Key terms

Question 1

Social stratification

Answer 1

The way in which society is structured into a hierarchy of strata that are unequally ranked

Question 2

Social class

Answer 2

A group of people with the same social and economic status

Question 3

Status

Answer 3

A position someone has in society

Question 4

Minority group

Answer 4

A category of people lacking power; can be based on factors like age

Question 5

Ageism

Answer 5

Discrminination against someone based on their age

Question 6

Discrimination

Answer 6

When an individual or group suffers a disadvantage because of their characteristics

Question 7

DIfference between industrial and traditional societies

Answer 7

Industrial societies used technology for mass production, while traditional ones are still predominanlty agricultural

Question 8

Closed society

Answer 8

A society where social mobility between different levels of stratification is not possible

Question 9

Open society

Answer 9

A society where social mobility is possible and people can move up or down between the different levels of stratification

Question 10

Ascribed status

Answer 10

A social position fixed at birth and given to individuals by their society, over which they have no control

Question 11

Achieved status

Answer 11

A social position that is earned on the basis of an individual’s talents, abilities or effort

Question 12

Life chances

Answer 12

The opportunities that people have to improve their lives

Question 13

Wealth

Answer 13

Money,savings and property that can be bought or sold to generate income

Question 14

Income

Answer 14

Sum of earnings and resources received by an individial or household from work or other sources

Question 15

Welfare state

Answer 15

The way in which governments try to provide for the less well of and reduce social inequality

Question 16

Meritocracy

Answer 16

A society where individual’s achieve the level that their talents and abilities deserve

Question 17

Redistribution of wealth

Answer 17

A way of achieveing greater equality by giving some of the wealth of the better off to those who are less wealthy

Question 18

Dependency culture

Answer 18

A set of values that make people lose the ability to look afetr themselves. They become dependent on, for example, welfare benefits

Question 19

Underclass

Answer 19

A group of people below the working class that is effectively cut off from the rest of society

Question 20

Reserve army of labour

Answer 20

People who are employed when the economy is booming or when they are needed, but then unemployed when they aren’t needed

Question 21

Racism

Answer 21

Discrimination against an individual or group because of their percieved race or ethnicity

Question 22

Institutional racism

Answer 22

When the way an organisation works has racist results, even when individuals do not intend this

Question 23

Scapegoating

Answer 23

When individuals or groups are blamed and sometimes punished for something which is not their fault

Question 24

Skilled worker

Answer 24

Workers who need skills acquired through training to perform their work

Question 25

Unskilled worker

Answer 25

Workers who need minimal training to perform their work

Question 26

Gendered division of labour

Answer 26

The way societies ecpect women to be responsible for some tasks and men for others

Question 27

Proleterianisation

Answer 27

The theory that the lower levels of the middle class are becoming working class

Question 28

Market situation

Answer 28

the economic situation of a group of workers in relation to others