the modern american dream the role of social class in the “pursuit of happiness”
TRANSCRIPT
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Agenda 10/14Journal #7: What do you believe the book cover is communicating through symbolism? Firstly, make a list of the various objects and/or colors (minimum of 5). Secondly, define what you believe each object and/or color symbolizes. Lastly, write 2-3 sentences explaining what you believe the image is communicating through symbolism and explain why.
1. American Dream Notes
2. Introduction to Unit Project
3. Begin Reading Chapter 1 w/ reading questions
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Agenda 10/141. Journal #72. American Dream
Notes3. Introduction to Unit
Project4. Begin Reading
Chapter 1 w/ reading questions
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THE MODERN AMERICAN DREAM
The Role of Social Class in the
“Pursuit of Happiness”
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AMERICAN DREAM• Land of Opportunity• Rags to Riches—Anyone can become rich, famous,
powerful.• Jobs and education available to all who want them.• Meritocracy (rewards)=skill + effort.• Through hard work, courage and determination one
can achieve prosperity. Americans can live better than their parents did.
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“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the PURSUIT of Happiness”
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Social Mobility
• The movement of families up and down the economic ladder
• 40% of incomes stayed at about the same level; 60% moved up or down.
• Only 37 of America’s 400 wealthiest inherited their money from their family.
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Social Classes
The hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups in societies.
Social StratificationThe study of systematic inequality
between groups of people
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What are the key features of social class?• WEALTH– Valued possessions : cash, land, buildings, property– Income : money from employment, shares etc. – Tends to be intergenerational
• POWER– Ability to carry out one’s will, even if opposed by others– Who has power???
• PRESTIGE– Respect given to people with valued positions or resources
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Upper Class Facts
Q. What % of Americans belong to the upper class? – 0.5%
Q. Extent of wealth?– Top 1% owns more than one third of ALL net worth in the U.S. – 50% U.S. stocks, 60% bonds; corporations, property, inheritances; income
mostly from investments not employment
Q. Source of power?– Ownership of resources - money makes money– Economic power and political power intertwined
Q. Source of prestige?– family name & resources (old: Rockefeller, Carnegie, Walton, Getty; new:
Gates)
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Corporate Class FactsQ. What % of Americans? – 0.5%
Q. Extent of wealth?– A lot, but not as much as the upper class– Usually not major owners of companies– median CEO salary $10.8 million– President of the U.S. $400,000 (why do it then??)
Q. Source of power?– Heads of companies, governmentQ. Source of prestige?– Position of influence
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Middle Class FactsQ. What % of Americans? – 43%
Q. Extent of wealth?– Some– Ownership—own home– Income—mid to high income
– Engineer, $58,000– Teacher, $34,000– ALC Professor, ??
Q. Source of power?- Limited within context of occupationQ. Source of prestige?– Some more than others, White collar job
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Working Class
Photograph from a book
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Working Class FactsQ.What % of Americans? – 43%
Q.Extent of wealth?– Little– Ownership—little or no property– Income—mid to low
– Factory worker, $24,000– Machine operator, $23,000
Q.Source of power? – Limited, sometimes collective power through unions
Q.Source of prestige?– Very little, Blue collar jobs
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Lower Class
Homeless man in New York - one of thousands
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Lower Class FactsQ.What % of Americans? – 13%
Q.Extent of wealth?– Very little, usually none– Ownership: none– Income: low
– Poverty rate in 2001: 9.9%– Only about 1/3 of poor get welfare
Q.Source of power? – Limited to none
Q.Source of prestige?– Limited to none
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Inequality Based on Class
• Health—Higher class live longer (79.2 years vs. 74.7 years).
• Crime—impoverished areas tend to have higher crime rates
• Education—despite continued increases in financial aid, the proportion of higher class students at elite schools is increasing.
• Families—higher class are more likely to have children while within marriage and at older ages.
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Distribution of Wealth
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Racial gaps in the labor marketAges 16-64; Year 2010
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Why does the gender gap exist?
• Education?– Women make up over 50% of students in college
Men and Women weekly wages (2014) Male $857 Female $716
• Men work more hours?– Women in full-time work earn less than men with the
same educational qualification
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Revisiting the American Dream• Land of Opportunity?
“rags to riches” or “the rich get rich?” Do the classes tend to reproduce themselves
(e.g. occupational & wealth inheritance, legacy admits)
Are all jobs open and equal for everyone?
• Social class is achieved or ascribed? Between 40 to 60% of parental income
advantage passed on to children Barriers to channels of upward mobility (e.g. a
good education)
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America: A Tale of Two Cities
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Agenda 10/141. Journal #72. American Dream
Notes3. Introduction to Unit
Project4. Begin Reading
Chapter 1 w/ reading questions
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Agenda 10/141. Journal #72. American Dream
Notes3. Introduction to Unit
Project4. Begin Reading
Chapter 1 w/ reading questions
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Gatsby Reading QuestionsChapter 1
1. What is the novel’s point of view?2. How does Nick know Daisy?3. Make a list of characters
introduced in chapter 1? Then write three adjectives to describe each of them.
4. Respectively, what do East Egg and West Egg represent?