Chapter 12 - Social Stratification Flashcards
What is Social Satisfaction based on?
Socio-economic Status (SES)
What two things does Socioeconomic Status depend on?
Ascribed Status and Achieved Status
What is a Social Class?
A category of people with shared SES characteristics. The three main social classes are upper, middle and lower.
What is Prestige?
The respect and importance tied to specific occupations or associations.
What is Power?
The capacity to influence people through real or perceived rewards and punishments. It often depends on unequal distribution of valued resources.
What do Power Differentials do?
Create social inequality
What is Anomie?
A state of homelessness. Anomic conditions erode social solidarity by means of excessive individualism, social inequality and isolation.
What is Social Capital?
The investment people make in their society in return for economic or collective rewards. Social networks, either situational or positional are one of the most powerful forms of social capital and can be achieved through establishing strong and weak social ties.
What is Meritocracy?
Refers to a society in which advancement up the social ladder is based on intellectual talent and achievement.
What is Social Mobility?
Allows one to acquire higher-level employment opportunities by achieving required credentials and experience. Can either occur positively or negatively (promotion vs. demotion).
What is Poverty?
A socioeconomic condition. In the USA, the poverty line is determined by the government’s calculation of the minimum income requirements for families to acquire minimum necessities.
What is Social Reproduction?
Refers to the passing on of social inequality, especially poverty, from one generation to the next.
What is Absolute Poverty?
When people do not have enough resources to acquire basic life necessities. (shelter, food etc.)
What is Relative Poverty?
When one is poor in comparison to a larger population.
What is Social Exclusion?
A sense of powerlessness when individuals feel alienated from society.