Social Inequality: Patterns and Processes

498 Pages·2013·22.405 MB·English

by  Martin N. Marger

M
a
r
Social Inequality: Patterns and Processes introduces key concepts, g
theories, research findings, and trends associated with the major forms of social e
r Martin n. Marger
inequality. Students will gain a keen awareness of the subtle and often unseen
ways in which inequality is structured, and how it impinges on virtually all
facets of individual and group life. The 6th edition carries on the tradition of
s
highly accessible and concise narratives, and includes extensive coverage of the
o
latest issues in society both domestic and cross-nationally.
c
Features oF the 6th edition: i
a
• Each dimension of inequality is presented in a separate chapter to
l
increase clarity and understanding of distinct but interrelated themes.

I
• Numerous tables and figures illustrate the continued expansion of the N
income and wealth gaps in American society and the declining trend of E
social mobility. q
• New extensive discussions of the economic downturn of the late 2000s, U
the effects of globalization on the workforce, wealth distribution, and more. A
• Thorough explanation of the impact of ideology in shaping and stabilizing l
I
the class, racial/ethnic, and gender hierarchies. T
y
What instructors are saying about Social inequality:
P
“This is a highly readable text that brings the realities of social class in American a
t
to life for students. I rarely use traditional textbooks, but have used this one for t
e
over a decade.” -Karen Sternheimer, University of Southern California r
M
n
D
“Students love that it is concise, well written, easy to understand and balanced. s D
The price is still affordable and it is very organized.” Donna Goyer, California a AL
State University- San Marcos nd IM
c“oTmhims ubnoiocka tiisn gc otnhcei smee, cahcacneiscssi bolef iannedq ucaolmityp raesh weneslli vaes. iItts d toheeso rae gtirceaal ta jnodb of Pro social #122555
c 9
ideological foundations.” -Jennifer Johnson, Virginia Commonwealth University e 02
s sixth edition /0
s 6/1
e 2
Visit the dedicated online learning center for instructor resources! s CY
A
http://www.mhhe.com/marger6e N
M
INEqUAlITy A
sixth G
edition Y
E
L
O
B
L
K
Patterns and Processes
mmaarr2266993388__ffmm__ii--xxvvii..iinndddd PPaaggee ii 2244//0011//1133 1100::1100 AAMM uusseerr //220011//MMHH0011884411//mmaarr2266993388__ddiisskk11ooff11//00007788002266993388//mmaarr2266993388__ppaaggeeffiilleess
Social Inequality
Patterns and Processes
Sixth Edition
Martin N. Marger
TM
mmaarr2266993388__ffmm__ii--xxvvii..iinndddd PPaaggee iiii 1199//0022//1133 99::3377 PPMM uusseerr //220011//MMHH0011884411//mmaarr2266993388__ddiisskk11ooff11//00007788002266993388//mmaarr2266993388__ppaaggeeffiilleess
TM
SOCIAL INEQUALITY: PATTERNS AND PROCESSES, SIXTH EDITION
Published by McGraw-Hill, a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue
of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Copyright © 2014 by Martin N. Marger. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America. Previous editions © 2011, 2008, 2005, and 2002. No part
of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in
a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of The McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc., including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or
broadcast for distance learning.
Some ancillaries, including electronic and print components, may not be available to customers
outside the United States.
This book is printed on acid-free paper
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 DOC/DOC 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
ISBN 978-0-07-802693-5
MHID 0-07-8026938
Senior Vice President, Products & Markets: Kurt L. Strand
Vice President, General Manager, Products & Markets: Michael Ryan
Vice President, Content Production & Technology Services: Kimberly Meriwether David
Executive Director of Development: Lisa Pinto
Managing Director: Gina Boedeker
Brand Manager: Courtney Austermehle
Marketing Specialist: Alexandra Schultz
Managing Development Editor: Sara Jaeger
Editorial Coordinator: Adina Lonn
Director, Content Production: Terri Schiesl
Buyer: Nichole Birkenholz
Project Manager: Judi David
Media Project Manager: Sridevi Palani
Cover Designer: Studio Montage, St. Louis, MO.
Cover Image: John Foxx/Getty Images
Typeface: 10/12 Palatino
Compositor: Aptara®, Inc.
Printer: R.R. Donnelly
All credits appearing on page or at the end of the book are considered to be an extension of
the copyright page.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Marger, Martin.
Social inequality : patterns and processes / Martin N. Marger, Michigan State University.
— Sixth edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-07-802693-5 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-07-802693-8 (alk. paper)
1. Equality. 2. Social classes. 3. Social structure. 4. Marginality, Social. I. Title.
HM821.M37 2013
305—dc23 2012051477
The Internet addresses listed in the text were accurate at the time of publication. The
inclusion of a website does not indicate an endorsement by the authors or McGraw-Hill, and
McGraw-Hill does not guarantee the accuracy of the information presented at these sites.
www.mhhe.com
mmaarr2266993388__ffmm__ii--xxvvii..iinndddd PPaaggee iiiiii 2244//0011//1133 1100::1100 AAMM uusseerr //220011//MMHH0011884411//mmaarr2266993388__ddiisskk11ooff11//00007788002266993388//mmaarr2266993388__ppaaggeeffiilleess
Contents
Preface x
Chapter 1: An Introduction to the Study
of Social Inequality 1
Major Issues in the Study of Social Inequality 3
Key Questions 4
A Comparative Approach 5
Examining Inequality in a Sociological Mode 5
The Sociological Mode 6
Objectives of Inquiry 10
Individuals and Social Forces 12
Some Basic Terms and Concepts in the Study of Inequality 13
Social Differentiation 13
Social Stratification 14
Stratification Forms 16
Structured Inequality 17
Life Chances and Inequality of Opportunity 17
Stability in Systems of Inequality 20
Change in Systems of Inequality 21
Equity versus Liberty 23
Summary 24
Chapter 2: Theories of Class and Social Inequality 26
Marx’s Theory of Social Inequality 27
The Economic Foundation 28
The Class Division 29
Class Conflict and Societal Change 31
Marxian Theory in Summary 33
The Failure of Marx’s Vision 33
iii
mmaarr2266993388__ffmm__ii--xxvvii..iinndddd PPaaggee iivv 2244//0011//1133 1100::1100 AAMM uusseerr //220011//MMHH0011884411//mmaarr2266993388__ddiisskk11ooff11//00007788002266993388//mmaarr2266993388__ppaaggeeffiilleess
iv Contents
Enduring Points of Marx’s Theory 35
Revising Marx 36
Weber: The Inevitability of Inequality 38
Class 38
Status 39
Party 40
Weber on Power 41
Weber’s Contribution to Inequality Theory 42
Dahrendorf: Neo-Weberian 43
Bourdieu: Forms of Capital 44
Functionalism and Conflict Theory 46
Functional Theory: The Need for Inequality 47
Conflict Theory: The Dysfunctions of Inequality 48
Lenski’s Synthesis 50
Summary 52
Chapter 3: The American Class System 54
Social Class: A Two-Dimensional Picture 54
Economic Class 54
Class as Lifestyle 55
Popular Notions of the American Class Structure 56
The Reality of Class in the United States 57
The Six-Part American Class Structure 57
The Distribution of Income 63
The Distribution of Wealth 67
Change and Continuity in Economic Inequality 71
Trends in the Distribution of Income and Wealth 71
Looking Beyond 75
Economic Inequality: A Comparative Perspective 77
Summary 80
Chapter 4: The Upper Class and the Power Elite 82
The Upper Class 82
Income 82
Wealth 85
The Rich: Old and New 88
The Privileges of Wealth 91
Inheritance, Effort, and Wealth 93
mmaarr2266993388__ffmm__ii--xxvvii..iinndddd PPaaggee vv 2244//0011//1133 1100::1100 AAMM uusseerr //220011//MMHH0011884411//mmaarr2266993388__ddiisskk11ooff11//00007788002266993388//mmaarr2266993388__ppaaggeeffiilleess
Contents v
The Power Elite: Patterns and Theory 95
The Relationship between the Upper Class and the Power Elite 95
Social Class and the Power Elite 100
The Social-Class Origins of U.S. Elites 102
Paths to Power 105
The Elite Recruitment Process 105
The Systemic Nature of Elite Recruitment 107
Power Elites in Other Societies 108
Summary 109
Chapter 5: The Middle Classes 111
Historical Development of the Middle Classes 112
Formation of the Middle Classes in the United States 112
Industrialization and the Changing Class Structure 113
Postindustrialism 114
The Classes in the Middle and the Occupational Structure 116
The Upper-Middle Class 116
The Lower-Middle Class 117
The Working Class 117
The Changing U.S. Economy and the Classes in the Middle 120
The Growth of the Middle Classes 120
The Shrinking Middle 122
Economic Restructuring and the Classes in the Middle 126
Technological Changes 127
Globalization 128
The Decline of Labor Unions 134
Downsizing, Outsourcing, and Offshoring 135
Demographic Factors 137
Public Policies and the Shrinking Middle 139
The Middle Classes: Lifestyles, Desires, and Debt 140
The New Consumerism 140
Consumer Debt 142
The End of the New Consumerism? 144
Summary 144
Chapter 6: Poverty and the Poor 146
Defining Poverty 147
Absolute Poverty 147
mmaarr2266993388__ffmm__ii--xxvvii..iinndddd PPaaggee vvii 2244//0011//1133 1100::1100 AAMM uusseerr //220011//MMHH0011884411//mmaarr2266993388__ddiisskk11ooff11//00007788002266993388//mmaarr2266993388__ppaaggeeffiilleess
vi Contents
Relative Poverty 147
Official Poverty 148
Who Are the Poor? 150
The Poor and Those at Risk 150
Poverty Trends 153
The Working Poor and the Underclass 156
The Working Poor 156
The Underclass 160
Why Are the Poor Poor? 163
Individual-Focused Explanations 163
Structure-Focused Explanations 167
Popular Views of Poverty 171
Public Policies and Poverty 172
Welfare Programs 172
Poverty in Comparative Perspective 178
Summary 181
Chapter 7: Stratification Systems and Social
Mobility 183
Systems of Stratification 184
Slavery 185
Caste 190
Estate 194
Class Systems 197
Patterns of Social Mobility in Modern Societies 197
Measurements of Mobility 198
Mobility Trends 199
Mobility in Historical Perspective 203
Determinants of Social Mobility 204
Structural Mobility 204
Individual Mobility 205
Education and the Process of Mobility 212
Education: The Key Life Chance 213
Summary 218
Chapter 8: Ideology and the Legitimation of
Inequality 220
Legitimation 221
mmaarr2266993388__ffmm__ii--xxvvii..iinndddd PPaaggee vviiii 2244//0011//1133 1100::1100 AAMM uusseerr //220011//MMHH0011884411//mmaarr2266993388__ddiisskk11ooff11//00007788002266993388//mmaarr2266993388__ppaaggeeffiilleess
Contents vii
The Nature of Ideology 222
Dominant Ideologies 223
Ideology: Beliefs and Reality 225
The Dominant American Ideology 226
Individual Achievement 226
Equality of Opportunity 230
Meritocracy and Universalism 230
The Work Ethic 234
Liberal Capitalism 235
Ancillary Beliefs 237
Persistence and Change in the American Ideology 239
Legitimation, Ideology, and Socialization 242
Socialization 242
Legitimation, Socialization, and the School 243
The Mass Media in the Legitimation Process 246
Summary 253
Chapter 9: Public Policy and the Class
System 255
The Political Economy 255
Capitalism, Democracy, and Inequality 258
Macroeconomic Policy 260
Taxation: How Much, from Whom 260
Government Spending: On What, for Whom 266
Categories of Government Spending 266
Welfare for the Poor, the Middle, and the Wealthy 267
The U.S. Welfare State in Comparative Perspective 272
The Scope and Impact of the U.S. Welfare State 272
Accounting for the Difference 275
Public Perceptions of Government Spending 277
Government Regulation 278
Regulatory Agencies 278
Efforts to Influence the Business Cycle 279
Partisan Differences in Public Policy in the
Modern Era 281
Competing Approaches to the Political Economy 282
More or Less Inequality? Policy Choices 286
Summary 287
mmaarr2266993388__ffmm__ii--xxvvii..iinndddd PPaaggee vviiiiii 2244//0011//1133 1100::1100 AAMM uusseerr //220011//MMHH0011884411//mmaarr2266993388__ddiisskk11ooff11//00007788002266993388//mmaarr2266993388__ppaaggeeffiilleess
viii Contents
Chapter 10: Racial/Ethnic Stratification 289
Ethnicity and Race 289
Ethnicity 290
Race 291
Racial-Ethnic Categories 292
The American Ethnic Configuration 294
Racial-Ethnic Stratification: Majority and Minority 295
Minority Groups 295
Dominant Groups 297
The Relativity of Dominant Status and Minority Status 298
The Origins of Ethnic Stratification 298
The Intersection of Class and Ethnicity 301
The American Ethnic Hierarchy 302
Ethnicity and the Economic Hierarchy 303
African Americans 306
Hispanic Americans 310
Asian Americans 311
Native Americans 314
Ethnicity and Power 315
Prejudice and Discrimination 318
Social Integration 321
Stability and Change in the American Ethnic Hierarchy 322
Efforts at Changing the Hierarchy 322
Affirmative Action 323
Summary 328
Chapter 11: Gender Inequality 330
Gender Differentiation 332
Sex and Gender 332
Gender Stratification 333
Why Gender Inequality? 333
Sexism and Sexist Stereotypes 335
Gender Inequality in the Workforce: Continuity and Change 336
Labor Force Participation 337
Occupational Concentration 339
Earnings 342
Authority 346
Work and the Family 347
mmaarr2266993388__ffmm__ii--xxvvii..iinndddd PPaaggee iixx 0044//0022//1133 88::0099 PPMM uusseerr //220011//MMHH0011884411//mmaarr2266993388__ddiisskk11ooff11//00007788002266993388//mmaarr2266993388__ppaaggeeffiilleess
Contents ix
Patterns of Gender Inequality: Politics, the Corporation,
and Education 348
Gender Inequality in the Political World 349
Gender Inequality in the Corporate World 350
Women and Education 353
The Status of Women in Global Perspective 354
Discrimination 354
Political and Economic Power 359
The Feminist Movement 361
Feminism 361
Summary 363
Chapter 12: Political Inequality 365
Political Stratification 365
The Scope and Dimensions of Power 365
Elites and Masses 367
Three Models of Power in America 370
The Class Model 370
The Power Elite Model 373
The Pluralist Model 374
The American Power Structure: Unity and Division 377
Power in America: An Integrated Model 377
The Role of Masses in the System of Power 381
Political Participation: A Key Life Chance 381
The Effective—and Costly—Forms of Participation 383
Political Participation and Social Class 392
Participation and Elite Accountability 395
Mass Participation and the Class Structure 397
Noninstitutional Forms of Participation 398
Summary 402
Glossary 404
References 412
Index 459