Social Stratification Flashcards
What is absolute poverty?
Not being able to afford the basic thing you need to survive.
What is achieved status?
Social positions that are earned through personal talent.
What is ascribed status?
Social status that is fixed at birth and does not change over time.
What is the culture of dependency?
The welfare system encouraging people to stay on benefits rather than supporting themselves through work.
What are life chances?
The chance of achieving positive or negative outcomes as you progress through life.
What is a pressure group?
A group formed to influence government policy on a particular issue,
What is relative poverty?
Not being able to afford to meet the general standard of living compared to others in society.
What is social exclusion?
The inability of some groups such as elderly to play a full part in society which limits their access to the benefits.
What is social inequality?
The uneven distribution of resources (money and power) and opportunities.
What is status?
The social standing given by other members of society.
What is the underclass?
A group in society that have different values and attitudes to others, They experience long-term unemployment and tend to rely on benefits.
What is wealth?
The ownership of assets. (property, jewellery)
What is welfare dependency?
When individuals are reliant on the government for income for a prolonged amount of time.
What do functionalists believe about social stratification?
They believe it provides a positive function as it provides role allocation and is based on meritocracy.
What is role allocation?
When top roles are filled by those who have the skills and qualifications.
What do Marxists believe about social stratification?
They believe it is negative for society as it is based on conflict and ascribed status.
What do feminists believe about social stratification?
They believe it is negative as it is based on conflict and the top roles are filled by men.
What are the four factors that affect life chances?
Class, gender, ethnicity, age.
What is the culture of poverty?
Being socialised within a culture that accepts poverty and sees it as normal rather than trying to get out of it.
What is cultural deprivation?
People who may not have the norms and values that motivate people to get out of poverty, for example, spending money immediately rater than saving.
What is formal and informal power?
Formal power is from a title, and informal is earned through respect.
What do Davis and Moore believe in?
Their main theory is regarding role allocation in social stratification.
What does Murrey (new right) argue?
The underclass is growing due to overgenerous benefits.
