In this course, we ask “who gets what and why?”  How are power,
privilege, and prestige distributed among individuals and groups in
society, and why do some enjoy more than others?  We will examine how
various inequalities have evolved
over time, how they are recreated over time, and how these
inequalities shape the life chances of individuals in different
socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and gender groups.

Throughout the course, we will give particular attention to the
experience of the contemporary U.S. and to the challenges that recent
developments pose for American society.  At the end of the term,
students will have a clearer understanding of the patterns of social
inequality within the United States, the processes by which
inequalities are either reproduced or challenged, and an appreciation
of the experiences of individuals across the social class spectrum.