Chapter 8 - Social Inequality Flashcards
Social Inequality
To describe any social differences that are consequential to the rights that people exercise and rewards and opportunities that people enjoy. (Social Class, Power, Status)
Social Stratification
Refers to an institutionalized system of social inequality. It refers to a situation in which the divisions and relationships of social inequality have solidified into a system that determines who gets what, when and why.
Theories of Social Inequality
Structural/ Functional
Conflict/Critical
Symbolic Interactionist
Structural/Functional
Certain positions require more education and expertise and have more responsibility. To fill such positions, more wealth and prestige have to be attached to them. (e.g. doctors, motivation by increasing wealth and social status)
Conflict/Critical
Question whether higher level positions are less pleasant than lower level positions
Accept some positions (lawyer) require more education than others (garbage collector) but argues some lower level positions are more imprint than some higher level positions
Symbolic Interactionist
Social stratification is a function of individuals actions and interactions. People struggle over things that are symbolically important at various positions in the stratification system. A fluid process.
Stratified Consumption
Those in higher levels of stratification system seek to distinguish their consumption from those below them. (fashion)
Conspicuos Consumption
People wanting others to see what they consume, which communicates al elite status. (fashion)
The Global North and South
Nations are the wealthiest and most powerful, dominate, control and oppress the nations in the global south.
The Bottom Billion
Have incomes of only one fifth of those in other developing countries. Low life expectancy, high infant morality rate and high malnutrition.
Industrial Upgrading
Occurs in stages: Assembly, original equipment, original brand name manufacturing and original sign manufacturing
The Global Digital Divide
Many people in the world do not have access to computers, PDA’s high speed internet or the English Language
Food Deserts
geographical areas often located within a city but are sometimes located in rural areas, which have inaccessible or a total absence of healthy and affordable health food options or grocery stores close by. People who live in food deserts have much higher rates of cancer, diabetes, and BMI among other aliments.
Food Deserts: Socioeconomic
Most found in coloured and ow income communities. White neighbourhoods contain more supermarkets, while food deserts offer cheap meat (Dons)
Status & Power
Status: ones position in society
Power: the ability to get others to do what you want them to do.
