Social Inequality Flashcards
Horizontal movement in social mobility
Refers to moving within the same level of hierarchy (same social class)
Example: Engineer switches companies but remains an engineer
Vertical movement in social mobility
Refers to moving up or down the social hierarchy
Example: Plastic surgeon quits to become a YouTuber
Social standing is ascribed by background/birth and therefore social mobility is limited
High stability
Caste system
Social standing commonly relies on a combination of background and education, allows for social mobility
Low stability
class system
Social position based solely on ability and achievements. Highly idealized
Birth and background is of zero importance
Meritocracy
Intragenerational vs intergenerational mobility
Intragenerational mobility = change in social class within one’s lifetime
Intergenerational mobility = change in social class between generations
Individuals can experience multiple types of discrimination at the same time (intersecting)
Theory of intersectionality
Awareness of one’s place in a hierarchy of social classes, especially as it relates to the class struggle
Coined by Marx
Class consciousness
Lower classes are unable to see their own oppression, for example due to misleading messages from the upper class
False consciousness
Marginalization of individuals resulting in an inability to participate:
Economically (as income earner or consumer)
Socially (interaction with others in society)
Civically (community and political involvement)
Social exclusion
Social class remains unchanged from one generation to the next
Example: Children born into a lower social class tend to occupy a lower social class as adults
social reproduction
Positive correlation between socioeconomic status and health outcomes
Lower socioeconomic status associated with worse health outcomes
Socioeconomic gradient in health
Income is insufficient to afford basic necessities of life
Criteria does not change by economic growth
Absolute poverty
Household income is 50% less than the average median income
Criteria changes with economic growth
Relative poverty
an individual’s assets that give an advantage in society
capital
Individual’s tangible financial assets
Example: money, income, property
Economic capital
Individual’s social networks, including those who can help that individual advance in society
Example: Knowing the president of a prestiguous university can help you get into said university
Social capital
Non-monetary and nonsocial assets that contribute to an advantage in society
Example: Having naturally good looks
Cultural capital
Unfair distribution of wealth and resources across a geographic area. Includes residential segregation (separation of groups by race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status) and environmental injustice (increased crime and pollution in lower income neighborhoods)
Spatial inequality
Environmental justice
Fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens within society, such as parks, recreation, avoidance of health hazards
Areas of poverty are often located near areas of environmental waste: heavy industry, manufacturing, etc.
Environmental burden
Segregation of people (often by race or income) into separate neighborhoods
Residential segregation
Measures level of segregation
0 is even distribution, 100 is complete segregation
Index of dissimilarity
Three impacts of residential segregation
- Political isolation - segregated communities are weaker politically
- Linguistic isolation - development of a separate language
- Spatial mismatch - opportunities may be farther away or harder to access
Hierarchical organization of individuals in society based on their social class and status
Social stratification
Social class: Economic assets (income, property)
Prestige and status among others in society
Power: Ability to exert control over the actions of others
