Chapter 7

Question 1

Social Stratification

Answer 1

Relatively fixed hierarchical arrangement and
classification of people into groups based on
shared socio-economic conditions

Note: an objective observation

Question 2

Social Inequality

Answer 2

the long term existence of significant
differences among social groups in access to goods and services

Question 3

Social Class on Relational

Answer 3

Reflects ones relation to the means of production (Marx)

Question 4

Capitalists (bourgeoisie)

Answer 4

Own and control means of production, achieve wealth through capital

Question 5

Working Class (proletariat)

Answer 5

• capital of materials used
• Labour time exchanged for wages
• Produces surplus Worth (value)

LTV: c+L = W

Question 6

Economic Base

Answer 6

Foundation of society is its economic base. Controlling the base is where power lies

Question 7

Organic Identity (part of social identity)

Answer 7

a shared sense of common
membership and purpose

Question 8

Class consciousness

Answer 8

awareness of what is in the
best interests of one’s class

Question 9

False Consciousness

Answer 9

the belief that something is in one’s best interests, when in fact it is not

Question 10

Marx on Religion:

Answer 10

workers had false
consciousness through religion - prevents ability to see their own exploitation

Question 11

Marx’s class paradigm in Canada today:

Answer 11

People do not fit well in to the old class
scheme, Small business owners with low income, and workers with extremely high income eg mcdavid.

Question 12

Dominant capitalist class

Answer 12

own/control production

Question 13

Middle class

Answer 13

educated, small business, credentialed
wage earners

Question 14

Working class

Answer 14

low-paying wage jobs, lack resources
apart from ‘labour power’

Question 15

Weber & Social Stratification

Answer 15

More than just social class as relation to means of production, class not supreme factor in stratification.
1. Economic position (class)
2. Hierarchies of prestige (status)
3. Political inequalities (power)

Question 16

Socio-Economic Status (SES)

Answer 16

“the combination of economic and social
circumstances that shape one’s experiences as a member of
a given class”
- Way to measure and understand social stratif. and inequality
- Income, Education, Occupation (prestige), Wealth

High SES means higher privileges
Low SES means higher risks

Question 17

Ideology

Answer 17

relatively coherent set of interrelated
ideas/beliefs about society and the people in it

Question 18

Dominant ideology

Answer 18

set of beliefs put forward
by, and supportive of, the dominant culture and
or classes in a society
“Class consciousness of the ruling class”

Question 19

Promotion of trickle down thinking

Answer 19

Free market economy, economic globalization
* Assumes: benefits will eventually trickle down to
everyone – e.g. UCP investment in oil economy = jobs

Question 20

Based on liberalism

Answer 20

focuses on the individual as a more or less independent player

Question 21

social mobility

Answer 21

the ability of one to realize the ‘American Dream’ (Meritocracy) “Kevin O’Leary”
- Blaming the victim

Question 22

Neoliberalism

Answer 22

Primary bond between humans is not
social, cultural, familial - it’s purely economic

Question 23

Freedom from government intervention

Answer 23

strong state to bring about market-like reforms in every aspect of society

• Privatization of public sectors
• Deregulation of private corporations
• Reduced spending on public works
• Free movement of capital

Question 24

Counter Ideology

Answer 24

critique of the dominant ideology, Challenges the justice and applicability of the dominant ideology, Proponents seek significant social change

Question 25

Hegemony (Antonio Gramsci)

Answer 25

Set of non-coercive methods of maintaining power used by the dominant class

Eg, Subtle, gentle, but powerful coercion, Domination through consensus