Understanding Social Class and Inequality in Canada
Social Class in Canada
Social inequality in Canada isn’t easily recognized because:
- Primary groups (family, friends) typically have the same social standing as we do.
- Most daily interactions (workplace) involve a narrow stratum of society, with only brief & impersonal encounters with people very different from ourselves.
- Mass media (Ads, TV programs) project a largely middle-class, homogenous picture of the world, making the very rich & very poor invisible to us.
Dimensions of Social Inequality
Socio-economic status is a composite measure of social position that considers: Money, power, occupational prestige, schooling.
- Wealth: The total value of money & other assets, minus outstanding debts (not earned income but stocks, bonds, real estate).
- Power: Wealth stands as an important source of power. Rich families have influence over the nation’s political agenda.
- Prestige: Occupation is a major determinant of income, wealth & power and serves as a key source of social prestige.
- Schooling: Education often determines labor force participation, occupation, and income. Promotes personal development and has a strong link between education & income.
Merit and Caste
Family background, Gender, Race & Ethnicity affect our placement in the socio-economic hierarchy of Canada.
Social Classes in Canada (4)
Upper Class, Middle Class, Working Class, Lower Class
- Upper Class: Most income is inherited wealth “old money” with the highest levels of education.
- Middle Class: 40-50% of the Canadian population. Lots of influence on our culture. The average consumer plays an important role in local political affairs.
- Working Class: 1/3 of the population with lower incomes (little/no accumulation of wealth). Blue-collar occupations with fewer benefits. Children often don’t go to university.
- Lower Class: Below/On the poverty line. Working poor, on welfare, functionally illiterate, and experience physical segregation.
Class Differences
Health, Values & Attitudes, Family & Gender, Social Mobility
- Most working-class couples divide their responsibilities according to gender roles.
- Middle-class couples, in contrast, are more egalitarian, sharing more activities and expressing greater intimacy.
- Working-class friendships typically serve as a source of material assistance.
- Middle-class friendships are likely to involve shared interests and leisure pursuits.
Social Mobility
- Intragenerational: Change in social position during one person’s lifetime.
- Intergenerational: Upward or downward mobility of children in relation to their parents, revealing long-term changes in society.
Poverty in Canada: Relative & Absolute
- Relative Poverty: Deprivation of some people in relation to those who have more. Universal & inevitable.
- Absolute Poverty: Deprivation of resources that is life-threatening. Pressing but solvable. Families go hungry.
Factors in Economic Success: Degree of natural talent, Degree of Effort, Education
Symbolic Interaction Theory
Human Capital & Economic Reward: Part of the reason that people with the same amount of human capital may receive different economic rewards is that they possess different amounts of social & cultural capital.
- Social Capital: People’s networks, knowing the “right people” & having “strong links”.
- Cultural Capital: Set of social skills & ability to impress others. Tasteful images & language to effectively influence & persuade people.
For most Canadians, level of education is critical to finding and maintaining secure, well-paying employment.