Module 3: Social Class and Poverty

What is social stratification?

The hierarchal arrangement of large social groups based on their control over resources

1. Wealth

2. Prestige

3. Power

What are the principals of social stratifiction?

1. A characteristic of society

2. Persists over generations

3. Is universal

4. It involves beliefs

What kinds of things does social class provide? Name at least three.

1. Personality traits

2. Values/attitudes/perceptions

3. Education

4. Talents/skills/interests

5. Basic needs

6. Relationships

7. Where you live

What does functionalism say about social class?

2. The characteristics of stratification: Meritocracy

3. The Davis and Moore Model

What is meritocracy?

Government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability (merit)

What is the Davis and Moore model?

1. Accomplish tasks

2. Importance of positions for the survival of society

3. Positions must be filled by more qualified

4. Positions require training/talent

5. Functionally unique positions

What are some criticisms of the functionalist approach?

1. Not the case that all valuable jobs are rewarded or that all rewarded jobs are most valuable

2. Given limited resources, many talents are left undiscovered (dysfunction)

What does conflict theory say about social class?

1. Characteristics of stratification: Economic power/material possessions and False consciousness

2. Dahrendorf's Model

What is false consciousness in terms of conflict theory and social class?

Refers to how the consciousness of the lower classes systematically misperceives the dominant social relations that create their oppression in society

What is Dahrendorf's

1. Based on authority ("legitimate or given power")(command and obey class)

2. Different classes in different situations

What are the criticisms of conflict theory's approach?

1. Polarization of classes has not happened to extent Marx expected

2. Underestimates mobility in society

3. Overestimates economic self-interest

What does interactionism say about social class?

1. Characteristics of stratification: identity, social interaction, and symbols of social class

What are the criticisms of interactionism's approach?

1. expression of status is not uniform even among people in some social class

2. Underemphasizes structure

What is absolute poverty?

Not having enough money to afford the most basic necessities in life

What is relative poverty?

Not having enough money to maintain an average standard of living

What is the Poverty line

Minimal level of income government considers necessary for the basic standard of living

What is the poverty rate?

The amount of people who are at or below the poverty line

What are the consequences of poverty?

1. Homeless (individual vs institutional causes)

2. Health (access to healthcare, knowledge, and options)

3. Family

How does poverty affect health?

1. Access to healthcare (high cost of health and lack of sufficient healthcare

2. Health literacy (less education/experience and access to reliable resources of info)

3. Access to healthy options (food costs, food deserts)

4. Exposure (environmental hazards)

How are poverty and health outcomes related?

Those in poverty have higher rates of chronic disease, mental health issues, stress, and mortality

What two theories describe why class inequality is universal?

1. Modernization Theory

2. Dependency Theory

What is modernization theory?

Low income countries are poorer because of traditional attitudes about technology

What is dependency theory?

Low income countries are under-developed because they are dominated and exploited by wealthy countries

What is the culture of poverty?

The belief that poor people are resigned to their position in society and develop a unique value structure to deal with their lack of success

In terms of culture of poverty, what kind of subculture does generational poverty cause and what are some results of that?

Subculture:

1. Fatalism, helplessness

2. weak ties

3. living day-to-day, lack of future planning

4. distrust of institutions+mainstream value

Results:

1. Becomes a part of socialization and makes it harder to escape poverty

How does culture of poverty apply to real life?

1. Social theory and public policy (explains persistent poverty)

2. Public perspective (shaped public debates)

What are the criticisms of culture of poverty?

1. Downplays structure

2. mischaracterization of subculture

3. contradictory research

4. Ignoring power and inequality