Page 271 - Sociology and You

U S I N G
Your Sociological Imagination
Jane Smith, aged forty and reeling from a bitter divorce, was discouraged. A se- rious back injury meant she could no
longer work at her nursing aide job. Without a high school diploma, she found that no one was willing to hire her. Reluctantly, she applied for welfare and was enrolled in a program designed to develop job skills. She completed an eighteen-month course and was hired by an engineering firm. After two years, Jane has moved up in the company and now thinks of herself as an intelligent, capable person.
A different type of welfare story involves Mary, the “welfare queen.” Many politicians have used her as a typical example of how the social welfare system is abused. Mary managed to register for government aid under dozens of assumed names and col- lected thousands of dollars from food stamps and other federally subsidized pro- grams. With this money, she supported her drug and alcohol habits while her children were left cold and underfed.
Which welfare case do you believe is typical? Your answer depends a lot on your social class and such characteristics as age, education, politics, and income. Sociologists know that most Americans seriously overes- timate both the amount of welfare fraud and the amount of money spent on welfare. At the same time, negative attitudes about welfare recipients have become part of the American culture. This chapter will look at attitudes and behaviors of different social classes.
Sections
1. Dimensions of Stratification
2. Explanations of Stratification
3. Social Classes in America
4. Poverty in America
5. Social Mobility
Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, you will be able to
❖ explain the relationship between stratifica- tion and social class.
❖ compare and contrast the three dimensions of stratification.
❖ state the differences among the three major perspectives on social stratification.
❖ identify the distinguishing characteristics of the major social classes in America.
❖ describe the measurement and extent of poverty in the United States.
❖ discuss social mobility in the United States.
Chapter Overview
Visit the Sociology and You Web site at soc.glencoe.com and click on Chapter 8— Chapter Overviews to preview chapter information.
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