The purpose of this course, as the title indicates, is to study and explain the nature of social inequality as it relates to American society.  Although inequality has many dimensions, economic, political, and socio-cultural, this course's emphasis will be specifically on economic (class) inequality, particularly, the nature of what is known as "creeping impoverization".  This stems from the fact that while other forms of inequality such as racial, or gender have been culturally embraced and comprehended more easily, the idea of class inequality "remains mired in prejudice and mythology."  Thus, we will deal with issues such as how social scientists theorize inequality, study various forms and structures of inequality in the U.S., analyze social movements that resist it and finally, the role of public policy and the dominant cultural beliefs on maintaining and/or reducing inequality. We will also answer some questions regarding contemporary society such as: why is economic inequality getting more extreme? Who benefits and who suffers from this trend? What is the role of the state and the "power elite," as well as major social institutions such as the media, and education in all this?