Social Stratification Flashcards
Social Class
Category of people who share similar socioeconomic positions in society
Social Stratification
Focuses on social inequalities and studies the basic questions of who gets what and why
Ascribed Status
*Involuntary
Derives from clearly identified characteristics like age, gender and skin color
Achieved Status
*Voluntary (hard work / merit)
Acquired via direct individual efforts
Power
Ability to affect others’ behavior through real or perceived rewards and punishments and is based on the unequal distribution of valued resources; defines relationships
Anomie
Lack of social norms or the breakdown of social bonds between an individual and society
Strain Theory
Focuses on how anomie / anomic conditions can lead to social deviance
Social Capital
Investments people make in society in return for economic or collective rewards
Strong Ties
Peer group / kinship contacts; strong social connections; few in number but powerful
Weak Ties
Superficial social connections; large in number
5 Ethnicities Model
Defined by the US Census Bureau and the National Institute of Health (NIH)
- White
- Black
- Asian
- Latino
- Native American
Social Mobility
Result of economic and occupational structures that allows one to acquire higher level of employment opportunities given proper credentials and experience requirements
Intra-generational Mobility
Changes in status happen in a person’s lifetime
Inter-generational Mobility
Changes are between generations from parents to children
Meritocracy
Intellectual talent and achievement; means for a person to advance up the social ladder