Sociology Now, Census Update

34 percent of the nation’s wealth (up a few percentage points since 1990), and the

bottom 10 percent virtually none (Economic Policy Institute, 2007).

Even at the top, the gaps are growing enormously. Between 1972 and 2001, the

wages and salary of the 90th income percentile (the top 10 percent) grew 34 percent—

about 1 percent a year. That means that being in the top 10 percent did not pay off

handsomely. But income at the 99th percentile (the top 1 percent, or about $400,000

a year) rose 181 percent during that same period. And income at the 99.99th percentile

(the top one-hundredth of 1 percent) rose 497 percent. That’s for those earning over

$6 million a year (Krugman, 2006). An old expression tells us, “A rising tide lifts all

boats.” But it seems that nowadays the rising tide lifts only the yachts.

These averages mask even greater disparities between Whites and people of color.

The median wealth (net worth less home equity) of White households is $18,000,

while that of African American households is a modest $200 and of Hispanic house-

holds, zero (Gates, 1999).

Class and Race

Class position is based on your position in the economic world. And while it is more

flexible than your race or gender statuses that are fixed, or ascribed, at birth it is also

less an achieved status than our ideology would often imagine. There is less than a

2 percent chance that someone whose parents are in the bottom 60 percent of all

incomes will ever end up in the top 5 percent. And if you are born in the bottom

20 percent, you have a 40 percent chance of staying there (Hertz, 2007).

This means that the historical legacy of racism has enormous consequences for

class position. Given how little mobility there actually is, the descendents of poor

218 CHAPTER 7STRATIFICATION AND SOCIAL CLASS

Charity

American values have traditionally included a belief in equality and charity, but individuals inter-

nalize and act on these values in different ways. Some choose to donate time to a cause of their

choice by volunteering with formal organizations while others choose to help people on an indi-

vidual, day-to-day basis. Still others choose to donate financially to a cause. There is also a

social expectation that those who have more should give more, whether they are giving time or

money. So, what do you think?

See the back of the chapter to compare your answers to national survey data.

7.2

What

do

you

think

1.During the past 12 months, how often have you given

money to a charity?

❍More than once a week

❍Once a week

❍Once a month

❍At least two or three times in past year

❍Not at all in past year

2.Over the past 5 years, have you contributed your

time to help the needy?

❍Yes

❍No

?