social inequity (SOCI 356)

Question 1

Micro and macro levels of sociological analysis

Answer 1

Micro-level: Focuses on small-scale, individual or group interactions, like conversations or personal relationships.
Macro-level: Looks at large-scale social processes, such as the economy, laws, or entire cultures.

Question 2

Social theory

Answer 2

Ideas and frameworks that explain how societies work, how people interact, and why certain social patterns exist.

Question 3

Sociological Imagination

Answer 3

Not focused on individual-level “troubles” but looking beyond these
troubles and how they are connected to or embedded in larger, broader social

Question 3

Social structure

Answer 3

The organized patterns of relationships and institutions that make up society, like the family, government, or education system.

Question 4

Intersectionality/Intersectional lens

Answer 4

The concept that different social categories (like race, gender, and class) overlap and create unique experiences of discrimination or privilege

Question 5

Matrix of Domination

Answer 5

explains how different types of inequality (like race, gender, and class) combine to create varying levels of power or disadvantage for people in society

Question 6

Social inequality

Answer 6

The unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges among people in society.

Question 7

Stratification and systems of stratification

Answer 7

Stratification: The ranking of people in a hierarchy based on factors like wealth, power, and status.
Systems of stratification: Organized structures in society, like class systems or caste systems, that determine who has access to resources.

Question 8

Institutions

Answer 8

Established structures in society that organize social behavior, like schools, governments, and religions.

Question 8

Dimensions of inequality: Race, Class, Gender

Answer 8

These are key categories that influence people’s social standing and opportunities in society

Question 9

Status set

Answer 9

The combination of all the statuses a person holds at one time (e.g., being a student, daughter, and employee all at once).

Question 10

Resources

Answer 10

The things people need to succeed or thrive in society,

Question 11

Explain what is the “great debate” on social inequality?

Answer 11

This is a debate about whether inequality in society is natural and necessary or unfair and should be eliminated.

Question 12

Equality of outcome vs. equality of opportunity

Answer 12

Equality of outcome: Everyone should end up with the same results (like equal income).
Equality of opportunity: Everyone should have the same chances to succeed, but the results may vary based on effort and choices.

Question 13

Lenski’s Two Perspectives of Inequality

Answer 13

Functional view: Inequality is necessary because it motivates people to work harder.
Conflict view: Inequality is unfair and comes from people in power exploiting others

Question 14

Marx and Engels

Explain their conflict position/theoretical analysis of societ

Answer 14

They believed that society is divided into two main groups: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat

Question 15

Bourgeoisie

Answer 15

The rich, owning class who control the means of production (factories, businesses).

Question 16

Proletariat

Answer 16

The working class who sell their labor but don’t own much

Question 17

Weber

Explain his conflict position/theoretical analysis of society

Answer 17

Weber saw society as divided by class, status, and power

Question 17

How does Weber define “class”?

Answer 17

Economic position or wealth.

Question 18

radical antithesis

Answer 18

Inequality is wrong and should be eliminated because it leads to exploitation and oppression.

Question 19

Durkheim

Explain his position/theoretical analysis of society

Answer 19

Durkheim believed society functions like a body, with different parts (institutions, people) working together to maintain order (Functionalism)

Question 20

How does Durkeim view the social order/structure?

Answer 20

He saw society as stable and cooperative

Question 21

Solidarity

Answer 21

The bond that holds society together

Question 22

Social Darwinism

Answer 22

Inequality is natural because some people are stronger or smarter. The best people succeed, and trying to change that goes against nature.

Question 22

Division of Labour

Answer 22

The way jobs are divided in society, with different people doing different tasks.

Question 22

Libertarian and Rational Choice theory

Answer 22

Rational Choice Theory: People make choices based on what benefits them.
Libertarian Perspective: Inequality is okay as long as it’s based on free choices

Question 23

Functionalism

Answer 23

Inequality is good for society because it helps keep things organized. People get different rewards (like money or status) based on the importance of their job

Question 24

Explain how social inequality is viewed from a rational choice perspective

Answer 24

Inequality happens because people make different choices, so it’s seen as fair.

Question 25

Explain how social inequality is viewed from a Libertarian perspective

Answer 25

People should be able to do what they want with their own property, without the government interfering.

Question 26

Are these perspectives in line with a conservative thesis or a radical antithesis?

Answer 26

All of these perspectives agree that inequality is natural and shouldn’t be changed. They don’t argue for big changes to make things more equal.

Question 26

Globalization

Answer 26

The increasing connection of people, countries, and businesses around the world through trade, communication, technology, and culture.

Question 27

The “Race to the bottom” vs “chain of prosperity” arguments/ideas

Answer 27

Race to the bottom: The idea that as countries compete for businesses, they lower wages and weaken labor or environmental protections, leading to worse conditions for workers.
Chain of prosperity: The belief that global trade and investment can lead to shared growth and benefits, helping to lift poorer countries into prosperity.

Question 28

United Nations Human Development Report: Income, wealth, and well-being measures (health, education, etc.)

Answer 28

Measures countries’ overall development using factors like income, wealth, health (life expectancy), education (literacy and school access), and well-being

Question 29

Modernization school

Answer 29

A theory that says poor countries can develop by following the same path as wealthy countries, focusing on industrialization, education, and technology.

Question 30

Dependency Theory

Answer 30

The idea that wealthy countries keep poor countries dependent on them, taking resources and exploiting their labor, making it hard for poorer nations to develop.

Question 31

Neoliberalism

Answer 31

A belief in free markets, privatization, and minimal government interference in the economy, suggesting that economic growth happens when businesses and individuals have freedom.

Question 32

World Systems Theory

Answer 32

A theory that divides the world into wealthy “core” countries and poorer “periphery” countries. Core countries exploit periphery countries for labor and resources, keeping the global system unequal.

Question 33

Political Economy

Answer 33

The study of how political systems and economic systems are connected and how governments and markets interact to shape wealth and power.

Question 34

Globalization
Outsourcing

Answer 34

When companies move parts of their business, like manufacturing or customer service, to other countries where labor is cheaper.

Question 35

The Market Paradox