Class in America – New class society chapter 1_Notes

Class in America – New class society chapter 1
• Class inequality cuts across age race ethnicity and gender
• Majority of disadvantaged Americans must be persuaded to believe things work
out for people is fair
o Distract attention from class inequality and focus on other things
• Production model – class as organized on basis of relationship people have with
means of production- owners of productive wealth or nonowners, workers
(MARX)
• Functionalist model – (Max weber) cake-layer image of class structure with layers
as organized according to variations in levels of prestige. Importance attached by
cultural values to occupational categories and incomes
New system:
1) class structure is views as increasingly organized around and through large
processes that control distribution of resources
2) classes are collectivities of individuals and families with comparable resources
over time
3) class location reflects the extent to which people posses combination of FOUR
CAPITAL
four capital – investment, consumption, skill and social capital