What is the difference between unemployment and underemployment?

Instructions:
Following the guidelines for discussion boards in the syllabus and materials provided in the “all about discussion boards.” Check this link for complete instructions: (Discussion Board Grading and rubric)
Fully address four (4) of the video questions and two (2) of readings questions. That’s six (6) questions in all.
Number each response.
Use bold text when referencing a key concept from course materials. (e.g. “My workplace demonstrates mechanical solidarity, which means that…”; or “The main difference between social capital and cultural capital is that…”
NOTE: Remember, you should do 1 original post before midterm and 1 original post after midterm. You will ONLY be graded on your first original post submitted in each of these periods. You should also do two replies to classmates before midterms and two replies to classmates after midterms. You will only be graded on your first two replies in each of these periods.
QUESTION SETS
Other Materials: Videos (Choose 4)
1. Crash Course Sociology #24: Social Class and Poverty in the United States. Most Americans identify as “middle class,” even those from vastly different class backgrounds. Answer the following questions with clear reference to the class system discussed in the video: Since watching this video, has your view of your own class changed in any way? What was your class when you were a child, what is your class now, and what do you believe your class will be in 10 years from now?
2. Crash Course Sociology #26: Social Mobility: What is “social mobility”? How is social mobility shaped by the class someone is born into, their race, and their gender? Do you hope to be “upwardly mobile,” or to be in the same social class as the one you grew up in? How do you think life could be different if you moved up significantly in the class system?
3. “The ‘New Normal’ of Underemployment”: What is the difference between unemployment and underemployment? Have you or someone close to you experienced a long (6 months +) period of unemployment? Have you or someone close to you experienced a long (6 months +) period of underemployment? Do you believe underemployment is a serious problem? Why or why not? What policy or economic changes could we use to reduce the amount of underemployment in the U.S.?
4. Dream Hoarders: How the upper class keeps everyone else out: Describe one way the video discusses “dream hoarders” using the system to benefit themselves. Do you believe this is fair? Why or why not? If not, is there a way we could create a more fair society in terms of upward mobility? D
5. How wealth inequality is dangerous for America: We often think of poverty as a social problem, but this video indicates that wealth concentration is a problem as well. Why does this video see wealth concentration as a social problem? Do you agree? Why or why not? Do you believe that we should have less wealth inequality, or do you think the current levels are ideal? Why or why not?
6. “Wealth Inequality in America” video: This video explains the difference between 1. What Americans think the economic distribution is; 2. What most Americans want the economic distribution to be; and 3. What the actual wealth distribution is. Before watching this video, which of these distributions (1, 2, or 3) would you say was most accurate? Which one would you prefer or see as ideal? Were you surprised by the actual distribution of wealth? What policies do you think could help us to achieve your ideal wealth distribution?

Other Materials: Readings: (Choose 2)

7. Poverty Readings and textbook: What is Matthew Desmond’s view about housing? What is his policy idea? Do you think his proposals would help solve the problems of housing? What about the problems of poverty? Have you or anyone close to you ever experienced insecure housing, an eviction, or homelessness? If so, what was that like? If not, how likely do you think it is that you or someone close to you might have that experience? Is there anything from the textbook or other materials this week that could inform your understanding of homelessness?
8. Readings on social mobility: In one paragraph, summarize one of the readings in this packet. Do you think Americans would act differently if they knew the reality of social mobility? In what ways? Are there any policy or cultural changes you can think of that could help increase social mobility? What might these be?
9. Readings on classism and class discrimination: Do you believe it is possible to tell what social class someone is from when you first meet them? What indicators would you use to try and identify someone’s social class? Are these reliable? Do you feel differently about someone if you believe they are from a similar class from you than you do if they are from a very different class from you (much richer or much poorer)? If you were hiring someone for a job, do you think your perception of their social class would impact your decision? Why or why not?

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