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Chapter 9: Class and Stratification |
Though the United States is in theory the land of opportunity,
most people's chances in life are dictated by the social class
into which they are born. The study of social stratification
is an attempt to explain institutionalized patterns of social
inequality. Key concepts in stratification analysis include
class structure, functional integration, power, culture, and
social action.
There is no one way to define the American class structure.
Sociologists, however, commonly define classes by considering
people's wealth, income, and occupational characteristics.
A topic of concern to many people in the country is the growing
inequality in the distribution of wealth. The "American dream"—in
which people improve their situations through hard work and
frugality—is not so easily realized. Poverty is a reality
in the United States and has many different faces, ranging
from farmers to unwed mothers. Examining the incidences of
poverty in America illustrates just what an important role
class and stratification play in people's quality of life.
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