Soc 101 Test #2

Question 1

What is social stratification?

Answer 1

Structured inequalities

Question 2

What are two examples of caste systems?

Answer 2

1) Indian caste system
2) American caste system that was enforced by racially discriminating laws such as the Jim Crow laws

(caste systems have codified legal segregation based on something that someone inherits-rank, race, sex/gender)

Question 3

4 primary factors that indicate position in a class sytstem

Answer 3

income, wealth (most important) and occupation, education

Question 4

Wealth distribution in America! How much of the “Wealth Pie” does the top 20% own?

Answer 4

85%

Question 5

Sociology 101 Median income? National Median income?

Answer 5

62,000, 50,000 respectively

Question 6

If you wanted to support the argument that income inequality has increased in America since the 1970s what are at least two statistics from lecture that you could use?

Answer 6

changes in median income by class, CEO vs. worker pay change over time

Question 7

Class inequality is a reflection of different investments that people make in their human capital. This would be the theoretical explanation for inequality made by which type of theorist?

Answer 7

This is a rational choice explanation using the human capital theory

Question 8

Class inequality is caused by the exploitation of laborers by those who own productive property. This explanation of inequality is most likely made by which theorist?

Answer 8

Karl Marx. Conflict theory

Question 9

This theorist states that position in terms of social stratification is determined by class as well as status and social honor they receive.

Answer 9

Max Weber. Social status and social honor related to norms and values of a society.

Question 10

Inequality exists because different occupations are rewarded at higher and lower rates based on that societies needs and the skills required for that occupation. This explanation of inequality is most likely made by which type of theorist?

Answer 10

Functionalist theorist. (Davis and Moore)

Question 11

Inter-generational mobility that shows a decrease in lower paying jobs and an increase in higher paying jobs resulting in more people in the newer generation in higher paying jobs. What kind of social mobility is this?

Answer 11

Structural mobility in which the opportunity structure is improving.

Question 12

What is the current gender pay gap in the United States?

Answer 12

Women make 80 cents for every $1 that men make

Question 13

What are the different inter-generational mobility trends that we see? What do they “look like”?

Answer 13

Inheritance (no mobility), structural (shifts in the opportunity structures), exchange mobility (no increase or decrease in location of jobs but people move between classes easily)

Question 14

How has the poverty rate changed since the 1970s?

Answer 14

It hasn’t. It has stayed around 15%.

Question 15

How are people ranked in a caste system?

Answer 15

Inheritance. Place in society determined from birth.

Question 16

Immigrants are becoming more transnational what does this mean?

Answer 16

Easier to maintain financial and emotional ties to native country because of technology and increased mobility. (skype)

Question 17

Past discrimination that forced African Americans into jobs that were disproportionately effected by the changing economy is the reason for current racial inequality. Which theorist most likely would make this argument?

Answer 17

Wilson

Question 18

The fact that most of the people who are in poverty are the “working poor” supports which explanation of poverty? (structural or individual failings?)

Answer 18

structural failings

Question 19

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

Answer 19

Prejudice (pre-judging) is the thought process or the idea. Discrimination is the action based on the prejudice thoughts.

Question 20

How do we know that gender is a social construct?

Answer 20

ideas about gender (the roles of men and women) change over time and between cultures

Question 21

sex:biology::______:sociology

Answer 21

gender

Question 22

Non-Hispanic Whites make up 64% of the American population. What is the % distribution of the other racial and ethnic groups that we covered in class?

Answer 22

Native Americans 1%, Asian 6%, African American 13% Hispanic 16%

Question 23

What act passed by congress actually made it more difficult for undocumented workers to return home to Mexico?

Answer 23

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (disrupted the circular flow of migrant workers)

Question 24

How are world migration patterns changing?

Answer 24

1) Accelerating-size of the immigrant population is growing rapidly
2) Diversifying- more counties becoming involved and becoming more global.
3) Feminized- the number of female migrants is increasing
4) becoming transnational, better communication allows migrants to stay in contact with their native countries, emotionally and financially.

Question 25

How has the number of Mexican American immigrants changed over the last 20 years?

Answer 25

It hasn’t changed. Rates have stayed about the same.

Question 26

What is the main commonality between people who fall under the ethnic label of Hispanic or Latino?

Answer 26

Spanish language

Question 27

What is the largest ethnic minority in the United States?

Answer 27

Hispanic (Latinos) 45 million 16%

Question 28

In 1942 which program was enacted to address agricultural labor shortages?

Answer 28

Bracero Program it was a legal quest-worker program

Question 29

What is the fastest growing minority group in the United States?

Answer 29

Asian

Question 30

The largest groups of Asian immigrants are from which countries?

Answer 30

China, Japan, Philippines

Question 31

What did Brown v. Board of education decided?

Answer 31

That separate educational facilities are inherently unequal

Question 32

Which racial/ethnic groups have the highest median income? Which has the lowest?

Answer 32

Highest: Asian

Question 33

When looking at racial/ethnic inequalities what is more unequal median net worth (wealth) or income?

Answer 33

Wealth. By far.

Question 34

How would human capital theory explain racial/ethnic inequalities?

Answer 34

Differential group investments.People of different racial/ethnic groups “invest” differently in education, training, skills producing inequalities

Question 35

Which theorist argued that racial inequalities are ultimately due to past discrimination?

Answer 35

William Wilson

Question 36

President Obama’s race in the United States is Black but in Brazil his race would be considered Mixed. This show what about race?

Answer 36

Race is a social construct. It varies from place to place. It is not something that is just genetic.

Question 37

What are the three functions of education?

Answer 37

Equalize Opportunity, placement and sorting and it acts as a socializing agent

Question 38

Of the three functions of education which of the two have tension between them (contesting ideas)

Answer 38

equalizing opportunity, sorting and placement

Question 39

In the 19th century mass public education emerged with what major change in production?

Answer 39

Industrialization

Question 40

Education helps prepare people to be productive members of society and helps promote an national culture. What is the type of theoretical perspective that is being demonstrated here?

Answer 40

Functionalist

Question 41

Education systems reproduce inequalities by setting credentials to “weed” people out of higher paying jobs. What is the type of theoretical perspective that is being demonstrated here?

Answer 41

Conflict Theory