Sociology chap. 9

Social stratification

 a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy 

4 important principles of social stratification

1. Is a trait of society, not a reflection of individual differences 

2. Carries over from generation to generation 

Social mobility - a change in position within social hierarchy 

3. Is universal bt variable 

4. In not just inequalities, but beliefs as well 

closed systems

allow little change in social position (caste systems)

open system

permit much more social mobility (class system)

caste system

social satisfaction based on ascription, or birth 

• Determines the direction of a person life 

• Demands that people marry others of the same ranking 

• Guides everyday life by keeping people in the company of “their own kind”

• Typical in agrarian societies

class system

 social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement  

meritocracy

social stratification based on personal merit (knowledge, skill, talent, and effort)

status consistency

the degree of uniformity in a person’s social standing across various dimensions of social inequality 

social classes in canada

upper, middle, working, lower

Upper class

• Top 5% 

• At least 129 600 per year 

• Many are "capitalists" - the owners of the means of production and thus mkost if the nation's private wealth 

upper-uppers

• Less than 1% 

• Almost always the result of birth 

• Enormous wealth, primarily inherited 

lower-uppers

• Some of the richest people in the world 

• “Working rich” 

• 3-4%

middle class

• 45% 

• $88 000 - $125 000 per year 

average middles

• Work less prestigious jobs 

• $62 000 - $88 000 (national average) 

the working class

• ⅓ of the population 

• $38 500 - $62 000 per year 

• Little to no wealth and are vulnerable to financial problems caused by unemployment or illness

lower class

• 20% 

• Low income makes life insecure and difficult 

Health in terms of class

• Related to social standing 

• Children born into poor families are more likely to die from disease, neglect, accidents, ot violence in their first year of life 

• In adulthood people with above-average incomes are more likely to describe their health as excellent 

• Negative greater health disparities can be expected among the working and lower class of all racial and ethnic background

values and attitudes in terms of class

• Vary from class to class 

• Family history, manners and tastes, being more accepting, etc.

• Less likely to attend college and are more socially conservative 

• Higher social status = more confidence in everyday interaction

Social mobility

• Less common now 

• 5 general conclusions

• Experience depends on social class 

• White people and men are more privileged 

• Marriage is important in social standing 

• Disturbing trends 

• More people have become rich, and the rich have been becoming richer 

5 general conclusions of social mobility

1. Social mobility over the last four or five generations has been fairly high 

2. Over the life course, in the past and today, some social mobility is common but limited

3. The long term-trend in social mobility has been upward 

4. Living standards are generally increasing but the patterns shows considerable variation 

5. Mobility varies a great deal according to class levels

Disturbing trends of social mobility

1. For many workers, earnings have stalled 

2. More jobs offer little income 

3. Young people are reining at home 

relative poverty

 the lack of resources of some people in relation to those who have more

Absolute poverty

a lack of resources that is life-threatening (1:10) 

categories of poverty

most serious when they overlap

• age

• race and ethnicity

• gender and family patterns

• Urban ad rural poverty

age

elderly (pension plans)

race and ethnicity

• Visible minorities have a higher chance of living in poverty 

• Indigenous, BIPOC, etc.

gender and family patterns

• Women more likely than men 

• Lone-parent households

urban and rural poverty

• Metropolitan areas usually have higher earning compared to rural communities 

• Poverty is more hidden in rural regions

feminization of poverty

 the trend of women making up an increasing proportion of the poor 

homelessness

• Around 150 000 - 300 000 people a year access homeless services or sleep outside 

• Poverty 

• Results from social factors (discrimination, unemployment, stagnating incomes and low wedges, lack of affordable housing) 

Economic inequality…

has not reached levels not seen since before the great depression or before world war II 

Canada values…

competitive individualism and personal responsibility