This text provides an introduction to key concepts, current research findings, and theories in social inequality.

Preface 1. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY / Major Issues in the Study of Social Inequality / Examining Inequality in a Sociological Mode / Some Basic Terms and Concepts in the Study of Inequality / Summary 2. THE AMERICAN CLASS SYSTEM / Social Class: A Two-Dimensional Picture / The Reality of Class in the United States / Change and Continuity in Economic Inequality / Summary 3. POVERTY AND THE POOR / Defining Poverty / Who Are the Poor? / The Working Poor and the Underclass / Why Are the Poor Poor? / Public Policies and Poverty / Poverty in Comparative Perspective / Summary 4. THE MIDDLE CLASSES AND THE CHANGING ECONOMY / Historical Development of the Middle Classes / The Classes in the Middle and the Occupational Structure / The Changing U.S. Economy and the Classes in the Middle / Economic Restructuring and the Classes in the Middle / The Middle Classes and the New Consumerism / Summary 5. THE UPPER CLASS AND THE POWER ELITE / The Upper Class / The Power Elite: Patterns and Theory / Social Class and the Power Elite / Paths to Power / Summary 6. STRATIFICATION SYSTEMS AND SOCIAL MOBILITY / Systems of Stratification / Patterns of Social Mobility in Modern Societies / Determinants of Social Mobility / Education and the Process of Mobility / Summary 7. PUBLIC POLICY AND THE CLASS SYSTEM / The Political Economy / Taxation: How Much, from Whom / Government Spending: On What, for Whom / The U.S. Welfare State in Comparative Perspective / Government Regulation / Partisan Differences in Public Policy / Summary 8. THEORIES OF CLASS AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY / Marx's Theory of Social Inequality / Weber: The Inevitability of Inequality / Functionalism and Conflict Theory / Summary 9. IDEOLOGY AND THE LEGITIMATION OF INEQUALITY / Legitimation / The Nature of Ideology / The Dominant American Ideology / Legitimation, Ideology, and Socialization / Summary 10. RACIAL/ETHNIC DIFFERENTIATION / Ethnicity and Race / Changing Ethnic Patterns in the United States / Ethnic Categories / The American Ethnic Configuration / The Shaping of American Ethnic Diversity and Inequality / The Newest Immigrants / Summary 11. RACIAL/ETHNIC STRATIFICATION / Majority and Minority / The American Ethnic Hierarchy / Stability and Change in the American Ethnic Hierarchy / Summary 12. GENDER INEQUALITY / Gender Differentiation / Gender Stratification / Gender Inequality in the Workforce: Continuity and Change / Patterns of Gender Inequality: Politics, the Corporation, and Education / The Status of Women in Global Perspective / The Feminist Movement / Summary 13. POLITICAL INEQUALITY / Political Stratification / Three Models of Power in America / The American Power Structure: Unity and Division / The Role of Masses in the System of Power Summary Glossary References Index