Chapter 7 Flashcards

1
Q

What is social inequality?

A

Social inequality is the long-term existence of significant differences in access to goods and services among social groups.

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2
Q

What factors contribute to social inequality?

A

Factors include ethnicity, “race,” gender, class, and stratification.

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3
Q

How is social inequality viewed in the sociological tradition?

A

The study of social inequality has long been a part of the sociological tradition, exploring its causes and implications.

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4
Q

What is the main term used to discuss social inequality?

A

Class, popularized by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, refers to the relational dynamics of individuals in society regarding their access to resources and opportunities.

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5
Q

How is class defined in relation to social structures?

A

Class is relational; it reflects individuals’ relationships to the means of production and their role within the economic system.

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6
Q

What are the means of production?

A

The means of production are the resources needed to produce goods, including factories, tools, and technology.

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7
Q

What is capital in the context of class and production?

A

Capital refers to the funds and properties necessary for large-scale manufacturing and trading, which significantly influence social class dynamics.

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8
Q

What are the two primary classes identified by Marx in relation to the means of production?

A

The bourgeoisie (owners) and the proletariat (workers).

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9
Q

Who are the bourgeoisie?

A

The collective of capitalists who own the means of production.

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10
Q

What is the proletariat?

A

The class of workers who succeeded the peasant class of the pre-industrial era.

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11
Q

What is the petty bourgeoisie?

A

Small-time owners with little capital.

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12
Q

What does the term lumpenproletariat refer to?

A

Small-time criminals, beggars, and the unemployed.

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13
Q

When did Marx write his theories?

A

At the height of the Industrial Revolution.

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14
Q

What economic practices were prevalent during Marx’s time?

A

Laissez-faire market practices.

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15
Q

What struggle was prominent during the Industrial Revolution according to Marx?

A

The struggle between capitalist interests and workers’ rights.

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16
Q

According to Marx, what type of identity does class have?

A

A corporate (or organic) identity as a real social group.

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17
Q

What is class consciousness?

A

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

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18
Q

Which class always possesses class consciousness, according to Marx?

A

The owner class.

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19
Q

What is false consciousness in Marx’s theory?

A

A belief that something is in one’s best interests when it is not, often attributed to the workers.

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20
Q

What did Max Weber contribute to the study of social inequality?

A

Weber studied social inequality as divided into economic classes, but emphasized that it involves more than just ownership of the means of production.

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21
Q

What three elements did Weber identify as contributing to social inequality?

A

Wealth, Prestige, and Power.

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22
Q

How does Weber’s view of social inequality differ from Marx’s?

A

Weber includes factors beyond economic class and ownership, such as prestige and power.

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23
Q

What does Weber include in the concept of wealth?

A

Wealth encompasses factories, properties used to generate income, and those that are highly respected by society (e.g., flashy cars, expensive houses).

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24
Q

How does Weber define prestige?

A

Prestige is the degree of respect individuals and their socially valued possessions or statuses receive from the majority in society.

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25
Q

What is Weber’s definition of power?

A

Power is the ability of individuals or groups to achieve their goals despite opposition from others.

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26
Q

Give an example of power as defined by Weber.

A

Individuals like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronald Reagan, who achieved their goals despite opposition.

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27
Q

What does the term “precariat” refer to?

A

The “precariat” describes a new class of workers facing precarious employment and uncertain job security.

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28
Q

Who coined the term “precariat”?

A

The term was coined by British economist Guy Standing in 2011.

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29
Q

What two concepts does “precariat” combine?

A

It combines “precarious” (referring to precarious employment) with Marx’s term “proletariat.”

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30
Q

Why is the concept of the precariat relevant today?

A

It highlights the vulnerability and instability faced by today’s working class in the context of changing job markets.

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31
Q

What is the defining characteristic of the precariat, according to Guy Standing (2014)?

A

Distinctive relations of production, including “flexible” labor contracts, temporary jobs, and casual or part-time work.

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32
Q

What types of employment arrangements are common among the precariat?

A

Employment as casual workers, part-timers, or intermittently for labor brokers or employment agencies.

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33
Q

How does precarious employment affect workers’ occupational identity?

A

Workers in the precariat have no secure occupational identity or narrative to their lives.

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34
Q

What additional work challenges do those in precarious employment face?

A

They often engage in work preparation that does not count as work and is not remunerated.

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35
Q

What additional work challenges do those in precarious employment face?

A

They often engage in work preparation that does not count as work and is not remunerated.

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36
Q

What unique characteristic does the current working class, referred to as the precariat, have regarding education?

A

The precariat is expected to have a level of education greater than the labor they perform or expect to obtain.

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37
Q

How do members of the precariat typically utilize their educational qualifications in the workforce?

A

Few individuals in the precariat use their full educational qualifications in the jobs they hold.

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38
Q

Why is it difficult to apply a traditional Marxist class interpretation to contemporary societies like Canada?

A

Most people do not fit neatly into the capitalist–worker binary.

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39
Q

Give examples of workers with high incomes who challenge the capitalist–worker binary.

A

Bank presidents, corporate CEOs, and professional hockey players.

40
Q

Provide examples of business owners with low incomes.

A

Farmers and small business owners.

41
Q

What is a key feature of the middle class in contemporary society?

A

It has a powerful sense of itself as a distinct class.

42
Q

What is a key feature of the middle class in contemporary society?

A

It has a powerful sense of itself as a distinct class.

43
Q

What is the dominant capitalist class according to Curtis, Grabb, and Guppy (1999)?

A

Those who own or control large-scale production.

44
Q

How do Curtis, Grabb, and Guppy (1999) define the middle class in Canada?

A

A mixed category of small business owners, educated professionals, technical or administrative personnel, and credentialed salaried employees or wage earners.

45
Q

Who makes up the working class (proletariat) according to Curtis, Grabb, and Guppy (1999)?

A

People who lack resources or capacities beyond their own labour power.

46
Q

How are class and sport connected?

A

Some sports, like golf and tennis, are associated with wealthy classes, while others provide opportunities for financial mobility for lower socio-economic groups.

47
Q

What are mobility sports?

A

Sports that offer financial opportunities to people from poorer socio-economic backgrounds, such as basketball, soccer, boxing, and UFC.

48
Q

When might a mobility sport become an elitist sport?

A

When the costs of participation increase due to expensive equipment, coaching, or access to facilities, limiting involvement to wealthier individuals.

49
Q

What does social stratification describe?

A

It describes society as divided into a series of layers or strata based on factors like income, education, or occupation.

50
Q

What is a stratum?

A

A group to which people belong based on income, education, or occupation, often used for statistical analysis.

51
Q

What is stratified sampling?

A

A research method where equal samples are drawn from each stratum of a population for balanced analysis.

52
Q

What is a quintile?

A

A segment or stratum representing one of five equal groups into which a population is divided.

53
Q

What percentage of the population does each quintile represent?

A

Each quintile makes up 20% of the population.

54
Q

How can income inequality be measured using quintiles?

A

By comparing the income levels of different quintiles.

Quintiles are useful for comparative purposes, both across time periods and across regions

55
Q

What is ideology?

A

A set of beliefs about society and its people, often forming the basis of a particular economic or political theory.

56
Q

How does ideology relate to social inequality?

A

It shapes the arguments and ideas used to explain or justify social inequality.

57
Q

What is dominant ideology?

A

A set of beliefs promoted by and supportive of society’s dominant culture or classes.

58
Q

What is an example of a dominant ideology?

A

Trickle-down theory – the idea that allowing the wealthy to generate more wealth will benefit others in society.

59
Q

What is neoliberalism?

A

A dominant ideology that views individuals as independent players, emphasizing personal responsibility and social mobility.

60
Q

How does neoliberalism explain success and failure?

A

Success or failure is attributed to an individual’s motivation and hard work, often ignoring broader social causes.

61
Q

What is a potential negative outcome of neoliberal ideology?

A

Blaming the victim – holding individuals responsible for their failures rather than considering structural inequalities beyond their control.

62
Q

What is counter-ideology?

A

A critique of dominant ideology that challenges its fairness and universal applicability.

63
Q

What is the goal of counter-ideologies?

A

To promote significant social change.

64
Q

Can you name examples of counter-ideologies?

A

Classical Marxism, the Occupy movement, Idle No More.

65
Q

Who introduced the concept of hegemony?

A

Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937).

66
Q

Who was Antonio Gramsci?

A

Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937) was a critic of the dominant ideology and a political theorist known for his ideas on hegemony.

67
Q

Who was Antonio Gramsci?

A

Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937) was a critic of the dominant ideology and a political theorist known for his ideas on hegemony.

68
Q

What is the definition of hegemony according to Gramsci?

A

Hegemony is a set of non-coercive methods used by the dominant class to maintain power, often through institutions like the media and educational systems.

69
Q

How does hegemony function in society?

A

Hegemony functions by promoting the interests of the dominant class while persuading subordinate classes to accept these interests as their own, often without the use of force.

70
Q

Provide an example of hegemony in action.

A

An example of hegemony is when the federal government places blame for the Attawapiskat housing crisis onto the community, framing the narrative in a way that deflects responsibility from the government.

71
Q

What is one indicator of inequality in Canada?

A

The existence and use of food banks is a key indicator of inequality in Canada.

72
Q

What are food banks?

A

Food banks are non-profit organizations that collect, store, and distribute food free of charge, either directly to individuals or through frontline agencies.

73
Q

How do food banks contribute to the understanding of social inequality?

A

The reliance on food banks highlights issues related to poverty, access to resources, and systemic inequalities within society.

74
Q

What role do frontline agencies play in the food bank system?

A

Frontline agencies distribute food collected by food banks to individuals and families in need, serving as an essential link in addressing food insecurity

75
Q

What was the initial response to food bank reliance during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada?

A

The initial response was hopeful due to the Canada Employment Relief Benefit (CERB), which provided financial support to those affected.

76
Q

What was the amount and duration of the Canada Employment Relief Benefit (CERB)?

A

CERB provided $500 per week from March to September 2020.

77
Q

How many Canadians received CERB during the pandemic?

A

Approximately nine million Canadians received CERB as their employment and income were affected by COVID-19.

78
Q

What was the impact of CERB on food bank usage in Canada?

A

Initially, food bank use appeared to decrease, but by March 2021, there were over 1.3 million food bank visits, marking a 20.3% increase from 2019.

79
Q

What statistics highlight the increase in food bank visits in Canada by March 2021?

A

By March 2021, there were over 1.3 million food bank visits, representing a 20.3% increase compared to 2019, according to Food Banks Canada (2021).

80
Q

What is food insecurity?

A

Food insecurity refers to inadequate or unreliable access to food in terms of amount, variety, quality, and general desirability.

81
Q

How does food insecurity affect health?

A

Food insecurity has a negative impact on both physical and mental health.

82
Q

What major stressor contributes to seeking assistance from food banks?

A

Housing costs stand out as a significant stressor for individuals and families seeking assistance from food banks.

83
Q

What is the minimum wage?

A

The minimum wage is the lowest hourly rate that a person can be paid for their work.

84
Q

Why are minimum-wage jobs significant in discussions about automation?

A

Minimum-wage jobs are often the easiest ones to replace with automation, leading to concerns about job security for low-wage workers.

85
Q

What does living wage represent?

A

The living wage generally represents a target above the existing minimum wage, considered necessary for individuals to meet their basic needs.

86
Q

Why is the minimum wage considered insufficient for the “working poor”?

A

The minimum wage is often too low for the “working poor” to live on, forcing many to rely on food banks for support.

87
Q

What did the 2011 Occupy movement highlight regarding global wealth distribution?

A

The movement raised awareness that 1% of the world’s population controlled 99% of the world’s wealth.

88
Q

How does income disparity in Canada compare to the global trend highlighted by the Occupy movement?

A

Income disparities in Canada mirror this trend, with significant wealth concentrated among a small percentage of the population.

89
Q

How quickly do Canada’s top 100 CEOs earn compared to the average Canadian?

A

In just three days, Canada’s top 100 CEOs earn as much as the average Canadian does in a year.

90
Q

What was the salary ratio between the highest-paid CEO and the average Canadian in 2010?

A

In 2010, the highest-paid CEO’s salary was 189 times that of the average Canadian.

91
Q

How has the salary ratio changed from 1995 to 2010?

A

In 1995, the best-paid CEO’s salary was 85 times that of the average Canadian, indicating that inequality in Canada is increasing over time.

92
Q

What have popular movements aimed to challenge in society?

A

Popular movements have sought to challenge a system organized around class divisions and social inequality.

93
Q

What ideology prevails in the West regarding wealth generation?

A

The prevailing ideology suggests that allowing a small percentage of the population to generate enormous wealth will ultimately benefit everyone else.

94
Q

How do food bank user statistics contribute to our understanding of poverty in Canada?

A

Food bank user statistics provide insight into who is poor in Canada and indicate that social inequality is likely to persist.

95
Q

What do food bank statistics imply about the future of social inequality in Canada?

A

The statistics suggest that social inequality in Canada isn’t going away any time soon.