Social Stratification

Question 1

Social Stratification

Answer 1

A system by which a society ranks categories of people in hierarchy

Question 2

social stratification principles

Answer 2

1. A trait of society, not a reflection of individual differences
2. Carries over from generation to generation
3. Universal but variable
4. Not just inequality but beliefs

Question 3

Social mobility

Answer 3

A change in position within the social hierarchy

Question 4

Caste system

Answer 4

Social stratification based on ascription, or birth

Question 5

Caste systems characteristic

Answer 5

closed system, typical of agrarian societies

Question 6

Class System

Answer 6

Social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement

Question 7

Class System characteristic

Answer 7

open system, typical of industrial societies

Question 8

Meritocracy

Answer 8

Social stratification based on personal merit, pure meritocracy has never exist

Question 9

Status Consistency

Answer 9

The degree of uniformity in a person’s social standing across various dimensions of social inequality

Question 10

Meritocracy and class/caste system

Answer 10

Caste: emphasizing loyalty to the system(stable), maintaining social order and unity/ Class: promote productivity and efficiency

Question 11

Status Consistency and class/ caste system

Answer 11

Caste: low social mobility -> high social consistency; Class: high social mobility -> high social consistency/ class distinction blurred

Question 12

Structural social mobility

Answer 12

A shift in the social position of large numbers of people due more to changes in society itself than to individual efforts

Question 13

Ideology

Answer 13

Cultural beliefs that justify particular social arrangements, including patterns of inequality

Question 14

Davis-Moore Thesis

Answer 14

Social stratification has beneficial consequences for the operation of a society

Question 15

Tumin’s criticism towards Davis- Moore Thesis

Answer 15

1. How do we assess the importance of a particular occupation
2. Ignore how the caste elements of social stratification can prevent the development of individual talent
3. Living in a society that places so much emphasis on money, we tend to overestimate the importance of high-paying work
4. Davis-Moore thesis ignores how social inequality can harm society and even promote conflict

Question 16

Capitalist

Answer 16

bourgeoisie, people who own and operate factories and other businesses in pursuit of profit

Question 17

Proletarians

Answer 17

people who sell their labor for wages

Question 18

Alienation

Answer 18

capitalism only produce it, the experience of isolation and misery resulting from powerlessness

Question 19

Socio-economic status

Answer 19

A composite ranking based on various dimensions of social inequality

Question 20

Conflict theory on Stratification

Answer 20

Benefits some people and disadvantages other

Question 21

Karl Marx: Class Conflict

Answer 21

Social stratification is rooted in people’s relationship to the means of production

Question 22

Bourgeoisie vs. Proletarians

Answer 22

Capitalist and proletarians have opposing interests and are separated by a vast gulf of wealth and power, making class conflict inevitable

Question 23

Marx’s theory Controversy

Answer 23

Ignores a central ideal of the Davis- Moore thesis and Revolutionary change Marx predicted has failed to happen