Chapter 6- Class + Inequality

Question 1

Max Weber

Answer 1

Prodestant work ethic → led to development of modern capitalism: belief that it one worked hard and lived frugally, they were guaranteed a spot in heaven
↳ Calvinism

Focused on personal economic growth

Question 2

Davis-moore Hypothesis

Answer 2

Functional necessity of social stratification

The more important the role is to society (highly specialized) the more people should be rewarded

Equal pay will harm society and reduce incentive to work hard

Question 3

Herbert Gans

Answer 3

Function of impoverished classes: poor do undesirable work, the poor work for/support affluent activity’s, and reduce waste by buying second hand

Lower economic class does undesirable work that is necessary to society → also act as incentive to work hard

Question 4

Marx: 4 types of alienation

Answer 4

-worker from product
- worker from production
-between workers
-Worker from species essence

Question 5

Bordieu

Answer 5

Study of ‘taste’ → socialized to recognize status symbols

All classes disagree on what constitutes culture and taste

Middle class is most influential to what society deems as tasteful because they have highest chance of upward mobility

Question 6

Social stratification

Answer 6

Social categorization system which differentiates peoples opportunities, power, and life chances a the basis of wealth, status, and power

Caste system » rigid
American class system» mobile

Socially reproduced and often combined with other forms of discrimination

Question 7

4 indicators of class standing

Answer 7

Ownership of wealth
Education→ more specialized= more pay
Occupation
Lifestyle →consume and participate in (culture capital)

Question 8

4 types of social mobility

Answer 8

Upward: movement to higher income
Downward: movement to lower income
Intergenerational:movement up or down between generations
Intragenerational;movement up or down within an individuals lifetime

Question 9

Conflict perspective on class stratification

Answer 9

Inequality serves dominant class

Exploitation of working class forces workers to sell their labor to survive

Capitalists exploit working class, increasing the divide between richest and poorest

Question 10

False consciousness

Answer 10

Opposite to class consciousness

Ability to comprehend class inequalities and position within class hierarchy

Permits status quo despite from suffering from it

Question 11

Precariat

Answer 11

No stability or income predictability in workforce anymore

1970’s: globalization downsizing, outsourcing, and increase in technology all contribute
↳ ex of precarious work: freelance, contracts, seasonal work etc.

Question 12

Feminist perspective on social stratification

Answer 12

Inequality is a product of gender discrimination and the subordinate position of women in society

Focus on inequality as a whole → main focus on gender

Question 13

Symbolic interactionist perspective on social stratification

Answer 13

People give meaning to social stratification: people buy into this idea and reproduce

See value in American Dream and work towards this

Veblens concept of conspicuous consumption

Question 14

5 factors that influence unemployment and poverty

Answer 14

Educational attainment

Automation

Location/ transportation

Discrimination

Mental/ physical wellbeing/burnout

Question 15

Covid-19 on Unemployment

Answer 15

Used lockdown to negotiate positions and develop work-life balance (working from home)

Used CERB to cushion unemployment gap while searching for better jobs

Question 16

Market basket measure (MBM)

Answer 16

Canadas official poverty measure

Fixed number → does not account for disability or any extra costs associated with different lifestyles

Question 17

Exchange mobility vs. Structural mobility

Answer 17

Exchange: Movement within an occupational hierarchy that only occurs when another existing position becomes vacant

Structural: Movement within occupational hierarchy that occurs as a result of the creation of new jobs/positions

Question 18

Hidden homelessness

Answer 18

50,000 Canadians not technically homeless but living with friends and families rather than shelters or public places

I8% of indigenous population experience hidden homelessness vs. 8% of non-indigenous population