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Inequality: class

Inequality: class. Framing the problem. Why (or when) is class inequality a social problem?. Critical constructionism. Constructionism: significant group frames the problem Who is defining the problem? How do they frame it? Critical: values equality

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Inequality: class

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  1. Inequality: class

  2. Framing the problem Why (or when) is class inequality a social problem?

  3. Critical constructionism • Constructionism: significant group frames the problem • Who is defining the problem? • How do they frame it? • Critical: values equality • Critical of social formation (elite interests) • Critical of media frames

  4. Alternative social models (based on Heiner, 24) Socialism: Public ownership Social needs Gov’t plan Capitalism: Private ownership Private profit No gov’t regs Social Democracy: Mixed model

  5. Political spectrum acc. Heiner(rev. by Shafer) Left Socialist “Big Government” Democratic Socialism Right Capitalist “Big Corporations” U.S. Dems U.S. Reps Classic socialism: rights of equality, society Classic liberalism: rights of individual, property

  6. If this is a class conflict, who is winning?

  7. Social stratification Structured inequality in terms of access to material or symbolic rewards

  8. Stratification in U.S.: income (Heiner, p. 27) • 1977-1994: after tax income • Dropped 16% for bottom 20% • Increased 25% for top 20% • Increased 72% for top 1% • Richest 1/5 have 11 times income share of poorest fifth in 1996 (7.6 times in 1970) • “most rapid growth of income inequality in the Western world.” (Wilson)

  9. Numbers of households in each income range

  10. 2003 income distribution • Percent Distribution of Households, by Selected Characteristics Within Income Quintile and Top 5 Percent in 2003: • http://pubdb3.census.gov/macro/032004/hhinc/new05_000.htm

  11. Wealth even more unequal • Wealth generates more income for top 1% than salary • Top 1%: • 19% of all wealth in 1976 • 40% in 2000 • Wealth inheritance affects mobility

  12. Case study: Empire of the Pigs • Role of power elite? • Bresky’s “low profile”, not participants in policy formation networks • Compensation not that high—from public corp., at least • But corporate welfare in millions (Barlett & Steele) • Local C of C’s build infrastructure, give tax relief • State also kicks in tax relief • Lenient treatment in the courts, regulatory agencies • Low wage workforce adds to welfare burden

  13. Cross-national comparison • Why do Europe, Japan have less inequality? • Social democratic policies offer more social benefits, protection against hard times

  14. Poverty • Absolute poverty: can’t afford bare necessities; threat to life and well-being • Relative poverty: can’t afford “normal” standard of living; poor compared to others

  15. The poverty line • Formula originated in 1960s, based on ’50s data • 3X the “thrifty food plan” (e.g., hamburger helper, not cheeseburger) • Relative cost of necessities has changed; poverty line underestimates

  16. census poverty chart Source: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/img/incpov03/fig06.jpg

  17. Job ghetto • William Julius Wilson discovered connections: • between decline of manufacturing and loss of jobs in inner cities • between joblessness and other social problems • Newman and Lennon confirm this theory in Harlem • Manufacturing surpassed by fast food • People seek jobs: applicant/hires=14/1 • African-Americans at disadvantage • These are minimum wage jobs, below poverty line • “…it is simply not the case that anyone who wants a low wage job can get one.” (88)

  18. Wal-Martization • Wal-Mart wages (Cox): • “A single parent employed full-time at Salina’s Wal-Mart and raising two children aged 4 and 12 does not earn enough money to supply the family’s basic needs by shopping at…Wal-Mart.” (Cox: 90) • Welfare programs (child care, food stamps, Medicaid, EITC) subsidize the low wages, get just above poverty line • Wal-Mart encouraged workers to apply • Wal-Mart consumers (Featherstone): • Walton’s “real genius”: “how to make money off of poverty” (102) • Consumer identity displaces worker and citizen • Solution: must be engaged citizens, put political pressure

  19. Poverty in the ‘burbs • 2004: 38.5% of poor in ‘burbs, Cf. 40.6% in inner cities (Dreier: 110) • Concentrated in inner-rings and fringe (small towns swallowed up) • 2005: suburban poverty exceeds urban (Brookings Institution)

  20. What are the consequences? • Braun: • Social disorganization • Anomie • Crime • Violence • Revolution?

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