Table of Contents

IN THIS SECTION:

1.) BRIEF

2.) COMPREHENSIVE

 

 

BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:

 

Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Study of Social Inequality   

PART ONE: Extent and Forms of Social Inequality

Chapter 2 Economic Inequality

Chapter 3 Status Inequality   

Chapter 4 Political Inequality   

Chapter 5 Sex and Gender Inequality   

Chapter 6 Sexual Orientation and Inequality   

Chapter 7 Racial and Ethnic Inequality   

 

PART TWO: General Explanations of Inequality

Chapter 8 Classical Explanations of Inequality   

Chapter 9 Contemporary Explanations of Inequality   

 

PART THREE: Consequences of Social Inequality

Chapter 10 The Impact of Inequality on Personal Life Chances   

Chapter 11 Social Consequences of Inequality   

Chapter 12 Social Inequality and Social Movements  
 

PART FOUR: Stability and Change in the System of Social Inequality

Chapter 13 Social Mobility and Status Attainment: Openness in U.S. Society   

Chapter 14 Justice and Legitimacy: Assessments of the Structure of Inequality   

Chapter 15 Addressing Inequality and Poverty: Programs and Reforms   

COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Preface   

 

Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Study of Social Inequality   

Some Controversial Issues of Substance   

Issues of Methodology   

Organization of the Book   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

PART ONE: Extent and Forms of Social Inequality

Chapter 2 Economic Inequality   

The Everyday Reality of Class   

Two Views of U.S. Class Structure   

Technology and the Shaping of the U.S. Class Structure   

Income Inequality   

Is the Middle Class Shrinking?   

Wealth Inequality in the United States   

The Global Context and the Impact of Globalization   

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

 Chapter 3 Status Inequality   

The Theory of Social Status   

Spheres of Status in the United States   

Inequality in Appalachia   

Globalization and Axes of Social Status   

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections  

Chapter 4Political Inequality   

Portraits of National Power Structure   

Distribution of Political Power   

Interlinkage of Economic and Political Power   

Ruling-Class Unity   

Power Inequality in the Work Experience   

Power Inequality in a Global and Globalizing Context   

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

Chapter 5Sex and Gender Inequality   

The Status of Women in the Early United States   

Present Occupational and Economic Conditions for Women   

Microinequities in the Treatment of Women   

General Theories of Sex and Gender Inequality   

The Global Context and the Impact of Globalization   

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

Chapter 6Sexual Orientation and Inequality   

The Complexity of Sexuality and Gender   

Public Opinions on Homosexuality   

Homosexuals as a Status Group   

Discrimination, Legal Confusion, and Sexual Orientation   

A Socioeconomic Profile of Homosexuals   

Negative Consequences of Stigmatization   

Globalization and Sexuality   

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

Chapter 7Racial and Ethnic Inequality   

The Meaning and Creation of Race   

U.S. Racial and Ethnic Relations: An Historical Sketch   

Racial and Ethnic Inequality Today   

Microinequities in the Treatment of Racial and Ethnic Minorities   

The Intersection of Class, Race, Sex, and Gender   

Theories of Racial and Ethnic Inequality   

The Global Context, Immigration, and Globalization   

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections

PART TWO: General Explanations of Inequality

Chapter 8Classical Explanations of Inequality   

Karl Marx (1818–1883)   

Max Weber (1864–1920)   

Emile Durkheim (1858–1917)   

Herbert Spencer (1820–1903)   

Marx, Weber, and Globalization

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

Chapter 9Contemporary Explanations of Inequality   

Functionalist Theory of Stratification   

Theories of Social Reproduction  

Labor-Market Theories of Income and Earnings Distribution   

Identifying Mechanisms that Produce Inequality

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

PART THREE: Consequences of Social Inequality

Chapter 10 The Impact of Inequality on Personal Life Chances   

Basic Life Chances: Physical Health   

Basic Life Chances: Psychological Health   

Basic Life Chances: Food and Shelter   

Life Chances in a Global Context

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

Chapter 11Social Consequences of Inequality   

Violence in the Family   

Inequality and the Measurement of Crime   

Street Crime and Inequality   

White-Collar Crime, Corporate Crime, and Punishment   

Hate Crimes and Inequality   

Structured Inequality and Collective Protests   

Social Inequality and Environmental Equity   

Social Consequences on a Global Scale

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

Chapter 12Social Inequality and Social Movements   

The Labor Movement   

The Civil Rights Movement   

The Women’s Movement   

Inequality, Context, and Social Movements: A Synthesis   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

PART FOUR: Stability and Change in the System of Social Inequality

Chapter 13Social Mobility and Status Attainment: Openness in U.S. Society   

Questions Concerning Openness   

U.S. Mobility over Time   

Comparative Studies of Mobility   

Status Attainment: What Determines How Far One Goes?   

Mobility and Attainment Process among African Americans   

Patterns of Mobility and Attainment among Women   

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

Chapter 14Justice and Legitimacy: Assessments of the Structure of Inequality   

U.S. Attitudes about the Distribution of Income and Wealth   

What is a Just Distribution?   

Bases for the Legitimation of Structured Inequality   

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

Chapter 15Addressing Inequality and Poverty: Programs and Reforms   

Confronting Inequality   

The Conundrum of Defining Poverty   

Levels of and Trends in Poverty   

Perceptions of the Poor and Theories of Poverty   

Poverty Programs   

Flaws in pre-1996 Assistance Programs   

Welfare Reform   

Suggestions for Reducing Inequality   

Summary   

Critical Thinking   

Web Connections   

 

Glossary of Basic Terms   

References   

Index   

About the Author

Charles E. Hurst grew up on the ethnic south-side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his experiences there fostered a life-long interest in social inequality and social theory.  He earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and later his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut.  He retired in 2008 as Professor of Sociology from The College of Wooster, after having taught courses on inequality in America and social theory for over 40 years.  His research resulted in articles on class consciousness, status inconsistency, and socioeconomic status and health care, and most recently, Amish society.  His books include The Anatomy of Social Inequality (C. V. Mosby 1979), Living Theory:  The Application of Classical Social Theory to Contemporary Life, 2nd edition (Allyn & Bacon 2005), and Social Inequality:  Forms, Causes and Consequences, 7th edition (Allyn & Bacon 2010).  During the last several years, his interest in social inequality led him to conduct research on issues related to women’s status, wealth, and class distinctions within the Ohio Amish community.  With a colleague, he has completed the first in-depth study of this settlement, soon to be published by Johns Hopkins University Press as An Amish Paradox:  Diversity and Change in the World’s Largest Amish Community.