Social Class and Inequality

Upper Class: 1% of the population, with incomes around 2 million. Typical occupations include investors, heirs, and executives.
Upper-Middle Class: 14% of the population, with incomes around 150,000. Typical occupations include media/sports personalities.
Middle Class: 30% of the population, with incomes around 70,000. Typical occupations include professionals and managers.
Working (Lower-Middle) Class: 30% of the population, with incomes around 40,000. Typical jobs include semi-professionals and lower-level managers.
Working Poor: 13% of the population, with incomes around 25,000. They typically hold semiskilled labor, service, manual, and clerical jobs.
Underclass: 12% of the population, with incomes around 15,000. Often seldom employed or unemployed, relying on assistance.

Structural Functionalism:
- Social inequality is necessary and has functions.
- Poverty provides undesirable jobs, housing, and cheap goods.
Conflict Theory:
- Social inequality creates conflict between groups due to differing interests.
- Welfare programs funded by taxes can cause conflict between rich and poor.
Symbolic Interactionism:
- Social inequality affects presentation of self.
- Class consciousness is developed to distinguish status.
- Access to "props" (e.g., professional clothing) differs between classes, impacting impression management.