Determining social class
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This document discusses social stratification and how it is determined by unequal access to resources and social rewards. It defines key aspects of social stratification including social class, social inequality, wealth, power, and prestige. It also summarizes methods for determining social class, including the reputational method using community rankings, subjective self-rankings, and the more objective approach where sociologists define class based on income, occupation, and education.
Determining social class
- 2. Social Class People who have similar position in the social hierarchy, who have similar political and economic interests.
- 4. SOCIAL INEQUALITY Unequal distribution of social rewards and resources (“Good Stuff” of a society)
- 5. Social Stratification Ranking of Individuals or categories of individuals on the basis of unequal access to scarce resources and social rewards.
- 6. Social Stratification Ranking of Individuals or categories of individuals on the basis of unequal access to scarce resources and social rewards. Wealth
- 7. WEALTH • The sum total of a person’s assets including what they own and their income • Wealth is not distributed evenly throughout the US 22000044 DDiissttrriibbuuttiioonn ooff IInnccoommee IInn UUSS Highest Fourth Fifth Middle Second Fifth Lowest HHiigghheesstt –– 4499..22%% FFoouurrtthh FFiifftthh-- 2233..22%% MMiiddddllee-- 1155..00%% SSeeccoonndd FFiifftthh-- 99..00%% LLoowweesstt-- 33..66%%
- 8. Social Stratification Ranking of Individuals or categories of individuals on the basis of unequal access to scarce resources and social rewards. Wealth Power
- 9. POWER • The ability to control the behaviors of others with or without their consent • Power can be based on: – Use of force – Possession of specific skills or knowledge – Social Status – Personal Characteristics (Charismatic Authority) – Traditional Authority – Legal Doctrine (Rational-legal Authority)
- 10. Social Stratification Ranking of Individuals or categories of individuals on the basis of unequal access to scarce resources and social rewards. Wealth Power Prestige
- 11. PRESTIGE • The degree of respect or esteem a person receives from others • May be based upon: – Income – Education – Club membership – Family membership – Occupation
- 13. Reputational Method • Rank other community members.
- 14. Reputational Method • Rank other community members. – Small communities.
- 15. Reputational Method • Rank other community members. – Small communities. – Everybody knows everybody.
- 16. Reputational Method • Rank other community members. – Small communities. – Everybody knows everybody. – Not usually very accurate.
- 17. Subjective Method • Individuals asked to rank themselves.
- 18. Subjective Method • Individuals asked to rank themselves. – Place themselves in the middle class.
- 19. Subjective Method • Individuals asked to rank themselves. – Place themselves in the middle class. – People do not like to place themselves out of the middle class.
- 20. Subjective Method • Individuals asked to rank themselves. – Place themselves in the middle class. – People do not like to place themselves out of the middle class. – Again, not very accurate.
- 21. Objective Method • Sociologists define social class.
- 22. Objective Method • Sociologists define social class. – Income – Occupation – Education
- 23. Objective Method • Sociologists define social class. – Income – Occupation – Education Least biased determination, but the problem can be with the determinants used.