SOCIAL STRATIFICATION. SOCIAL CLASSES IN THE USA

This presentation was prepared for the undergraduate course Introduction to Sociology taught at the American University of Technology. The lecture focuses on the topic of social stratification and the structure of social classes in the United States. The material is primarily based on the theoretical framework and empirical analysis presented in the 17th edition of Introduction to Sociology by John J. Macionis.

The presentation examines the concept of social stratification as a system of structured inequality in society. It introduces key sociological perspectives on stratification, including functionalist and conflict approaches, and analyzes the main dimensions of social inequality such as income, wealth, education, and occupational status. Particular attention is given to the structure of social classes in the United States, including the upper class, middle class, working class, and lower class, as well as patterns of social mobility and the persistence of inequality.

The lecture slides are designed to support students’ understanding of the mechanisms that shape social hierarchy and class relations in modern societies, while encouraging critical sociological analysis of social inequality.