SOCI 1010 1nd Edition Lecture 11 Outline of Last Lecture I. Dimensions of Class ExpandedII. MediaIII. Myths from the mediaOutline of Current LectureI. Povertya. The big ideab. U.S. Government definitioni. CriticismsII. Historical Housing:a. The big ideal 2b. Historical housing policyc. Relevance of Historic Policy for Todayd. Current Issues in housing (Shapiro)Current LectureI. Poverty:a. The big idea:i. While the average standard of living in the U.S. is high, there is still a significant gap between the top and the bottom of the class hierarchyb. U.S. Government definition:i. Every year the governments recalculates the poverty threshold using the following formula:1. (Food basket/monthly) x 3 = $$$These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.2. They have a “food basket” which changes based on family size, and is equivalent to the cost of 1 month’s worth of what a family needs to have a nutritious diet3. This number (food basket number) is multiplied by 3 a. Multiplying by 3 suggests that food is 1/3 of a families budget4. From this formula they get a number ($$$) a. If you are below that number, you are considered poor (or under the poverty threshold) if you are above the number you are considered not poor5. In 2013, it was calculated that a family of 4 (two parents and two children) had to make under $1,986.33 a month to be considered “poor”6. In 1998, a single person would have to make less than $8,480 a YEAR to be considered poorII. Historical Housing:a. The big idea: social class is a result of both ascribed and achieved factorsb. Historical Housing Policy:i. Redlining: government outlines sections of cities or towns and highlight where would be a good place to give a loan and where wouldn’t1. Typically, neighborhood with minorities were redlined and white neighborhoods were “green-lined” 2. Government also prefers unattached homes to attached homesii. Blockbusting: if a family of color (or minority) moved into an all white neighborhood, relators would approach the current white neighborhood home owners and convince them that since a minority moved into the neighborhood it would decrease their home’s value and that they should get out now while they can. The home owners sell their house at a lower price to the realtor and the realtor would sell the home to a minority family at a higher price pointIII. Relevance of Historic Policy for Todaya. Argument is that even if there was no discrimination today, what happened in the past would still matter todayi. Doesn’t take away from previous distribution of wealth….How so?1. Acquisition of wealth- if you own a home, you can still take out a loan and use that money as a safety net2. Owning a home is an asset and increases credit worthiness3. The value of owning a home can be given to kids/grandkids4. Can leave as inheritanceIV. Current Issues in Housing (Shapiro)a. Focuses on access to
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