Chapter 9 Flashcards
slavery
most extreme form of stratification- individuals are owned by other people and are treated as property
caste
systems of stratification are hereditary systems of rank, usually religiously dictated that tend to be fixed and immobile
social classes
social ranking based primarily on economic position
Marx concept of social class
focus on conflicts among social classes
Differences between classes are based on
economics and property
Modern society has how many social classes
two
Marx two class society
class defined by means of production - everything that produces wealth, except labor
what determines your class
weather or not you control means of production
bourgeoisie
own the means of production
proletariat
works, labors who don’t own property
Is there a middle class
no
class consciousness
lower class will not unite to resist those in power until they become aware of their common interest and enemy
Upper class
1-2% of US wealthiest
Upper-middle class
10-15% of us “wealthy professionals”
Lower-middle class
30-35% less affluent professionals or uneducated but upwardly mobile
working class
40-45% manual labor or blue collar
lower class
20-25% minority ethnic groups, single parents who can’t find work
webers view of stratification
no single characteristic totally defines ones position in the system
3 components of stratification
property, prestige, power
status inconsistency
predicts that people whose status is inconsistent (higher on one than another) will be more frustrated and dissatisfied
Is inequality inevitable (mosca)
yes, people must have political structure (do things together)
those with power will exploit
others to gan advantage
Is inequality inevitable (Davis and moore)
yes, society must give more reward to the most important positions/roles to ensure supply; inequality must exist to fill key jobs (construction worker can’t do heart surgeons job)
Is inequality inevitable (Marx)
no, workers can revolt and overthrow owners
