Social Class & Poverty Powerpoint

Social Inequality & Stratification

  • Discussion on capitalism and its implications on stratification and social inequality.

  • Reference to industrial workers and strategies of unionism, highlighting power dynamics: "WE RULE YOU, WE FOOL YOU, WE SHOOT AT YOU."

Page 2: Checking In

  • Assessment of feelings regarding reading quizzes.

  • Encourage adjustments to study techniques for better outcomes.

  • Exams based on application rather than memorization from textbooks.

  • Future exams will revisit same concepts; address questions now.

  • Updated course schedule available on Blackboard.

Page 3: What is Stratification?

  • Definition: Stratification categorizes members of society into a hierarchical structure where access to resources is unequal.

  • Types of Stratification Systems:

    • Slavery

    • Caste

    • Estate

    • Social Class

  • Social class defined as a ranking system in capitalist societies based on:

    • Wealth

    • Property

    • Power

    • Prestige

  • Distinction between Income and Wealth:

    • Income: Flow of money over time

    • Wealth: Total value of assets owned

  • Socioeconomic Status (SES):

    • Factors include education, income, and wealth.

Page 4: Worth in Society

  • Activity: Rank individuals based on perceived worth within society.

  • Be prepared to justify your rankings.

Page 5: What is Poverty?

  • Definition:

    • Abject/Absolute Poverty: Inability to secure basic living necessities (food, water, housing, clothing).

    • Relative Poverty: Inability to maintain the standard living of the community.

  • Measuring Poverty in the U.S.:

    • Method: Cost of a subsistence diet multiplied by 3.

    • Method has not been updated since the 1960s, although adjustments for food inflation occur.

  • Issues with current poverty measurement approaches.

Page 6: Crunching Numbers

  • Example exercise for living expenses for a family of four with various categories:

    • Rent, Utilities, WIFI & TV, Monthly Cellphone, Automobile, Food & Toiletries, Daycare or School Costs, Clothing, Health Insurance.

  • Final figures will be shared in class.

  • Poverty guidelines provided:

    • 1 person: $11,490; 2 persons: $15,510; 3 persons: $19,530.

Page 7: Key Takeaways

  • 2022 poverty rate: 11.5%, equating to 38 million Americans living in poverty.

  • Exploring updated calculations and living wage assessments.

  • Intersectionality: The overlapping systems of discrimination based on race, class, and gender affecting poverty.

  • Groups heavily impacted: elderly, women & children, racial minorities, migrant groups.

Page 8: Macro-Level Causes of Poverty

  • Discussion on broader economic and social structures influencing poverty rates.

Page 9: Income Inequality

  • Comparison of income and costs over time for selected items:

    • Gas: 1977: .62 vs. 2020: $5

    • Rent: $108 vs. $1,164

    • Car: $4,000 vs. $30,000

    • Milk: .83 vs. $3.32

    • Health Insurance: $3,528 annually vs. $13,824 annually.

  • Consideration of stagnant income versus CEO income growth: CEOs earned 254 times more than workers in 2021 and experienced a 7% increase in income.

Page 10: Wealth Inequality

  • Activity: categorize U.S. population by wealth ownership percentage.

  • Class ownership distribution reflects:

    • Top 20%: 73%

    • 2nd 20%: 26%

    • 3rd 20%: 1%

    • 4th 20%: .1%

    • Bottom 20%: -2.3%

  • Discussion questions related to space, power dynamics, and social class interaction.

Page 11: Group Discussion

  • Open dialogue on opinions regarding income & wealth inequality, the perceived merit of the wealthy, effects on poverty, and potential solutions.

Page 12: Who is Impacted by Poverty

  • 50 million Americans live at or below the poverty line.

  • 68% of households earn $60K or less.

  • Demographics at risk:

    • Elderly: highest poverty risk.

    • Children under 18: highest poverty rates, with 12.5 million in 2020.

    • Gender: 2/3 adults in poverty are women; predominant single-parent households are female.

    • Feminization of Poverty: disproportional representation of women in impoverished conditions.

    • Racial/Ethnic Groups: Statistics on poverty rates among different demographics.

Page 13: The Social Cost of Poverty

  • Impact of poverty at large scales for families, communities, and society.

Page 14: Neoliberalism & Free Market Capitalism

  • Neoliberalism: Reform policies favoring market orientation, deregulation, and reduced state control.

  • Free Market Capitalism: Emphasizes private control over production with minimal government influence based on supply and demand.

  • Trickle Down Economics: Concept that tax reforms favoring the wealthy will indirectly benefit others in the economy.