Social+Inequality

Social Stratification is the ranking of people according to their social status. Status doesn't have to be only about wealth! [|Notes for this Unit]

Essential Questions on Stratification: 1. Where does class inequality/social stratification come from and to what extent can it be reduced sociologically? 2. Where does poverty come from and to what extent can it be reduced systematically? 3. To What Extent is social mobility a reality in U.S/Global society?

= Day 1: =
 * Do Now: [|Take a look at these houses. Rank them in order of which you think are the most valuable.]**
 * Were you surprised about the actual prices of the homes? What really determines a house's value? What does this have to do with social inequality?**

1. Where does class inequality/social stratification come from and to what extent can it be reduced sociologically?
 * Question for the day:**

Video: Where does inequality come from historically? media type="youtube" key="QOYTFNz8Bgw" height="315" width="560"

1. Where does class inequality come from? (Prestige, Location, Education, Wealth)
 * Activity 1:Where does class come from?** [|use this post to find out.] Record your responses and be prepared to share your answers to:

Based on your findings, why might it be difficult to move up in social class? Use your sociological imagination to think about the way you should view people in lower classes....


 * Activity 2: Start Watching People Like Us: Class in America**

Questions to answer as you watch: (shared with you in drive)
 * 1) Choose 4 different people/groups in the film. Label each person/group of people as upper, middle or lower class and write down what makes you think so. Be sure to clarify the difference between wealth and class.
 * 2) What causes people to be in a certain class in America according to the film? How does social status and class change from high school to adulthood?
 * 3) How do people in lower classes feel about themselves in relation to the rest of society? (Consider differences among low class population represented in the movie).
 * 4) How do people in upper classes feel about themselves in relation to the rest of society?
 * 5) To what extent is it possible for people to move up in class?
 * 6) To what extent is class inequality accepted by both upper and lower class people in American society? Why?

media type="custom" key="26785028"


 * Homework:** Finish the parts of the film that you didn't finish in class and answer the questions above.

= Day 2: To what extent do people of ALL classes accept their place in society? Why? Also, to what extent is social mobility a reality? =


 * Discuss the following based on the video: ** To what extent is class inequality accepted by both upper and lower class people in American society? Why?

Where is Tammy now? media type="vimeo" key="71057416" height="281" width="500"

Debrief. How did you feel about playing Monopoly this way? How did you feel if you were wealthy? Poor? Middle Class? Relate this to the way people operate in US/other societies. What does this imply about how wealthy and poor people react to those that are not in their class?
 * Play Monopoly and [|Monopobility!](40 min)**

A TED Talk about how others reacted to this experiement: Does money make you mean? Did you accept the rules and play, or did you get upset and question the fairness of the situation? media type="custom" key="26796932"


 * What needs to be done to help increase social mobility according to the way you played the game?**

[|Social Mobility in the US] actually hasn't changed much over the past 50 years...... [|Mobility is a problem] [|Social Mobility] in India
 * (25 min) To what extent is it possible for low wage families to move up in class in the U.S./India? (EQ: To What Extent is Social Mobility a Reality? What is necessary? **

Pay special attention to the causes of stratification to come up with a list of what is necessary to move up in class. Discuss......

From The Economist:  Social mobility is higher in integrated places with good schools, strong families, lots of community spirit and smaller income gaps within the broad middle class. Not a bad agenda for politicians to push, if only they knew how. [|See this chart to find out where the US ranks compared to other countries in terms of social mobility]
 * Are there possible solutions to social stratification in America? What can the U.S. learn from other countries?**

What are other countries doing differently to increase intergenerational mobility? Find out for yourself!

1. To what extent do people of ALL classes accept their place in society? Why? 2. To what extent is social mobility a reality?
 * Exit Slip/Homework Answer: On community OR e-mail to me as quicktime or tell me live and in person.**


 * Also Read pp241-258 in your textbook to help you answer the questions for the day.**

**Day 3: Where does poverty come from? What is it like to live in poverty? What is it like to live on minimum wage?**

[|What does poverty look like?]

**Today's task: answer the following questions:**
**1. Where does class poverty/inequality/social stratification come from and to what extent can it be reduced sociologically?** **2. To What Extent is social mobility a reality FOR THOSE IN POVERTY in U.S/Global society?**

=**[|Use resources from this post to help you]**= Also pp 259-269

Does India have a minimum wage? Is it regulated? What types of jobs do many Indians do that could be considered low wage jobs?
 * Why should we care about people living on minimum wage? What is it like to live on Minimum wage in the U.S.?/India? Where does poverty come from?**


 * Could YOU live on minimum wage?[| Try this activity to find out!]**

[|Australia has a much higher minimum wage than the U.S. What are the results?]
 * Other resources to help you:**

[|Trying to survive on minimum wage in America is almost impossible]

[|Living on Minimum Wage]

[|How to live on minimum wage]

[|How one woman who works at McDonald's lives on minimum wage]

Nickeled and Dimed: media type="youtube" key="gDgFiW2xtf0" width="420" height="315" [|Nickeled and Dimed Update article]


 * Also, find your own sources to bring to the discussion! It will make the discussion more interesting!**

We will have small group discussions the last 20 min of class.

1. Where does poverty come from? 2. To what extent is it possible for people to escape poverty if they work hard? (use your research from today's activity and other resources to answer this question!) 3. What do you think needs to be done to reduce poverty in America/the world?
 * Discussion Questions:**

One idea about how to reduce poverty: media type="custom" key="26855002"


 * Homework: Read pp 259-269 to review poverty and do a Blogpost!**


 * Choose 1 of the EQs for the unit to respond to in your blogpost. You MUST reference specific material from class, show you understand the content, AND bring your own examples from outside research and/or your own personal experiences.**


 * Questions to choose from:**
 * 1. Where does class poverty/inequality/social stratification come from and to what extent can it be reduced sociologically?**
 * 2. To What Extent is social mobility a reality FOR THOSE IN POVERTY in U.S/Global society?**


 * Materials from past years**

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