Sociology
Chapter 8- Social Stratification
The following project will count as your test for chapter 8.
Despite all the information in the chapter about poverty, most Americans do not fully understand the plight of the poor. To remedy that situation, we are going to create an imaginary person- Jill/Joe. Jill/Joe is a single parent with a high school degree. She/He is 22 years old and has two children, ages 2 and 4. Using your sociological imagination, put yourself into their shoes. Jill/Joe needs to fulfill the following functions in order to survive.
1. Find a job. Using the classified ads in local papers, find a position that they would be able to fulfill. Describe the job duties and report the wage they would be paid. If the wage is not listed, give an estimate of what you believe this position would pay.
2. Find a place to live. Using the classified ads, find a home for Jill/Joe and their children. List the features of the home and the price. If price is not listed, find a similar home and list that price.
3. Find a daycare for the children while at work. Using your own knowledge or knowledge of others, find the cost of daycare in your area. List any rules or regulations that go along with this daycare, such as hours of operation, sick child policy, and lunch program.
4. Buy food for the family. Write a meal plan for Jill/Joe and their children for one week. Then use the grocery store advertisements and price these items.
5. Find clothes, transportation, and medical care. Estimate how much Jill/Joe could spend on these items each month after you have deducted rent, daycare, and food from their paycheck.
You need to calculate how much money you earn a month. Then subtract how much your home, food, daycare, and other expenses cost per month. Do you have anything left? How will you use your left over money?
6. Think of one solution that would help people like Jill/Joe who are forced to live in poverty.