Social Stratification

Income

Income

amount of money received by an individual or group over a specific time period

Wealth

total economic resources held by a person or group

Absolute poverty

the absence of enough money to secure life’s necessities

Relative poverty

a measure of poverty based on the economic disparity between those at the bottom of society and the rest of society

Welfare reform

the changes made to government assistance programs aimed at addressing social stratification and inequalities experienced by the poor

Caste system

a stratification structure that does not allow for social mobility

Power

the ability to control the behavior of others, even against their will

Prestige

recognition, respect, and admiration attached to social positions

Intergenerational mobility

a change in status or class from one generation to the next

Vertical mobility

a change upward or downward in occupational status or social class

Horizontal mobility

a change in occupation within the same social class

Social status

 a position a person occupies within a social structure

Inequality

the unequal distribution of goods and burdens based on one's social status and economic mobility

Feminization of poverty

 a trend in the U.S. society in which women and children make up an increasing proportion of the poor

Underclass

people typically unemployed who came from families who have been poor for generations

Working poor

people employed in low-skill jobs with the lowest pay who do not earn enough to rise out of poverty

Upper-middle class

individuals and families who benefited from the tremendous corporate and professional expansion following WW2, earn enough to live well and save money

Working class

below average income and unstable employment, little opportunity to exercise power or to participate in organizations, not likely to enter the middle class

Aristocracy (upper-uppers)

old money families whose names appear in high society, inherited wealth

Lower-upper class

based on achievement and earned income rather than birth or inherited wealth

How is absolute poverty different from relative poverty?

Absolute poverty refers to lacking basic necessities like food and shelter, whereas relative poverty is about having significantly less income or resources compared to others in society.

Functionalism

Job performance and pay are linked, with pay increasing as job performance rises

Conflict Theory

Social class affects crime punishment likelihood, with higher classes facing less prosecution

Symbolic Interactionism

Social class influences self-esteem, with the upper class having higher self-esteem

Upper Class

Includes 1% of the population, divided into upper-upper and lower-upper class. Based on birth and inherited wealth. Investors, heirs, chief executive officers

Upper Middle Class

14% of the population, Upper-level managers, professionals, owners of medium-sized businesses

Middle Classes

40-50% of Americans, and middle-middle class (30%). Lower-level managers, semiprofessionals, craftspeople, foremen, non-retail salespeople, clerical

Working Class

Comprises almost one-third of the population, with below-average income and unstable employment. Low-skill manual, clerical, and retail sales workers

Working Poor

13% of the population, employed in low-skill jobs with lowest pay. Lowest-paid manual, retail, and service workers

Underclass

12% of the population, usually unemployed with generational poverty. Unemployed people, people in part-time menial jobs, people receiving public assistance

Know the difference between power and prestige.

Power is the ability to influence others through control or coercion, while prestige is earned respect and admiration based on achievements or qualities.

Know the difference between wealth and income.

Wealth is the total assets owned, while income is the money earned over a period. Wealth is a stock measure, income is a flow measure.