01-08-2012, 12:16 PM
Social Stratification
Social Stratification.ppt (Size: 104 KB / Downloads: 33)
Focus on Rich and Poor People
Approximately 6.4 billion people live on the planet
269 of the 554 richest people live in the U.S.
World Bank states there are 49 poorest countries in the world with the Democratic Republic of the Congo being the poorest
This chapters helps to explain why disparity exists in the world
Social Stratification
This is the social process where individuals, groups and places are categorized and ranked on a scale of social worth
Effects your life chances the potential social advantages and disadvantages a person receives
Chances to live the first year of life, to be healthy, and live a life free of crime with educational opportunities
Comparing the richest 10% to the poorest 10% of the population in a country
USA richest 10% has 30.5% of all the income
USA poorest 10% earn 1.8%
Nambia richest 10% earns 129 more than poorest 10%
Honduras richest earns 92 times the poorest
USA has the greatest gap between the richest and the poorest
Valued goods are unequally distributed in all countries
Social Categories
Every society places people into categories and ranks them
Ascribed characteristics—things we are born with—sex, skin color, race, ethnicity
Achieved characteristics—earned through personal choice, effort, or ability
Consider—26.9 million people under 18 in the USA live in poverty
59.5 million youths under 14 are malnourished
How does this factor effect life chances
Theories of Stratification
They note that the system can be weakened when
Capable individuals are overlooked
Elite groups control the avenues of training
Parents influence and wealth determine status
Societies must adjust to get people into the needed occupations
Societies have to do this to compete with other societies and maintain survivalibility