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Why Do You Need This New Edition?, i
Copyright, vi
Preface, xvii
1. An Introduction to the Study of Social Inequality, 1
1. An Introduction to the Study of Social Inequality, 1
Some Controversial Issues of Substance, 3
Issues of Methodology, 9
Organization of the Book, 11
Critical Thinking, 12
Web Connections, 12
Part One. Extent and Forms of Social Inequality, 13
2. Economic Inequality, 13
The Everyday Reality of Class, 13
Two Views of U.S. Class Structure, 15
Technology and the Shaping of the U.S. Class Structure, 21
Income Inequality, 23
Is the Middle Class Shrinking?, 25
Wealth Inequality in the United States, 28
The Global Context and the Impact of Globalization, 35
Summary, 40
Critical Thinking, 40
Web Connections, 41
3. Status Inequality, 42
The Theory of Social Status, 43
Spheres of Status in the United States, 47
Inequality in Appalachia, 60
Globalization and Axes of Social Status, 66
Summary, 67
Critical Thinking, 67
Web Connections, 68
4. Political Inequality, 69
Portraits of National Power Structure, 69
Distribution of Political Power, 74
Interlinkage of Economic and Political Power, 79
Ruling-Class Unity, 81
Power Inequality in the Work Experience, 84
Power Inequality in a Global and Globalizing Context, 87
Summary, 89
Critical Thinking, 90
Web Connections, 90
5. Sex and Gender Inequality, 91
The Status of Women in the Early United States, 91
Present Occupational and Economic Conditions for Women, 94
Microinequities in the Treatment of Women, 104
General Theories of Sex and Gender Inequality, 106
The Global Context and the Impact of Globalization, 120
Summary, 126
Critical Thinking, 127
Web Connections, 127
6. Sexual Orientation and Inequality, 128
The Complexity of Sexuality and Gender, 129
Public Opinions on Homosexuality, 130
Homosexuals as a Status Group, 134
Discrimination, Legal Confusion, and Sexual Orientation, 135
A Socioeconomic Profile of Homosexuals, 139
Negative Consequences of Stigmatization, 143
Globalization and Sexuality, 145
Summary, 146
Critical Thinking, 146
Web Connections, 146
7. Racial and Ethnic Inequality, 147
The Meaning and Creation of Race, 147
U.S. Racial and Ethnic Relations: A Historical Sketch, 149
Racial and Ethnic Inequality Today, 154
Microinequities in the Treatment of Racial and Ethnic Minorities, 159
The Intersection of Class, Race, Sex, and Gender, 162
Theories of Racial and Ethnic Inequality, 169
The Global Context, Immigration, and Globalization, 177
Summary, 180
Critical Thinking, 181
Web Connections, 181
Part Two. General Explanations of Inequality, 182
8. Classical Explanations of Inequality, 182
Karl Marx (1818–1883), 182
Max Weber (1864–1920), 192
Émile Durkheim (1858–1917), 200
Herbert Spencer (1820–1903), 203
Marx, Weber, and Globalization, 207
Summary, 209
Critical Thinking, 210
Web Connections, 211
9. Contemporary Explanations of Inequality, 212
Functionalist Theory of Stratification, 213
Theories of Social Reproduction, 216
Labor-Market Theories of Income and Earnings Inequality, 223
Identifying Mechanisms That Produce Inequality, 231
Summary, 235
Critical Thinking, 235
Web Connections, 236
Part Three. Consequences of Social Inequality, 237
10. The Impact of Inequality on Personal Life Chances, 237
Basic Life Chances: Physical Health, 237
Basic Life Chances: Psychological Health, 244
Basic Life Chances: Food and Shelter, 252
Life Chances in a Global Context, 255
Summary, 256
Critical Thinking, 257
Web Connections, 257
11. Social Consequences of Inequality, 258
Violence in the Family, 258
Inequality and the Measurement of Crime, 260
Street Crime and Inequality, 261
White-Collar Crime, Corporate Crime, and Punishment, 272
Hate Crimes and Inequality, 276
Social Inequality and Environmental Equity, 278
Social Consequences on a Global Scale, 281
Summary, 283
Critical Thinking, 283
Web Connections, 283
12. Social Inequality and Social Movements, 284
The Labor Movement, 284
The Civil Rights Movement, 294
The Women’s Movement, 302
Summary, 311
Critical Thinking, 312
Web Connections, 312
Part Four. Stability and Change in the System of Social Inequality, 313
13. Social Mobility and Status Attainment: Openness in U.S. Society, 313
Questions Concerning Openness, 313
U.S. Mobility over Time, 314
Comparative Studies of Mobility, 319
Status Attainment: What Determines How Far One Goes?, 320
Mobility and the Attainment Process among African Americans, 326
Patterns of Mobility and Attainment among Women, 329
Summary, 333
Critical Thinking, 334
Web Connections, 334
14. Justice and Legitimacy: Assessments of the Structure of Inequality, 335
U.S. Attitudes about the Distribution of Income and Wealth, 336
What Is a Just Distribution?, 338
Bases for the Legitimation of Structured Inequality, 341
Summary, 351
Critical Thinking, 352
Web Connections, 352
15. Addressing Inequality and Poverty: Programs and Reforms, 353
Confronting Inequality, 354
Perceptions of the Poor and Theories of Poverty, 358
Poverty Programs, 365
Flaws in Pre-1996 Assistance Programs, 370
Welfare Reform, 371
Suggestions for Reducing Inequality, 374
Summary, 377
Critical Thinking, 378
Web Connections, 379
Glossary of Basic Terms, 381
References, 387
Index, 437

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