Lesson 9: Social Stratification in the United States

Attention

This image seems to capture the different classes in America, close to each other and all waiting for the bus.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Reflect on personal experiences with social mobility.
  • Create a project that describes the American Dream through a variety of perespectives.

Teaching

Much of the history of the study of Sociology is focused on an understanding of inequality.

Social Stratification

Socia Stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into socioeconomic rankings based on factors such as wealth, income, race, education, and power.

While we like to think that everyone in the US has an equal shot at placing themsevles in the hierarchy, Sociologists recognize that societies have systmatic processes that can help or hinder a person's mobility.

Systems of Stratification

  • Caste System - absolute immobility in status based on birth
  • Class System - relatively closed system based on wealth, privilige, birth, and marriage
  • Meritocracy - solely based on effort and talent, reward for effort

Standards of Living

Sociologists examine differences in social status based on wealth.

  • Upper Class
    • Top 1%, they hold 30% of the wealth
    • Old Money vs. New Money
  • Middle Class
    • People who make $150,000 a year call themselves Middle Class
    • People who make $30,000 a year call themselves Middle Class
  • Lower Class
    • Also called "Working Class"
    • Usually unskilled, low paying jobs
  • Underclass
    • Not employed
    • Welfare
    • Disabilities

Social Mobility

If the American Dream or ideal is Meritocracy, just how mobile are we?

Read the "Poor at 20, Poor for Life" article in the Atlantic. Be sure to select the "Jump to Comments" option at the bottom to read what others have said about this article. Post your own comments if you wish!

Assessment

Lesson 9 Discussion

After reading the article from the Atlantic, reflect on your own social mobility. Do you expect to be in a very different socioeconomic place later in life? Are you expecting to be in a better place than your parents?

How do you feel about the "Poor at 20, Poor for Life" article? What does it say about the social mobility realities of our country?

American Dream Project

For this Lesson we are going to conduct a group project. This group project is based on the "American Dream" lesson sponsored by the Library of Congress.

Sets of students will be divided into teams in order to explore the notion of the American Dream from a number of different perspectives. These perspectives include:

  • Photographer
  • Lawyer
  • Poet
  • Politician
  • Producer
  • Comedian
  • Musician
  • Reporter

Based on the outlines provided by the American Dream lesson, each group will produce a product that explores the issues of the American Dream. Visit THIS page to see the brief descriptions of your group's task.

Complete the project product and submit it to the American Dream Project Drop Box.