Essentials of Sociology
Thirteenth Edition
Chapter 8
Social Class in the
United States
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Learning Objectives (1 of 3)
8.1 Explain the three components of social class—
property, power, and prestige; distinguish between
wealth and income; explain how property and
income are distributed; and describe the democratic
façade, the power elite, and status inconsistency.
8.2 Contrast Marx’s and Weber’s models of social
class.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Learning Objectives (2 of 3)
8.3 Summarize the consequences of social class for
physical and mental health, family life, education,
religion, politics, and the criminal justice system.
8.4 Contrast the three types of social mobility,
review gender issues in research on social mobility,
and explain why social mobility brings pain.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Learning Objectives (3 of 3)
8.5 Explain the problems in drawing the poverty line
and how poverty is related to geography, race–
ethnicity, education, feminization, and age.
8.6 Contrast the dynamics of poverty with the
culture of poverty, explain why people are poor and
how deferred gratification is related to poverty, and
comment on the Horatio Alger myth.
8.7 Discuss the possibility that we are developing a
three-tier society.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
What is Social Class?
8.1 Explain the three components of social class—property, power, and
prestige; distinguish between wealth and income; explain how property
and income are distributed; and describe the democratic façade, the
power elite, and status inconsistency.
• Property
• Power
• Prestige
• Status Inconsistency
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Property (1 of 4)
• Distinguishing between wealth and income
• Distribution of property
• Distribution of income
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Property (2 of 4)
A mere one-half percent of
Americans owns over a
quarter of the entire nation’s
wealth. Very few minorities are
numbered among this 0.5
percent. An exception is Oprah
Winfrey, who has had an ultrasuccessful career in
entertainment and investing.
Worth $3.0 billion, she is the
239th richest person in the
United States. Winfrey has
given millions of dollars to help
minority children.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.1 Distribution of the Wealth of
Americans
Pie charts showing the proportion of wealth in the U.S. owned by the wealthiest people.
Source: By the author. Based on Wolff 2013.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.2 How
the Income of
Americans Is
Distributed
Graphic representation of the
income differences in the U.S.
Source: By the author. Based on
Statistical Abstract of the United
States 2017:Tables 705, 723.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Property (3 of 4)
Table 8.1 The Five Highest-Paid CEOs
Name
Company
Compensation
Marc Lore
Walmart
$237 million
Tim Cook
Apply
$150 million
John Weinberg
Evercore Partners
$124 million
Sundar Pichai
Alphabet
$107 million
Elon Musk
Tesla
$100 million
Source: Melin 2017.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.3 The More Things Change, the More
They Stay the Same: Dividing the Nation’s
Income
1Earliest
year available. 2No data for 1940.
Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 1960:Table 417; 1970:Table
489; U.S. Census Bureau. Income, Poverty and Health
Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2014. Historical Tables, Income, Households, Table H-2.
2016 ; Statistical Abstract of the United States 2017:Table 721.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Property (4 of 4)
At 533 feet, the Eclipse is the
world's second largest yacht.
It is owned by Roman
Abramovich of Russia, the
world's 11th richest person.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Power
• The democratic façade
• The power elite
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prestige (1 of 7)
• Occupations and prestige
• Displaying prestige
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prestige (2 of 7)
Table 8.2 Occupational Prestige:
How the United States Compares with Sixty Countries
Occupation
United States
Average of Sixty Countries
Physician
86
78
Supreme Court judge
85
82
College president
81
86
Astronaut
80
80
Lawyer
75
73
College professor
74
78
Airline pilot
73
66
Architect
73
72
Biologist
73
69
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prestige (3 of 7)
Table 8.2 Occupational Prestige:
How the United States Compares with Sixty Countries
Occupation
United States
Average of Sixty Countries
Dentist
72
70
Civil engineer
69
70
Clergy
69
60
Psychologist
69
66
Pharmacist
68
64
High school teacher
66
64
Registered nurse
66
54
Professional athlete
65
48
Electrical engineer
64
65
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prestige (4 of 7)
Table 8.2 Occupational Prestige:
How the United States Compares with Sixty Countries
Occupation
United States
Average of Sixty Countries
Author
63
62
Banker
63
67
Veterinarian
62
61
Police officer
61
40
Sociologist
61
67
Journalist
60
55
Classical musician
59
56
Actor or actress
58
52
Chiropractor
57
62
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prestige (5 of 7)
Table 8.2 Occupational Prestige:
How the United States Compares with Sixty Countries
Occupation
United States
Average of Sixty Countries
Athletic coach
53
50
Social worker
52
56
Electrician
51
44
Undertaker
49
34
Jazz musician
48
38
Real estate agent
48
49
Mail carrier
47
33
Secretary
46
53
Plumber
45
34
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prestige (6 of 7)
Table 8.2 Occupational Prestige:
How the United States Compares with Sixty Countries
Occupation
United States
Average of Sixty Countries
Carpenter
43
37
Farmer
40
47
Barber
36
30
Store sales clerk
36
34
Truck driver
30
33
Cab driver
28
28
Garbage collector
28
13
Waiter or waitress
28
23
Bartender
25
23
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Prestige (7 of 7)
Table 8.2 Occupational Prestige:
How the United States Compares with Sixty Countries
Occupation
United States
Average of Sixty Countries
Lives on public aid
25
16
Bill collector
24
27
Factory worker
24
29
Janitor
22
21
Shoe shiner
17
12
Street sweeper
11
13
NOTE: The rankings are based on 1 to 100, from lowest to highest. For five occupations not located
in the 1994 source, the 1991 ratings were used: Supreme Court judge, astronaut, athletic coach,
lives on public aid, and street sweeper.
Sources: Treiman 1977: Appendices A and D; Nakao and Treas 1990, 1994: Appendix D.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Status Inconsistency (1 of 2)
• Ranking higher on some dimensions of status
than others
– Lenski’s study
– Gold’s study
– A health issue
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Status Inconsistency (2 of 2)
Jesús Davila, winner of $265
million in the Illinois lottery,
who is retired, used to drive
cars for a living. How do you
think his lottery win will
change his life?
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Sociological Models of Social Class (1 of 3)
8.2 Contrast Marx’s and Weber’s models of social class.
• Updating Marx
• Updating Weber
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.4 Marx’s Model of the Social Classes
Source: By the author.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.5 Wright’s Modification of
Marx’s Model of the Social Classes
1. Capitalists
2. Petty bourgeoisie
3. Managers
4. Workers
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.6 The U.S. Social Class Ladder
Source: By the author. Based on Gilbert and Kahl 1998 and Gilbert 2014; income estimates are
inflation-adjusted and modified from Duff 1995.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Sociological Models of Social Class (2 of 3)
The wealthiest person on the
planet: Bill Gates, the
cofounder of Microsoft, is
worth $86 billion. He has also
given away $30 billion, more
than anyone in history.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Sociological Models of Social Class (3 of 3)
Sociologists use income,
education, and occupational
prestige to measure social
class. For most people, this
works well, but not for
everyone, especially
entertainers. To what social
class do these celebrities
belong? Here is their net
worth: Leonardo DiCaprio
$245 million, Taylor Swift $380
million, Dwayne Johnson $65
million, and Selena Gomez
$54 million.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Consequences of Social Class (1 of 4)
8.3 Summarize the consequences of social class for physical and mental
health, family life, education, religion, politics, and the criminal justice
system.
• Physical Health
• Mental Health
• Family Life
• Education
• Religion
• Politics
• Crime and Criminal Justice
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.7 Physical Health, by Income: People
Who Have Difficulty with Everyday Physical
Activities
Bar
graph
showing
the
correlation
between
lower
income
and greater
likelihood
of physical
difficulties.
NOTE: In a national health survey, these people said they had difficulty walking, climbing steps, stooping, reaching
overhead, grasping small objects, and carrying over 10 pounds.
Source: By the author. Based on Schiller et al. 2012:Table 19.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.8
Mental Health,
by Income:
Feelings of
Sadness,
Hopelessness, or
Worthlessness
Bar graph showing the correlation between lower income and greater likelihood of emotional difficulties.
NOTE: In a national health survey, these people answered “Always” or “Almost
always” when they were asked how often they felt sad, hopeless, or worthless.
Source: By the author. Based on Schiller et al. 2012:Table 14.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Consequences of Social Class (2 of 4)
Among the customs of the
rich, sometimes called the
monied class, is ostentatious
philanthropy. Shown here are
women at the Frederick Law
Olmsted lunch, a charity
event in New York City. The
women try to outdo one
another with hats created for
this event.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Consequences of Social Class (3 of 4)
The disparities of social
class in the United States
are extreme. If you take the
back roads in rural America,
you will see thousands of
trailers like this one in
Davenport, Florida.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Consequences of Social Class (4 of 4)
• Education
– Type as well as amount of schooling
• Religion
– Type of denomination
• Politics
– Type of view on economic and social issues
• Crime and Criminal Justice
– Type as well as amount of consequences
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Social Mobility (1 of 2)
8.4 Contrast the three types of social mobility, review gender issues in
research on social mobility, and explain why social mobility brings pain.
• Three Types of Social Mobility
– Intergenerational mobility
– Structural mobility
– Exchange mobility
• Women in Studies of Social Mobility
• The Pain of Social Mobility
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.9
Income of
Adult
Children
Compared
with that of
Their
Parents
Source: Pursuing the American Dream: Economic Mobility Across Generations,
p. 6. © July, 2013 the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Social Mobility (2 of 2)
Both downward and upward
social mobility bring challenges
that require life adjustments.
An extreme instance is the
case of Sly Stone, the front
man of the 1970s funk band,
Sly and the Family Stone. His
saga includes going from
wealth of millions to living in a
van.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Poverty
8.5 Explain the problems in drawing the poverty line and how poverty is
related to geography, race–ethnicity, education, feminization, and age.
• Drawing the Poverty Line
• Who Are the Poor?
• Children of Poverty
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Drawing the Poverty Line
• Arbitrary line
• Official measure of poverty
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Who Are the Poor?
• The geography of poverty
• Race–ethnicity
• Education
• The feminization of poverty
• Old age
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.10 An Overview of Poverty in the
United States
Pie chart showing the proportion of the poor who are in the various racial-ethnic groups.
Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2017:Table 35.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.11 Patterns of Poverty
U.S. map showing state-by-state percentages of those in poverty.
Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2017:Table 734.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.12 Who Ends Up Poor? Poverty by
Education and Race–Ethnicity
Source: By the author. Based on U.S. Census Bureau 2016b:Table POV29.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.13 Poverty and Family Structure
Bar graph showing the greater likelihood of poverty for female-headed families.
Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2017:Table 741.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.14 Poverty and Race-Ethnicity
Bar graph demonstrating the disproportionate likelihood for Latinos and African Americans to be poor.
Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract of the United
States 2017:Table 738.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.15 Poverty, Age, and Race-Ethnicity
Bar graph demonstrating
the greater likelihood of
some racial-ethnic groups’
youth and/or elderly to be
in poverty than others.
NOTE: Only these groups
are listed in the source.
The poverty line is
$24,230 for a
family of four.
Source: By the author.
Based on Statistical
Abstract of the United
States 2017:Tables
35, 735, 738.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.16
How Does
Education
Influence
Births to
Single
Women
Bar graph showing the correlation between higher levels of education and lower percentages of births
to single women.
Source: Shuttuck and Kreider 2013:Table 2.
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Figure 8.17
How Does
Income
Influence
Births to
Single
Women
Bar graph showing the correlation between higher incomes and lower percentages of births to single
women.
Source: Shuttuck and Kreider 2013:Table 2
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Children of Poverty
• Children are more likely to be poor
– Especially when Latino or African American
– Especially when compared with the elderly
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The Dynamics of Poverty Versus the
Culture of Poverty
8.6 Contrast the dynamics of poverty with the culture of poverty, explain
why people are poor and how deferred gratification is related to poverty,
and comment on the Horatio Alger myth.
• Why Are People Poor?
• Deferred Gratification
• Where is Horatio Alger?
– The social functions of a myth
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Why Are People Poor?
• Social structure
• Characteristics of individuals
• Poverty triggers
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Deferred Gratification
• Behaviors of the poor
– Cause or result of poverty?
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Where is Horatio Alger? The Social
Functions of a Myth
• Encourages people to strive to get ahead
• Blames individuals for their failures
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Peering into the Future: Will We Live
in a Three-Tier Society?
8.7 Discuss the possibility that we are developing a three-tier society.
• Three Tiers
– Wealthy
– Technically trained
– Jobless poor
• Two “Solutions” to Defer Upheaval
– Pacification
– Militarization of police
Copyright © 2019, 2017, 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Purchase answer to see full
attachment