SOC 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Temporary Assistance For Needy Families, Symbolic Interactionism, Social Stratification
Document Summary
Social stratification is crucial for the operation of society and has positive functions. Middle-class schools and the media constantly tell the poor that they are less talented and less worthy. Ryan (1976) society can define people as responsible for their own poverty. Inequality is the result of a social system designed to maximize profits by keeping cots and wages low: exploits those at the bottom, few rich and many poor. Uneven distribution of wealth is the problem. Stratification systems do not fill important positions with the best people, but are used mainly to keep the lower class suppressed. The most significant welfare program today is tanf. Programs vary significantly by state: 10% of poor people in texas get tanf, 75% of poor people in california get tanf. Federal government funds state programs through block grants. These block grants have some limits on how they can be spent.
