Social Inequality Flashcards
Upward Mobility
- Someone who rises from a lower social position to a higher one is said to be displaying upwards mobility
False Consciousness
Referes to people’s misperception of the true nature of their social and economic situation, especially when it leads them to act in ways that perpetuate their subordinate status
Class Misidentification
Is not a term commonly used in sociology. If it were, it would appear to refer to the belief that one is actually a member of a social class other than ones own, rather than support for policies than benefits that other class
Meritocratic principles
- Is a system within which political and economic rewards are based on ability, effort, and achievements rather than social class.
- Are unrelated to economic policies based on social class
Horizontal Mobility
- Refers to the movement from one job or social position to another without a change in social status.
Social Stratification
- Is a society system of social standing
- Some basic aspects include class, status, and power.
Class
Is the grouping of individuals in a stratifies social hierarchy, usually based on wealth, education and occupation.
Status
Is one’s relative social position within a group, such as the matriarch of a family.
Power
Is one’s ability to make others do one’s will, whether or not the others wants to such as a judge, or boss at worl
Cultural Capital
- Is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviours and skills that a person can utilize to demonstrate their cultural competence and social status.
- Someone can gain cultural capital because they hold advanced degrees or are familiar with group customs, local foods, holidays or rituals
Social Capital
- Is advantages gained by one’s social network, like from networking or insider knowledge of a group
Social Reproduction
- A phrase coined by Karl Marx, emphasizes the structures and activities that may transmit social inequality and inequity, from generation to generation
Privilege
- Is any advantage that is unearned, exclusive and socially conferred
- It is a characteristic of the social system → it is not necessarily doled out individually or earned.
Prestige
- The esteem or reputation associated with one’s position in society
- Unlike privilege, prestige can be earned through achievement, or inherited through the social system, such as honouring a distinguished journalist with the Pulitzer Prizer.
Social Mobility
Referes to the ability to change class, status or power dynamics
Intergenerational Mobility
Is the extent to which some key characteristics and outcomes of individuals differ from those of their parents. So, being the first in one family to go to college, for instance, is an example of intergenerational mobility
Intragenerational Mobility
Is movement from ones social class or status to another within one individual’s lifetime. for example, if a refugee builds a hugely successful business and retires as a millionaire, that would be intragenerational mobility
Downward Mobility
Is moving to a lower social class or status sue to economic hardship, stigma or alienation
Upward Mobility
Is moving to a higher social class or status, due to economic achievement or fortune, respect or leadership
Meritocracy
The ideal that everyone’s place in society is rightfully earned based on their skills and attributes
Poverty
Is the start of lacking materials and social resources required to live a healthy life.
Absolute poverty
Measures poverty only in relation to the amount of money necessary to meet basic needs, such as food, shelter, education and healthcare.
Relative Poverty
- People are derived from the minimum amount of income needed in order to maintain the average standard living in the society they live in
- These people may have a certain amount of money but it is not enough to provide for the basics within their society
- Relative poverty defines poverty in connection with the economic status of others, therefore it changes with the economic growth or decline of a country
Social Exclusion
- Can be a driving force among impoverished people
- Segregation and isolation are social exclusionary practices
Segregation
- Is the division of human beings into separate groups based on criteria such as race, ethnicity or nationality.
- Segregation furthers poverty by keeping those already impoverished into socially constructed and perpetuated systems of oppression
- Americas Jim Crow laws were an example of segregation targeting black Americans in the South
Isolation
- Which is the practice of isolating individuals or groups by restricting their contract with other people.
- For example, people with serious mental illness or intellectual disabilities who were institutionalized, before the deinstitutionalization of the 19060 were isolated
