Arellano, Kimdel Apigo, Dixi Dawn Tang, Maria Audrey

March 7, 2013 TThS 5:00-6:00

Consequences of Social Class Social class People who occupy the same layer of the socioeconomic hierarchy (Bassis, 1990:216) A large group of people who rank closely to one another in wealth, power, and prestige Henslin (2004:192) Theories on Social Class by Karl Marx & Max Weber Criteria What determines class? Defining factor for class position Marx Income and the relationship a group had to the means of production Ownership of the means of production Weber An individual's own abilities and skills

Class positions

Reason for the creation of social classes

2 Major Social Classes: 1. Ruling Class (Bourgeoisie) own the means of production 2. Subject Class (Proletariat) a diverse group of people controlled by and working fro the ruling class Due to a group sharing a common interest & economic position.

Ways to end struggle

Through the proletariat overthrowing the bourgeoisie

Current market value Market value is established by the individual's level of education, natural talent, skills and acquired knowledge. Market value is defined by their ability to market themselves to a particular job opportunity. Market value = economic gain Four Classes 1: A Propertied Class (Upper Class). 2: White Collar Professionals (Upper Middle Class). 3: Petty Bourgeoisie (Lower Middle Class). 4: Working Class (Lower Class) Due to 'unequal distribution of economic rewards' Status group - an 'unequal distribution of social honour' Individual acquisition of marketable skills Social mobility can either move us upwards or downwards depending on our choices and opportunities

Davis-Moore Thesis by Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore (1945) Social stratification has positive consequences for the operation of a society. It makes the society productive and efficient. More important jobs shall offer greater rewards Criteria Dating and Marriage Socialization Consequences of Class Position Description o The upper class is only for the upper class. People tend to seek out those who act, speak, and have the same cultural values as themselves. o Class shapes values and norms -> determine Middle-class children grow up valuing how people act in social settings like school independence more than working-class people and occupation while working-class people prefer conformity. o o D. Formal Education o In general the higher the social class, the greater the life expectancy. Poor are subject to more infant deaths and disease than the upper classes. Education receives greater emphasis in upper classes, therefore, children of the upper classes are more likely to attend college. People who occupy higher class positions tend to act in their class interests by voting while people from lower levels of society do not. Crimes committed by the poor receive more attention. Higher class = greater optimism about the economy and political order = greater hope for personal success Rates of mental illness also go up as social class goes down and the poor are less likely to receive treatment. The higher level of stress is one explanation for higher rates of mental illness. Class determines the quality of teachers and curriculum. Teachers have middle class backgrounds and, therefore, work better with students "like themselves." Rich people will vote for the rich.

A. B.

C.

Health

E. Political Behavior and Attitudes F. Crime and law enforcement G. Perspective

o o

Poor people, who commit crimes, are more likely to receive punishment. People who live in poverty, even though schools and parents teach them that they should strive to rise above poverty, face schools that can't teach them. They encounter employers that won't hire them. They live near stores that can't sell to them. The poor, after all, have different class backgrounds than their teachers. They have no skills to sell employers.