FINAL EXAM (stratification)

Question 1

what is equality?

Answer 1

• social actors EQUAL in terms (status, abilities, rights, opportunities)
• treating everyone the same -aiming to promote fairness

Question 2

what is equality of condition?

Answer 2

conditions equal for all (same level housing, wealth, education, etc)

Question 3

what is meritocracy?

Answer 3

• individual actions, ability, skills, etc. determine social position.
• power is gained through talent, effort, and achievement, instead of wealth or social class

Question 4

what is equity?

Answer 4

• social actors treated fairly, relations are fair. (equal pay for work of equal value)
• giving everyone what they need to be successful

Question 5

what is social inequality?

Answer 5

• unequal distribution of resources to services, goods, jobs, justice, etc.
• lack of/uneven access to the social amenities that are necessary for an adequate standard of living

Question 6

what is social stratification?

Answer 6

• when a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy

- ranking indicates that some groups have more and others have less of what society values (money, power, prestige)

Question 7

karl marx and stratification/class (2 points)

Answer 7

• one’s relationship to the ‘means of production’ determines their status (hierarchy) in a society.
• divided by the bourgeoisie (those who control the means of production) and the proletariats (exploited by the bourgeoisie).

Question 8

max weber and stratification/class (2 points)

Answer 8

• class is defined as people who share similar levels of wealth, power, and prestige.
• class divisions derive not only from control or lack of control (in regards to production) but from differences which have nothing to do with property/work.

Question 9

what is CLASS?

Answer 9

-a social class is a group of people who share similar status, comparable levels of power, and wealth

Question 10

________ form of social power.

Answer 10

STATUS/HONOUR.

Question 11

______ form of political power.

Answer 11

PARTY.

Question 12

how is status/honour determined?

Answer 12

by social honour/recognition, esteem.

Question 13

what is status/honour based on?

Answer 13

formal titles, leadership, credentials, awards, level of respect

Question 14

what does a party do?

Answer 14

work to overtly and directly engage in influencing social action.

Question 15

what is economic capital?

Answer 15

money and wealth (gives you access to elite educational opportunities or social networks)

Question 16

what is social capital?

Answer 16

the network of acquaintances, family, and associates that give you access to goods and resources (it’s not what you know but who you know)

Question 17

what is cultural capital?

Answer 17

education, skill, and knowledge (gives you access to economic capital)

Question 18

what is symbolic capital?

Answer 18

degrees, special skills, titles

Question 19

what is social position? (3 points)

Answer 19

• the position of an individual in a given society and culture
• a position may belong to many individuals (priest, police officer)
• social position influences social status

Question 20

what is conflict perspective? (karl marx)

macro or micro?

Answer 20

• inequality result of power issues (too few have too much power)
• inequality is NOT inevitable
• constant state of conflict for limited resources
• social classes must compete for social, material resources (food, housing, employment, education)
• social order that is dominated by power/wealth
• benefits a small majority at the expense of the rest of the population
• race, sex, class, and age also helps with inequality
• macro

Question 21

what is structural functionalism? (herbert spencer)

macro or micro?

Answer 21

• inequality IS inevitable
• success is rewarded, society is meritocracy (power is given to people for their talent/effort, and achievement instead of wealth or social class)
• similarities between our society and compared it to the human body
• many (body) parts that interrelate and work with one another to meet a social and biological set of needs
• present society is a complex system- it’s woven together by interdependent parts and these parts work together to maintain a constant state (ex. language, religion, and values)
• emphasizes on relationships in society
• macro/micro