Week 4 Flashcards
(31 cards)
Social Class
Often defined by a combination of income, wealth, education, and occupation
What is the social class system in the United States?
The six social classes in Dennis Gilbert’s model of the class structure are the capitalist class (1%), upper-middle class (14%), middle class (30%), working class (30%), working poor (15%), and underclass (10%)
Jay Macleod
Wrote “Ain’t No Makin’ It”, about two peer groups (one predominately Black and one predominately White) in a housing project, and followed them from their teenage years into young adulthood and then into middle age
Annette Lareau
Demonstrates in her book, “Home Advantage”, although parents from all social classes have similar aspirations for their children, those with greater financial means can significantly boost their kids’ learning
Dennis Gilbert
Created the model of the class structure that relies primarily on income, occupation, and education; includes six social classes that are situated within three broad categories
Capitalists
Commonly known as the 1%; class that makes money from things they own such as businesses, real estate, stocks, and bonds
Upper-middle Class
Well-educated individuals who typically have jobs as business managers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, and some small business owners
Middle Class
Likely to have a high school diploma as well as some college experience; typically work as teachers, nurses, master craftspeople (plumbers, electricians, carpenters), and lower-level managers
Working Class
Have probably only completed high school or a trade school; typically work as office support (secretaries and administrative assistants), retail sales workers, factory workers, and low-paid craftspeople
Working Poor
Typically employed in insecure and low-wage jobs such as janitorial and cleaning staff, manual labor, landscaping, restaurant support (including fast food, wait staff, line cooks), and other service industries
Underclass
Work part-time, unemployed, or have inconsistent and unreliable work opportunities; often rely on public assistance to meet basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing
Social Mobility
Movement from an ascribed social class position to a new achieved social class position
What are some indicators of inequality in the US?
The income of most workers has remained relatively stagnant while the pay of those in the top 1% has skyrocketed. Since 1987, the average CEO has seen compensation increase 1,000%
In every category of educational attainment, men make significantly more than women, and Whites generally make more than people of color
The wealth gap between the top 1% and the rest of the country is still growing every year
Thomas Shapiro
Spent the past two decades documenting the wealth gap between Blacks and Whites. His research demonstrates quite clearly that many of the problems that Blacks
face (high rates of poverty, mass incarceration, and joblessness) can be directly connected to racial wealth gaps
Baby-bonds
An idea to close the racial wealth gap, proposed by Darrick Hamilton and William Darity. An account would be established by the federal government for each child at birth: Upper-class children would receive less, poorer children would receive more
Cumulative Advantages
Advantages that are built up over generations and contribute to social class inequality
Meritocracy
Belief that personal responsibility and individual effort are the sole determinants of success
GINI Index
Statistical measure used to compare inequality across countries
How is poverty measured?
There are different ways to measure poverty; definitions can focus on the necessities of life, the relative economic status of people in a society, or the essence of being poor (such as the challenges and outcomes of being poor)
What can put someone at risk of poverty?
Type of household, level of education, disability status, and race are among the characteristics that put some groups at higher risk of poverty than others
Katherine Newman
Wrote the book “No Shame in My Game: The Working Poor in the Inner City”, which explains the hardships which the working poor face
Martha Burt
Identified the three main factors which create conditions that increase the risk of homelessness: 1) structural factors such as changes in the housing market, employment opportunities, criminal justice policies, and institutional support, 2) individual characteristics such as disabilities, mental illness, addiction, and a felony record, 3) public policies, which can prevent homelessness and reduce the impact of structural and personal factors that place people at risk
Matthew Desmond
Wrote “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in The American City”, which detailed evictions and how they affect people
Absolute Poverty
Poverty measure that considers the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, and clothing
