Social Stratification Flashcards
Social class
A category of people who share a similar socioeconomic position in society
Marxist theory
Proposes that the proletariat could overthrow the bourgeoisie, as well as the entire capitalist economy by developing class consciousness
Class consciousness
The organization of the working class around shared goals and recognition of a need for collective political action
False consciousness
A misperception of one’s actual position within a society
Anomie
A lack of social norms, or the breakdown of social bonds between an individual and society
Social capital
The investments people make in their society for economic or collective rewards
Social integration
Peaceful movement into mainstream society
Privilege
Inequality in opportunity
Cultural capital
The benefits one receives from knowledge, abilities, and skills
Strong ties
Peer group and kinship contacts, quantitatively small but qualitatively powerful
Weak ties
Social connects that are personally superficial, such as associates, but that are large in number and provide connections to a wide range of other individuals
Social mobility
The result of an economic occupational structure that allows one to acquire higher-level employment opportunities given proper credentials and experience requirements
Intragenerational changes
Changes in social status that happen with person’s lifetime
Intergenerational changes
Changes from parents to chidlren
Meritocracy
A means for a person to advance up the social ladder based on intellectual talent and achievement
Plutocracy
A rule by the upper class
Vertical mobilIty
A movement from one social class to another
Horizontal mobility
A change in occupation or lifestyle that reminds within the same social class
Poverty
Defined by low SES and a lack of possessions or financial resources
Structural poverty
Holes in the structures of society that necessitate that the same percentage of society falls under the poverty line
Absolute poverty
A socioeconomic condition in which people do not have enough money or resources to maintain a quality of living that includes basic life necessities such as shelter, food, clothing, and water
Relative poverty
When one is poor in comparison to the larger population
Poverty level
Derived from the government’s calculation of the minimum income requirements for families to acquire the minimum necessities of life
Social exclusion
Can arise from the sense of powerlessness that arises when poor individuals feel segregated and isolated from society
Spatial inequality
Focuses on social stratification across territories and their populations
Suburbanization
The migration pattern of the middle classes to suburban communities
Urban decay
When a previously functional portion of a city deteriorates and becomes decrepit over time
Urban renewal
When city land is reclaimed and renovated for public or private use. Often fueled by gentrification
Gentrification
When upper and middle class populations begin to purchase and renovate neighborhoods in deteriorated areas, displacing the low SES population
World system theory
Categorizes countries and emphasizes the inequalities of the division of labor at the global level
Core nations
Focus on higher skills, and higher paying productions, while exploiting peripheral nations
Peripheral nations
Exploited by core nations. Have lower-skilled productions
Semi-peripheral nations
Midway between core and peripheral nations. They work toward becoming core nations
Incidence
The number of new cases of an illness per population at risk in a given amount of time
Prevalence
A measure of the number of cases of an illness overall-whether new or chronic-per population in a given amount of time
Morbidity
The burden or degree of illness associated with a given disease
Mortality
The deaths caused by a given disease
Second sickness
An exacerbation of health outcomes caused by social injustice
Medicare
Covers patients over the age of 65, those with end-stage renal disease, and those with ALS
Medicaid
Covers patients who are in significant financial need
