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Note: This syllabus will be extensively revised with
new readings and assignments for Spring 2002.
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Social stratification lies at the core of society and of the discipline of sociology. Social inequality is a fundamental aspect of virtually all social processes, and a person's position in the stratification system is the most consistent predictor of his or her behavior, attitudes, and life chances. Social stratification links almost all aspects of society together, and therefore understanding what is happening to social stratification helps us understand a wide range of other changes in society.
This course focuses on one type of stratification in particular: social class. It does so in the belief that in American society we have become conditioned to see other forms of inequality (race, gender, age) much more readily than class stratification, even when apparent differences between racial, gender or age groups may in fact be explained by their link to social class. Social class is by no means the only determinant of social life and life chances, but it is a goal of this course to "see" class and its significance where before it may have been invisible.
Prerequisite: It is strongly recommended that students have taken, or be taking concurrently, Methods and Techniques of Social Research.
You are expected to attend all classes and to have completed the readings and assignments prior to class. Regular class attendance and active class participation is expected. You should plan on purchasing the following two books, which have been ordered at the campus bookstore:
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Dennis Gilbert, The American Class Structure (Wadsworth, fifth edition, 1998), an excellent text placing the study of class stratification in the context of growing inequality. |
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Jay MacLeod, Ain't No Makin' It: Leveled Aspirations in a Low- Income Neighborhood (Westview Press, 1995 revised edition), a rich ethnography of two groups of youth in a public housing project in a northeastern city. In addition, there will be several articles handed out in class as well as various readings on the internet, mostly from the online journal, The American Prospect, and from InfoTrac, an online database of articles that comes with the Gilbert text. |
Grading will be based on the following:
An in-class, open book multiple-choice exam on Tuesday, February 23rd, designed to test your understanding of the text, with a particular focus on reading and interpreting the tables and graphs (20% of grade);
Active class participation can raise your grade in borderline cases. In addition, up to 5 points extra credit (added to your overall course average) may be earned by presenting your ethnographic research findings in visual form at the annual joint Sociology-Psychology Poster Session on Friday, April 28th.
Office Hours and Communication: My office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00-12:00 a.m. and 3:00-4:00 p.m. Feel free to make an appointment for another time if these hours are not convenient. I encourage questions and other communications by email; my email address is wood@crab.rutgers.edu
I. Basic Concepts, Theories, and Issues in the Study of Social Stratification (Jan. 18-Feb. 1)
II. Explaining Increasing Economic Inequality (Feb. 3-22)
Summary Press Release
In-Class, Open-Book Exam on Tues. Feb. 22
III. Social Class, Lifestyle and Mobility (Feb. 24-29)
IV. Computer Resources for Studying Social Stratification (March 2-9)
Social Stratification Internet Virtual Tour
MicroCase Data Analysis Exercise
due before Spring Break (March 10)
V. The Reproduction of Class: Deindustrialization, Cultural Capital and the Service Economy (March 21-April 6)
Take-Home Essay Exam due April 6th
VI. Class Conflict and Political Power (April 11-13)
VII. Poverty, Homelessness, and Public Policy (April 13-18)
Ethnographic Research Papers due Tuesday, April 20th
VIII. The Future of Class and Inequality (Ap2ril 5-27)
Final Exam at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 8th
Return to the home page of Robert E. Wood
Jan. 11, 2000
