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Class, Race, and Families Defining social class Income distribution and economic restructuring Poverty Race, ethnicity, and class Main points on selected racial-ethnic groups Hispanics African Americans Asians Defining Social Class • Class: relationship to means of production (economic, power) • Status: common lifestyle and identity (social, prestige) Rich get richer; middle, working, and lower classes get poorer: Income Shares of Each Fifth and Top 5% of Families, 1980 - 2002 100% 80% Share of income Top 5% 60% Highest Fifth 40% 4th Fifth 3rd Fifth 20% 2nd Fifth 0% 1980 1990 1995 Year 2002 Lowest Fifth Economic Restructuring (1970’s and beyond) • Technological changes – New jobs and skills – Workers replaced with machines • Loss of skilled and semi-skilled jobs to developing countries – “outsourcing” Economic Restructuring • Without college = Low paying jobs: service and unskilled • Nonstandard employment = contingency workers; no security, benefits • Stagnating wages, esp. men • Entry-level jobs hardest hit • Housing prices rise Income advantage for married couples; growing disadvantage for single mothers: Racial-Ethnic Group • • • • Race = genetic Ethnicity = cultural Racial-ethnic group = elements of both Related to class: involves economics, status, power Race gaps in income and net worth: Median Family Income and Net Worth, by Race, 2001 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 White 60,000 Nonwhite 40,000 20,000 0 1 Income 2 Net Worth Race gaps in assets owned: % Who Own Home, Vehicle, or Business Equity, by race, 2001 100 80 60 White 40 Nonwhite 20 0 Home Vehicle Business Equity Puerto Ricans • U.S. Citizens (47% live here) • Most economically disadvantaged Hispanic group • Highest unemployment • High rate of informal marriage - related to men’s deteriorating employment Cuban American families • • • • First came to US to escape Castro Most were upper/middle class, educated Welcomed by US Immigrant enclaves – preserved own culture; mutual support • Supported each other; built businesses; enjoyed some financial success • 2nd wave (1980’s “), boat people:” thought to be “undesirables” (not true) African American Families • The stereotype: Unmarried mother & kids, female kinship, on welfare • The reality: – 69% of children born to unmarried moms (27% of whites) – 56% of households headed by women (22% of whites) – 22% live in poverty (7% of whites) African American Families: 2 Recent Trends • Decline in marriage • Rise of middle class Explaining the decline I. Economics: Black women consider economics in decision to marry • 1990’s: young Black men had high rates of: – – – – Unemployment Dropping out of school Violent crime, imprisonment Drug addiction • Result: fewer “eligible” men Explaining the decline II. Cultural response to economic probs. • African traditions: – Reliance on large kin networks – Cooperation and sharing – Less emphasis on formal marriage – Marriage after children • “Fathers” vs. “Daddies” Rise of Black Middle Class • • • • • Since 1960’s Opportunities for education Expansion of service sector Incomes still lower than whites Assets MUCH lower than whites – Less likely to inherit wealth, own a home Asian American Families • Generally: prosperous group - pool economic resources, emphasize family loyalty and honor • Very different experiences among different groups and generations – Later SE Asians less likely to prosper • Fewer skills • Less assistance • Poor economy on arrival