8.1 Basic Concepts Flashcards
Social Stratification
The existence of structured inequalities between groups in society in terms of their access to material or symbolic rewards
The most distinctive form of stratification in modern societies is CLASS DIVISION
While all societies involve some forms of stratification, only with the development of state-based systems did wide differences in wealth and power arise
Intersectionality
À sociological perspective that holds that our multiple group memberships affect our lives in ways that are distinct from a single group membership
EX.
The experience of a black woman may be distinct from that of a white woman or a black man
Structured Inequalities
Social inequalities that result from patterns in the social structure
Slavery
À form of social stratification in which some people are owned by others as their property
Caste
À social system in which one’s social status is held for life
Class Systems
À system of social hierarchy that allows individuals to move among classes
4 Bases of Class
- Ownership of wealth
- Occupation
- Income
- Education
Class
Although it is one of the most frequently used concepts in sociology, there is no clear agreement about how the notion should be defined
Most sociologists use the term to refer to socioeconomic variations among groups of individuals that create variations in their material prosperity and power
4 Ways Class Systems Differ From Other Types of Stratification
- Class systems are fluid, and movement is possible
- Positions are partly achieved
- Classes are economically based
- Class systems are large scale and impersonal
Life Chances
À term introduced by Max Weber to signify a person’s opportunities for achieving economic prosperity
For Weber, it was not the abstract freedom to achieve but the practical ability todo so that defines a person’s life chances
Income
Money received from paid wages and salaries or earned from investments
The increase in real income in the past century has not been distributed evenly across groups
Income inequality in America is increasing
Wealth
Money and material possession held by an individual or group
Some scholars argue that wealth, not income, is the real indication of social class because it is less sensitive to fluctuations
Racial disparities in wealth negatively impact people of colour
Education
Éducation is one of the strongest predictors of occupation, income, and wealth later in life
How much education one receives is often influenced by the social class of one’s parents
Racial Differences in Education
Racial differences in educational attainment persist, which partly explain racial differences in income and wealth
Occupation
In the US, occupation is an important indicator of social standing
Top-ranked occupations require a fair amount of either education or public service.
Younger Americans are more inclined to value occupations that result in fame (ex. Influencers)
Pierre Bourdieu + Social Class
Pierre Bourdieu saw social-class groups as identifiable according to their levels of cultural and social capital
Social Capital
The access to resources one has by virtue of relationships and connections within a social network
Belonging to a group makes it possible for people to draw from the resource held by all of its members
Examples of Resources Acquired Through A Social Network
Even ideas and knowledge can be considered resources acquired through a social network.
- Learning how to act in different situations
- Being taught skills in certain kinds of work
The resources of a group are not automatically shared equally with everyone
Getting access depends on being a group member in good standing, which requires constant effort and upkeep
Class Identity
The Awareness of, and sense of belonging to, a specific social class (can be geographically fluid)
With class identity, classes become familiar social settings with distinctive ways of life and patterns of interaction
These patterns are the result of similar economic circumstances and experiences, as well as the everyday interactions between members of the same social class
Class identity is a more durable measure of social class than a fluctuating income, because people are raised and socialized according to their family’s class perspectives
