Lecture 8

Question 1

Social Stratification

Answer 1

looks at society as though it is divided into a series of layers

Question 3

Stratum + Strata

Answer 3

Stratum:
a group of people who are similar in some way, such as income, for the purpose of statistical analysis

Strata:
equal samples are drawn from each stratum of population

Question 4

Quintile (ex.)

Answer 4

stratum representing 5 equal groups in which the population is divided

20%

useful for comparative purposes

ex. income inequality can be measured in quintiles

Question 5

Ideology

Answer 5

set of beliefs about society

forms the basis of a political viewpoint / theory

Question 6

Dominant Ideology (ex.)

Answer 6

set of beliefs supportive of societies dominant cultures

ex. trickle down theory

Question 7

Trickle down theory

Answer 7

if a small percentage of the population is allowed to generate enormous wealth, everyone else will benefit

Question 8

Neoliberalism

Answer 8

prioritizes the market

erodes the ways of thinking that make democracy possible

orchestrated by the elite capitalist class

Question 9

Social Mobility

Answer 9

ability of individuals to move up from one class to another

Question 9

3 ways to conceptualize Neoliberalism from a Sociological Perspective

Answer 9

1. an ideology
   - more market
   - less government
2. a public policy
   - deregulation
   - privatization
3. a mode of governance of the self
   - individualization

Question 10

How does neoliberalism downplay inequality?

Answer 10

success or failure to fulfill the ‘american dream’ rests solely with the individuals motivation and hard work

Question 11

Counter Ideology (ex.)

Answer 11

offers a critique of dominant ideology

challenges it’s justice and universality

seeks to create significant social change

ex. marx theory of class and class struggle

Question 12

Hegemony (who created it + meaning)

Answer 12

Antonio Gramsci

used to explain the prevalence of dominant ideology

a set of non-coercive methods of maintaining power used by dominant class (media, educational system)

Ex. Donald Trump and the “Big Lie”

Question 13

Indicator of Inequality

Answer 13

Existence of Food Banks

Question 14

Minimum wage

Answer 14

lowest hourly rate a person can be paid for their work

Question 15

Living wage

Answer 15

represents a target above the existing minimum wage

since min. wage is too low for the lower class to live on, people often have to use food banks