
Middle Class
À social class composed broadly of those working in white-collar and lower managerial occupations
Historically, they had relatively stable jobs based on higher education or technical skills and credentials
They have more modest standard of living than the upper class
They can meet basic needs such as health care and education
They usually own homes
Working Class
À social class broadly composed of people working in blue-collar, or manual, occupations
Lower Class
À social class comprising those who work part-time or not at all and whose household income is typically lower than 31000$ a year
The lower class overlaps with the working class to account for about 29% of American households
Social Mobility
Movement of individuals or groups between different social positions
Intergenerational Mobility
Movement up or down a social stratification hierarchy from one generation to another
Intragenerational Mobility
Movement up or down social stratification hierarchy within the course of a personal career
Structural Mobility
Mobility resulting from changes in the number and kinds of jobs available in society
Exchange Mobility
The exchange of positions on the socioeconomic scale such that talented people move up the economic hierarchy while the less talented move down
Cultural capital
The economic or cultural ressources that parents pass down to their children, such as language or knowledge.
These ressources contribute to the process of social reproduction, according to Bourdieu
Downward Mobility
Downward intergenerational mobility has increased in recent years
Short Range Downward Mobility
Where a worker moves from one job to another similar in pay and prestige, is the most common type of downward mobility
Absolute Poverty
Not meeting the minimal requirements necessary to sustain a healthy existence
Relative Poverty
Poverty defined according to the living standards of the majority in any given society
Poverty In the US
Poverty is concentrated by race/ethnicity
Poverty is closely related to family structure
Housing insecurity is common
Many people move in and out of poverty
Poverty and Policy
While class categories are not official, social class is important for government policy
The federal government uses income categories to set tax rates for progressive taxation
The government also defines poverty and uses that definition to determine who may get government benefits
Poverty Line
An official government measure to define those living in poverty in the US
This calculation results in a strict budget, which for a family of 4 in 2020 works out to an annual cash income of just over 26000$ or about 2000$ a month to cover all expenses
Critics argue that this formula greatly indexes times the amount of poverty
Working Poor
People who work but whose earnings are not enough to lift them above the poverty line
Education can significantly impact the likelihood that someone will be among the working poor
Most poor people earn too much to qualify for welfare.
Only 5% of all low-income families with a full-time, full year worker receive welfare benefits
Poverty Rates
Poverty rates in the US are much higher among most minority groups than among non-Hispanic Whites
Racial Discrepancies
Racial discrepancies in median household income reflect members of minority groups who often work at the lowest-paying jobs; racial discrimination also plays a role in structural/systemic issue
Feminization of Poverty
An increase in the proportion of the poor who are female.
The feminization of poverty is particularly acute among families headed by Hispanic women or Black women
65+ Population in Poverty
Poverty rates estimated among older adults may underestimate how widespread older adult poverty because they fail to consider the high costs of medical care.
Homeless/Unhoused
People who have no place to sleep and either stay in free shelters or sleep in public places not meant for habitation
The fastes-growing group of homeless people consisted of families with children (at time of text publication from class)
