Ch 5

Question 1

What does wealth refer to?

Answer 1

Wealth refers to mostly real estate, stocks, & bonds

Question 2

What does income refer to?

Answer 2

Income reflects salary and wages

Question 3

Members at the top of the upper class; known as the “upper uppers, blue bloods, old money, high society make up what percent of society?

Answer 3

Comprise less than 1% of the total U.S population. Most in this class are a matter of birth or inheritance.

Question 4

Lower-upper class( new rich) refers to who?

Answer 4

Described as “new money, the working rich, or corporate class.” Most achieve this status through entrepreneurship; athletes, lottery winners. 3-4% of pop.

Question 5

Middle class

Answer 5

40-45% of US pop.Most shaped by education.Dependent on salary/income versus inheritance.

Question 6

Upper Middle

Answer 6

“elite” professionals such as doctors, lawyers, engineers.

Question 7

Average Middle

Answer 7

“Minor” professions such as teachers and social workers

Question 8

Lower middle/working class

Answer 8

Skilled laborers such as police and firemen

Question 9

What can the wealthiest Americans live off?

Answer 9

Dividends from their investments without having to touch the principal or work for a salary.

Question 10

What is food insecurity?

Answer 10

Not having access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life, necessitating recourse to emergency food sources. More than 1:10 of Americans were food insecure in 2007

Question 11

What is feminization of poverty?

Answer 11

Over representation of women in poverty; often heads of households. Relates to increases in divorce, separations, out-of-wedlock births.

Question 12

Who make up the majority of people living in poverty in the US?

Answer 12

Whites

Question 13

Who are more likely to be poor amongst the elderly, adults, or children?

Answer 13

Children

Question 14

Where are US poverty rates highest?

Answer 14

Highest in central cities; but higher in rural areas than urban areas as a whole

Question 15

In the U.S, what is social mobility closely linked to?

Answer 15

Educational attainment & economic opportunity.

Question 16

What do women often experience when marriages end in divorce?

Answer 16

Downward social mobility

Question 17

Have white women gained more from equal opportunity laws & affirmative action programs than people of color?

Answer 17

Yes

Question 18

What is structural mobility?

Answer 18

S.M occurs when significant changes in society propel many people up or down the social class ladder @ the same time.

Question 19

What is a recent change in regards to downward mobility?

Answer 19

Many middle class & blue collar workers have experience D.M as a result of the elimination or exportation of manufacturing jobs.

Question 20

What does the Functionalist Perspective say about Social Stratification?

Answer 20

They believe that an unequal class structure is necessary for a successful society. People will work hard only if they receive rewards commensurate with their skills & education. Believe poverty is “functional,” b/c it keeps up the demand for low paying jobs.

Question 21

What does the Conflict Perspective say about Social Stratification?

Answer 21

Inequality is the result of oppression. Social classes involves prestige & power, as well as economic inequality.

Question 22

What did Karl Marx (Conflict Theorist) say about Social Stratification?

Answer 22

Social class was the most important factor in understanding human behavior. Capitalist societies composed of 2 classes: bourgeoisie (those who owned means of production), & proletariat (those who sold their labor to the owners)

Question 23

What does the Constructionist Perspective say about Social Stratification?

Answer 23

Workers think of themselves as middle class, or aspire to being middle class and lack a sense of interests with other low income people.

Question 24

How do African Americans view social class?

Answer 24

Differently. They view class as detached from income and instead based upon identified middle-class behaviors.

Question 25

Most middle-class people have $$ in the bank. What are some of the expectations they have for their children?

Answer 25

That they will go to college. Often provide them with enriching activities such as music lessons or summer camps.

Question 26

Do most lower class usually have savings?

Answer 26

No; they often live paycheck to paycheck. Pay 15-20% more for most goods and services than do the better off b/c they charge vs. paying w/cash.

Question 27

What is the financial state for underclass/permanent poor?

Answer 27

They usually have no cash reserve along w/a negative credit history. Often have to rely on family & friends, and title loans and pawn shops.

Question 28

What is a critical issue for the working poor?

Answer 28

Affordable housing. High cost of housing was main cost of hunger.

Question 29

The lower a person’s class, the less likely it is that he/she will enjoy what?

Answer 29

Good health.

Question 30

In relation to eating healthy, what is it that the poor cannot afford?

Answer 30

TO buy fresh fruits and veggies and other sources of high grade, low fat nutrition.

Question 31

As far as mental health, what class of people suffer more with mental health; what are the 2 most comm on illnesses?

Answer 31

The lower classes; anxiety & depression.

Question 32

Lack of transportation seriously limits the poor from what?

Answer 32

In their efforts to seek & maintain employment. The working poor generally can not afford cars; or to keep up expenses with a used vehicle, such as insurance and maintenance.

Question 33

What class of women are at higher risk of being physically assaulted by an intimate partner?

Answer 33

Low income women

Question 34

True or False. One’s chances of getting arrested, convicted & sent to prison are significantly shaped by class membership.

Answer 34

True

Question 35

What fraction of households with incomes with incomes under $25,000 do not have access to internet?

Answer 35

Two-thirds

Question 36

Do people of similar backgrounds tend to intermarry?

Answer 36

Yes

Question 37

What was the trend for America in the 20th century?

Answer 37

For religion to become less of a factor, & education to be more important.

Question 38

What are some facts about college graduates & marriage?

Answer 38

Have a higher lifetime probability of marrying that do people w/o college degrees. Less likely to have child out of wedlock. Declining rate of divorce.

Question 39

As far as behavior, what do lower class parents expect their children to do? What about middle class?

Answer 39

Lower class expect their children to to conform & comply. Middle Class encourages creativity.

Question 40

According to Oscar Lewis, what do those living in poverty embrace that keep them in their lower class status?

Answer 40

He felt they embraced the values of the poor. Said they were unable to delay gratification or plan for the future. Blamed the poor for their poverty.

Question 41

What did J. Wilson theorize was the reason for poverty?

Answer 41

The lack of opportunity, rather than the lack of motivation.

Question 42

How is absolute poverty defined?

Answer 42

A lack of resources that is life-threatening. The UN defines poor as those whose earned income is less than $1/day; about 28% of the world’s pop lives in poverty.

Question 43

True/False: Very few people living in least industrialized countries have no access to clean water or medical services.

Answer 43

False!!! It is the MAJORITY!!!