SOC 1105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Blue-Collar Worker, Social Inequality, Social Class
Document Summary
Almost all questions of sociology are questions of inequality. Canada often thought of as middle class society, but highly stratified. Poor canadian families + wealthy controlling most of money, more schooling better health. Aboriginal societies living in third world conditions. Socioeconomic states is a composite measure of social position that considers also power occupational prestige and schooling. Income is occupational wages or salaries earnings from investments and government transfer payments. In 2011 the average family income was . Income is only one component of wealth: total amount of money and other assets minus outstanding debts. Stocks bonds real estate and other privately owned property. In the us the richest 20% of families control 89% of all wealth 2011. Wealth in an important source of power. Occupation is a major determinant of income wealth and power. Physicians lawyers and engineers ranked near the top on prestige whil cashiers and janitors are ranked near the bottom.