chapter 2 Flashcards
what four things would a successful social reproduction theory ensure
- that people born rich don’t stay rich simply because they were born with wealth, and people born poor don’t stay poor simply because they were born into poverty
- similar resources for economic success for everyone
- regardless of class origin talented, hardworking people can achieve their occupational and financial goals
- laws and policies don’t have advantage over anyone
why is economic inequality good sometimes
because it ensures that people are willing to do the most difficult and important jobs and the people that take the jobs are most capable of doing well
how does high economic inequality effect individual’s everyday life
- higher suicidal rates
- higher death rates and lower life expectancies
- more likely to be sick
- less likely to be happy
- have higher anxiety and depression levels
- less trust in others
what happens to the government when there are high levels of economic inequality
- governments become less stable
- creates more political polarization which is associated with terrorism
- can even lead to support for the authoritarian leaders
high economic inequality leads to what with higher human rights violations
- voter suppression
- erosion of democracy
- government repression
- elimination of basic human rights
high economic inequalities lead to what
- higher levels of physical and mental health problems and reduced life expectancy.
- being less happy, less trusting, less likely to feel like a part of the community, and more anxious about social status
a successful solution based on the Davis-Moore hypothesis would ensure what?
- the most difficult and important jobs pay most
- people are not rewarded if they do not contribute to society, not matter social class
- people move up in social class if they are talented and work hard
- people enter jobs that best fit their skills, talents, and work ethic
- the smartest, most talented, people enter the most important and challenging jobs, and they are happy and fulfilled.
The New Deal
- devised by Roosevelt to reverse the high unemployment rates and financial systems that collapsed in the Great Depression
- helped bring about economic recovery and reduce economic inequality.
The war on poverty
President Johnson declared war on poverty and initiated things like Head start, Work study, Medicaid, and the Job Corps.
- some claim this movement failed but it did in fact lower poverty rates
how can we work toward a solution to fixing economic inequality
by knowing what causes each countries political and social circumstances
countries with higher tax rates usually have what
- less income inequality
- higher mobility rates
minimum wage laws also influence what
economic inequality
raising the federal minimum wage would do what
would boost incomes of millions of workers and reduce income inequality
solutions involving labor unions
- ensuring workers’ and unions’ rights
- strengthening the unions
- laws to protect the right to join unions, prohibit the importation of products made with forced labor
what is an example of a social movement to reduce economic inequality
the $15/hour minimum wage movement
As of 2021, 38 states and Washington D.C. have done what
passed laws to incrementally bring the minimum wage up to $15/hour
cultural capital
Informal knowledge, tastes, and preferences learned in a specific social class that help convince others that you belong in that class
Davis-Moore hypothesis
The viewpoint that inequality is good for society because it ensures people are rewarded more for doing more complex, difficult jobs
economic inequality
the income and/or wealth gap among individuals, groups, or countries
globalization
the process of creating a world economy with few restrictions on trade
income
money receive through paid work, rental property, government payouts, and the like
intergenerational mobility
upward or downward movement in social class from on generation to another, such as a child achieving a higher social class than their parents
intragenerational mobility
upward or downward movement in social class within an individual’s lifetime, such as a middle-class employee who loses their job and eventually falls into the lower class
meritocracy
a society in which greater economic rewards go to people who work the hardest and do the best work
mobility
the ability to move up or down in social class
negative wealth
owing more than the value of what you own
neoliberalism
a political/economic perspective promoting free, unrestricted trade
redistribution policies
Laws or procedures that allow the government to move money/resources from one group of people to another (and/or to public institutions) to reduce economic inequality
social capital
connections to people who can help you access jobs or other positions to advance in society
social class
One’s position in a hierarchical society, defined by education, occupation, and income, and in which upward or downward movement may occur
social class reproduction
Remaining in the social class into which you were born because of structural factors that make mobility more difficult
social reproduction theory
A theoretical perspective that characterizes schools as organizations that reproduce social stratification, helping society function but also benefiting some more than others and making that inequality appear fair
social structure
The framework of society constructed through social institutions such as government, schools, economy, families, and religion
stratified
Separated into ranked groups with different levels of material goods, prestige, and power
wealth
Monetary value of your assets (what you own, such as money, property, etc.) minus your debts (what you owe, such as loans, etc.)
economic inequality
- textbook - the income and or wealth gap among individuals, groups, or countries
- Class - income/wealth gap among individuals, groups, or countries
- differs from economic growth or contraction -> Can have a booming economy with
economic inequality
what does it mean that most societies are stratified
- Separated into ranked groups with different levels of material goods, prestige, and power.
◦Also all are like this. If everything is a pie the people with the most are at the top.
types of stratification
slavery
caste
estate
social class
slavery
dominant
often use race to decide
who should be one.
movement out is
impossible.
- No way to easily get out
this. your kids will also
be slaves
- Caste
-> Forbids
movements up or down
in the social and
economic hierarchy.
Many believe its broken.
ascribed - born into, stay in
achieved - can move between strata
- Estate ->
Most people
stay in the hierarchical
stage they were born
into.
* Nobility, surfs, knight.
* Most who were nobles
stayed nobles, and
most who were not
stayed. (Some moved)
- Social class
-> one’s
position is defined by
their education,
occupation, and
income.
* abilities and willingness
to learn can change
social status.
meritocracy
- Meritocracy - A society in which greater economic rewards go to people who work the hardest and do the
best work.
◦We believe we may be one in general in The United States, but it truly masks the structure and
economy in life. Some who are in poverty who work really hard and should be moving up do not.
social reproduction theory
- A theoretical perspective that characterizes schools as organizations that reproduce social stratification,
and as something with helping benefits, etc - the theory that social class is over generations, but even if you enter the social class given from your parents, you an work
you way up based on how hard you work. There will still be inequality throughout comparing the social classes.
what does the social reproduction theory reflect
- Reflects the viewpoint that inequality is bad for society
◦Leads to unequal opportunities for some people in their own. It is not their fault but a structural problem.
‣ We inherent our social status from our parents - unequal resources access system causes economic inequality
- social class reproduced across generations
in examining inequality, we look for what evidence in the social reproduction theory:
We look for high economics inequality levels that harm society
- we still other opportunities. All should be able to experience things.
- Wealthier people restrict resource access
- Talented, hard-working people experience difficult up in class
- People tend to remain in the social class they are born into
People born wealthy remain wealthy
- Rich people struggle to get rid of enough money not to be considered rich anymore
- morbidity and mortality rate is directly related to all of this and the social reproduction theory.
Davis-Moore hypothesis
- reflects the viewpoint that inequality is good for society.
◦Insure that people who contribute the most for society gain the most rewards in society and life in general - economic inequality based on societal needs an rewards
◦If the job needs motivation or skills, it is rewarded more greatly
◦If society needs the job, it is rewarded more greatly - inequality is good for society
◦Areas of higher and difficulty to carry greater rewards
◦Meritocracy
in examining economic inequality, we look for the following evidence in the Davis-Moore hypothesis:
Economic inequality benefits society.
◦Yes, inequality can help but it can also cause hostility.
Lower - level workers are relatively happy
◦Are they though? Previous research may show that some in lower level jobs are actually harder if you are
someone who is a hard-worker and is not rewarded.
Most important workers gain the rewards
Most talented people will enter the hardest occupations
this is regardless of where they start in their occupation field
globalization
◦The process of creating a world
economy with few trade restrictions
‣ Multinational corporation
abilities
- Worked on increasing economic
inequality and ensured that multinational
corporations have more power.
what can we do to reduce economic inequality
Social reproduction theory solutions
* early data showing that payouts are a big deal. Trying to give a person a push to move forward
◦Right-to-work laws, laws helping union and non-union workers. Working for better wages, income, and opportunities
* social work production theory - the taxes and policies that work towards people getting rights
* making sure mobility is an option for all people.
◦Making college more affordable. Maybe one day down the road free, but at least more affordable for all people so that
more people can get a high level of education.
◦Always being able to move around on social status based on what you work for.
Davis-Moore hypothesis solutions
* being able to actually live in a meritocracy and be able to move around on social status based on the work you put in
* The needed more demanding jobs should be the better paid ones. The ones that are harder and most difficult should have
been compensated. Especially higher end workers during COVID-19.
