Social Inequality : Forms, Causes, and Consequences

by Hurst, Charles E.

• ISBN13: 9780205484362
• ISBN10: 0205484360
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

This text explores the pervasiveness of inequality in American society. Using both classical and contemporary explanations for inequality, it examines the effect of inequality on us individually and collectively and efforts to change the structure of inequality.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
1 An Introduction to the Study of Social Inequality	1	(14)
Some Controversial Issues of Substance	3	(6)
Issues of Methodology	9	(2)
Organization of the Book	11	(2)
Critical Thinking	13	(1)
Web Connections	13	(2)
PART ONE Extent and Forms of Social Inequality
2 Economic Inequality	15	(30)
The Everyday Reality of Class	15	(2)
Two Views of U.S. Class Structure	17	(6)
Technology and the Shaping of the U.S. Class Structure	23	(2)
Income Inequality	25	(2)
Is the Middle Class Shrinking?	27	(4)
Wealth Inequality in the United States	31	(7)
The Global Context and the Impact of Globalization	38	(5)
Summary	43	(1)
Critical Thinking	43	(1)
Web Connections	44	(1)
3 Status Inequality	45	(198)
The Theory of Social Status	46	(4)
Spheres of Status in the United States	50	(12)
Inequality in Appalachia	62	(7)
Globalization and Axes of Social Status	69	(1)
Summary	70	(1)
Critical Thinking	70	(1)
Web Connections	70	(1)
4 Political Inequality	71	(23)
Portraits of National Power Structure	71	(5)
Distribution of Political Power	76	(5)
Interlinkage of Economic and Political Power	81	(3)
Ruling-Class Unity	84	(3)
Power Inequality in the Work Experience	87	(3)
Power Inequality in a Global and Globalizing Context	90	(2)
Summary	92	(1)
Critical Thinking	92	(1)
Web Connections	93	(1)
5 Sex and Gender Inequality	94	(37)
The Status of Women in the Early United States	94	(2)
Present Occupational and Economic Conditions for Women	96	(10)
Microinequities in the Treatment of Women	106	(3)
General Theories of Sex and Gender Inequality	109	(14)
The Global Context and the Impact of Globalization	123	(6)
Summary	129	(1)
Critical Thinking	130	(1)
Web Connections	130	(1)
6 Sexual Orientation and Inequality	131	(22)
The Complexity of Sexuality and Gender	132	(1)
Public Opinions on Homosexuality	133	(4)
Homosexuals as a Status Group	137	(2)
Discrimination, Legal Confusion, and Sexual Orientation	139	(4)
A Socioeconomic Profile of Homosexuals	143	(5)
Negative Consequences of Stigmatization	148	(2)
Globalization and Sexuality	150	(1)
Summary	151	(1)
Critical Thinking	152	(1)
Web Connections	152	(1)
7 Racial and Ethnic Inequality	153	(36)
The Meaning and Creation of Race	153	(2)
U.S. Racial and Ethnic Relations: An Historical Sketch	155	(5)
Racial and Ethnic Inequality Today	160	(6)
Microinequities in the Treatment of Racial and Ethnic Minorities	166	(1)
The Intersection of Class, Race, Sex, and Gender	167	(7)
Theories of Racial and Ethnic Inequality	174	(9)
The Global Context, Immigration, and Globalization	183	(3)
Summary	186	(1)
Critical Thinking	187	(1)
Web Connections	188	(1)
PART TWO General Explanations of Inequality
8 Classical Explanations of Inequality	189	(29)
Karl Marx (1818-1883)	189	(10)
Max Weber (1864-1920)	199	(8)
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)	207	(4)
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)	211	(5)
Summary	216	(1)
Critical Thinking	217	(1)
Web Connections	217	(1)
9 Contemporary Explanations of Inequality	218
Functionalist Theory of Stratification	219	(3)
Theories of Social Construction and Reproduction	222	(8)
Labor-Market Theories of Income and Earnings Distribution	230	(8)
The Recent Focus on Process Identification	238	(2)
Summary	240	(1)
Critical Thinking	241	(1)
Web Connections	241	(2)
PART THREE Consequences of Social Inequality
10 The Impact of Inequality on Personal Life Chances	243	(21)
Basic Life Chances: Physical Health	243	(7)
Basic Life Chances: Psychological Health	250	(8)
Basic Life Chances: Food and Shelter	258	(4)
Summary	262	(1)
Critical Thinking	263	(1)
Web Connections	263	(1)
11 Deviance, Protest, and Inequality	264	(31)
Violence in the Family	264	(2)
Inequality and the Measurement of Crime	266	(1)
Street Crime and Inequality	267	(12)
White-Collar Crime, Corporate Crime, and Punishment	279	(5)
Hate Crimes and Inequality	284	(2)
Structured Inequality and Collective Protests	286	(4)
Social Inequality and Environmental Equity	290	(3)
Summary	293	(1)
Critical Thinking	294	(1)
Web Connections	294	(1)
12 Social Inequality and Social Movements	295	(36)
The Labor Movement	295	(11)
The Civil Rights Movement	306	(11)
The Women's Movement	317	(10)
Inequality, Context, and Social Movements: A Synthesis	327	(3)
Critical Thinking	330	(1)
Web Connections	330	(1)
PART FOUR Stability and Change in the System of Social Inequality
13 Social Mobility and Status Attainment: Openness in U.S. Society	331	(23)
Questions Concerning Openness	331	(1)
U.S. Mobility over Time	332	(4)
Comparative Studies of Mobility	336	(2)
Status Attainment: What Determines How Far One Goes?	338	(6)
Mobility and Attainment Process among African Americans	344	(3)
Patterns of Mobility and Attainment among Women	347	(5)
Summary	352	(1)
Critical Thinking	353	(1)
Web Connections	353	(1)
14 Justice and Legitimacy: Assessments of the Structure of Inequality	354	(18)
U.S. Attitudes about the Distribution of Income and Wealth	355	(2)
What is a Just Distribution?	357	(3)
Bases for the Legitimation of Structured Inequality	360	(10)
Summary	370	(1)
Critical Thinking	371	(1)
Web Connections	371	(1)
15 Addressing Inequality and Poverty: Programs and Reforms	372	(30)
Addressing Inequality	373	(4)
The Conundrum of Defining Poverty	377	(2)
Levels of and Trends in Poverty	379	(1)
Perceptions of the Poor and Theories of Poverty	380	(8)
Poverty Programs	388	(5)
Flaws in pre-1996 Assistance Programs	393	(1)
Welfare Reform	394	(3)
Suggestions for Reducing Inequality	397	(3)
Summary	400	(1)
Critical Thinking	401	(1)
Web Connections	401	(1)
Glossary of Basic Terms	402	(5)
References	407	(41)
Index	448