SOCI 1311 1st Edition Lecture 14 Outline of Current Lecture I Dimensions of Stratification II American Class Structure III Who are the Poor Current Lecture I II Dimensions of Stratification Wealth more than your income it is also the stuff value that you own the cash value of things you own Closely connected with inequality Power personal vs social Power the ability to make decisions implement a set of policies despite opposition of others Personal the ability to make decisions that affect you life Social the ability to make decisions that affect others Prestige the possession of attributes characteristics that earn respect recognition opportunity from your peers Something about them that sets them apart from the rest singers actors athletes Authority a form of power that we give take to people based on admiration respect parents boss teacher Aspirations you may want to be a doctor but do you have the ability Ability American Class Structure 2012 Poverty line family of 4 22 000 2012 Median household income 51 000 Six Levels Income Education Occupation 1 Upper class old money 150 000 college ed businessmen doctors lawyers 2 Upper middle 100 000 150 000 more college ed needed the degree to get where they are mostly doctors lawyers advanced degree 3 Lower middle 50 000 100 000 finished college 4 Working class take a shower after work 25 000 didn t finish college cable installer plumber police firemen 5 Working poor poverty line fast food jobs Walmart less than 25 000 might have high school ed These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute III 6 Remaining poor been on welfare for generations Who are the Poor Race ethnicity there are different levels of poverty lines based on race GenderFeminization of Poverty single women with kids who live below the poverty line Women are more likely to live in poverty Age children grow up in poverty when you get older you stop working Culture of Poverty Thesis Oscar Lewis the idea that poor people have their own culture that keeps them in poverty You can take the kid out of the hood but you can t take the hood out of the kid Individualism vs Structuralism Individualism the reason why they re poor is because they re lazy don t know what to do Structuralism the way society is organized makes it easier for others to succeed