An Introduction to Social An Introduction to Social InequalityInequality

Please take notes!Please take notes!

Social Stratification and Social Social Stratification and Social ClassesClasses

There are many types of inequality in our society• Social stratification = ranking of people or

groups according to their unequal access to scarce resources– Income, wealth = most important resources

• Social class = segment of society whose members hold similar amounts of resources and share values, norms, and an identifiable lifestyle

Breakdown of Social ClassesBreakdown of Social Classes

– Upper class (only 1% of the American population!)

– Middle class (40 to 50% of American population)

– Working class (lower-middle class) (~33% of population)

– Working poor (~13%)– Underclass (poverty stricken) (~12%)

Poverty in AmericaPoverty in America

• Approximately 13% of Americans are poverty-stricken

• Absolute poverty = the absences of enough money to secure life’s necessities

• Relative poverty* = a measure of poverty based on economic disparity between those at the bottom of a society and the rest of society

• In the U.S. the poverty level is set at $22,300 total annual income for a family of 4 (as of 2008)

Relative Poverty*Relative Poverty*

Better definition?

“When a person’s income does not meet the needs of society”.

Poverty RatesPoverty Rates

• ~27% African-Americans

• ~26% Hispanic/Latino

• ~9% Whites

• ~12% Asians

Racial and Ethnic InequalityRacial and Ethnic InequalityRace and ethnic relations can manifest themselves in two

ways:

1. Assimilation= blending in or fusing together• Does this happen at Yorktown, more or less?

or…2. Conflict

• Genocide (extreme!)• Subjugation (minority group denied equal access to

society) Examples: “Jim Crow” era, hate crimes

• Population transfer (relocation) Example: “Trail of Tears”

Other types of inequality?Other types of inequality?

• Gender inequality

• Sex (or sex/gender identity) inequality

• Ageism

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Demographics Comparison

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Demographics: Arlington Public Schools

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Demographics: Yorktown High School

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Demographics: United States of America

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