Ch.5 Social Inequality and Class

Question 1

What are Characteristics?

Answer 1

Features or qualities belonging to an individual.
Flexibility: open/closed

Question 2

Ascribed vs Achieved status

Answer 2

Ascribed: Assigned at birth of assumed later in life.
Achieved: gained it yourself by means of hard work or/and education.

Question 3

Social Mobility

Answer 3

inter- vs. intra-generational mobility; vertical (upward/down-ward) vs. horizontal mobility

Question 4

Income

Answer 4

The economic gain derived from wages, salaries, income transfers (government aid), and ownership of property.

Question 5

Wealth

Answer 5

Accumulated assets including property, as well as other assets such as bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and insurance policies.

Question 6

Capitalist (bourgeoisie)

Answer 6

Consists of those who own the means of production (land and capita). “Maintains a position on top of the class structure “Superstructure”.

Question 7

Workers (proletariat)

Answer 7

Those who must sell their labor to the owners of capital in order to earn wages enough to survive.

Question 8

Class Struggle

Answer 8

The struggle between the two classes (Capitalist and Worker).

Question 9

Alienation of the working class

Answer 9

The feeling of powerlessness and estrangement from other people and from oneself.

Question 10

The Capitalist Class

Answer 10

This class holds most of the wealth and power in society through ownership of capital.
Source of income: profits, interest, and very high salaries.

Question 11

The Managerial Class

Answer 11

Are upper-level managers, supervisors, and professionals.
They hold a contradictory position: Do not own the capital but have substantial control over the means of production and decide how the business operation is to be run.

Question 12

The Small Business Class

Answer 12

Small in nature.
May employ a limited number of workers, e.g., restaurants, convenience stores, trade businesses, etc.

Question 13

Max Weber

Answer 13

Wealth, prestige, and power.

Question 14

Max Weber’s theory identifies:

Answer 14

Wealth: total monetary resource a person has

Prestige: the respect with which a person or status position is regarded by others

Power: the ability of people or groups to achieve their goals despite opposition from others

Question 15

socioeconomic status (SES)

Answer 15

To refer to a combined measure that attempts to classify individuals, families, or households in terms of factors such as income, occupation, and education to determine class position.

Question 16

The Weberian model of Class Structure in Canada

Answer 16

The class structure in Canada is divided into the upper class, the middle class, the working class, and the underclass.

Question 17

The Upper Class

Answer 17

Highest level of wealth; about 3% of Canadians.
Types: old money (wealth from generations past) and new money (wealth from current or recent success)

Question 18

The Middle Class

Answer 18

Canada is predominantly a middle-class society.

Subtypes:
Upper-middle and
Lower Middle Class.

Issues that threaten this class: Housing costs, occupational insecurity, blocked upward mobility, inflation.

Question 19

The Working Class

Answer 19

About 30% of Canadians

Question 20

The Working Poor

Answer 20

About 20% of Canadians

Question 21

The Underclass

Answer 21

Very poor, seldom employed, caught in long-term deprivation that results from low levels of education and income and high rates of unemployment.

Question 22

Health Inequality

Answer 22

More wealth, more health
Less wealth, less health
e.g., life expectancy, diabetes, heart disease, earlier deaths.

Question 23

Education Inequality

Answer 23

Issue: does education increase one’s chances of social mobility (functionalist theory); or does it reproduce the class

Question 24

Crime and Lack of Safety Inequality.

Answer 24

Crime is not from random actions but the result of social inequalities.

Question 25

3 Measurements of Low Income.

Answer 25

Market Basket Measure (MBM)
Low-income cutoffs (LIC)
Low-income Measure (LIM)

Question 26

Market Basket Measure (MBM) (63%)

Answer 26

Set as Canada’s first official poverty line in 2019.
If Canadians spend around 63% on Food, clothing, and shelter they are considered to be low-income household.

Question 27

Absolute Poverty

Answer 27

Exists when people do not have the means to secure the most basic necessities of life.

Question 28

Relative Poverty

Answer 28

Exists when people may be able to afford basic necessities but still are unable to maintain an average standard of living.

Question 29

Who are the poor?

Answer 29

Children, women (single parents), race/ethnicity, and disabilities.

Question 30

Feminization of Poverty

Answer 30

The trend in which women are disproportionately represented among individuals living in poverty.

Question 31

Poverty Rate by Family Type

Answer 31

Elderly unattached women: No family members/supports.

Question 32

Economic

Answer 32

Over 50% of the poor are the working poor, it means that wages are much lower than the average cost of living.

Question 33

Job Deskilling

Answer 33

A reduction in the proficiency needed to perform a specific job that leads to a corresponding reduction in the wages for that job.

Question 34

The Davis Moore thesis

Answer 34

Claimed that social inequality was not only universal but necessary.

Question 35

Meritocracy

Answer 35

A hierarchy in which all positions are rewarded based on people’s ability and credentials.

Question 36

Conflict Thesis

Answer 36

Conflict theorists do not believe that social inequality serves as a motivating force for people.

Question 37

Feminist Perspective

Answer 37

Double Repression
Being a woman and class inequality.
Link to the family
Women are more likely to both work and care for the home and child.

Question 38

The Future of Social Inequality

Answer 38

Poverty will likely increase. Cost of living goes up and wages stay the same.
Tax laws benefit the wealthy and higher ups will earn more.