Sociology Chapter 7

Question 1

What is the existence of structured inequalities between groups in society? In terms of their access to material or symbolic rewards. While all societies involve some form of stratification only with the development of state-based systems did wide differences in wealth and power arise. The most distinctive form of stratification in modern societies in class divisions.

Answer 1

Social Stratification

Question 2

What are the 4 Principles of Social Stratification?

Answer 2

1. Social Stratification is a characteristic of society & not simply a function of individual differences.
2. Social stratification persists over generations.
3. Social stratification is universal, but not variable.
4. Social Stratification involves not just inequality, but also beliefs.

Question 3

What is the social status a person is assigned at birth or assumed involuntarily later in life?

Answer 3

Ascribed Status

Question 4

What is the social position that a person earns or choses.

Answer 4

Achieved Status

Question 5

What is the social system in which one’s social status is given for life?

Answer 5

Caste System

Question 6

What are examples of Caste Systems?

Answer 6

Ascription (at birth)
Endogamy: Marrying within the same caste
Low/No mobility
Occupational System
High status consistency

Question 7

What is a form of social stratification in which some people are owned by others as their property?

Answer 7

Slavery

Question 8

What is a social system in which one’s social status is given for life?

Answer 8

Estate System

Question 9

What is the system of achievement to mobility is available.
Exogamy: Can marry outside of class.
Low status consistency

Answer 9

Class System

Question 10

What is it called where an individual’s social positions have both positive & negative influences on her social status?

Answer 10

Status Consistency

Question 11

What is a system of ideas & ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory & policy?

Answer 11

Ideology

Question 12

Whose thesis is this? “Inequality is universal because it has benefits to our society. Increase in importance. Increase in Rewards”

Answer 12

Davis-Moore Thesis

Question 13

What is a ruling or influential class of educated or skilled people?

Answer 13

Meritocracy

Question 14

What jobs are more mental labor?

Answer 14

White-collar occupations

Question 15

What jobs are more physical labor?

Answer 15

Blue-Collar Occupations

Question 16

What is an economic & sociological combined total measure of a person’s work experience & of an individual’s or family’s economic & social position in relation to others based on income, education, & occupation.

Answer 16

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Question 17

What is money that is yearly made typically through salaries or wages or investments?

Answer 17

Income

Question 18

What is a lifetime net worth. Assets-Debts

Answer 18

Wealth

Question 19

What is the number of years of schooling a person has completed, is an important dimension of social stratification.

Answer 19

Education

Question 20

What is an important indicator of one’s social standing? Depends heavily on one’s level of educational attainment.

Answer 20

Occupation

Question 21

What percentage of America’s income is the wealthiest?

Answer 21

24%

Question 22

What social class is broadly composed of the more affluent members of society? Especially those who have inherited wealth, own businesses, or hold lard numbers of stocks?

Answer 22

Upper Class

Question 23

What social class is composed broadly of those working in white-collar, or manual, occupations?

Answer 23

Working Class

Question 24

What class is composed of those who work part time or not at all and whose household income is typically low?

Answer 24

Lower Class

Question 25

What class of individual’s situated at the bottom of the class system, often composed of people from ethnic minority backgrounds?

Answer 25

Underclass

Question 26

What changes in a person’s position within a system of stratification?

Answer 26

Social Mobility

Question 27

What is the social mobility in which individual’s wealth, income or status is higher than what they, or their parents had?

Answer 27

Upward Social Mobility

Question 28

What is the social mobility in which individual’s wealth, income or status is lower than what they or their parents had?

Answer 28

Downward Social Mobility

Question 29

What social mobility is within one’s own lifetime?

Answer 29

Intragenerational Social Mobility

Question 30

What social mobility is between generations –> Children relative to parents?

Answer 30

Intergenerational Social Mobility

Question 31

What poverty is the minimal requirements for a person to sustain a reasonably healthy life? Food/shelter/clothing are basinal healthcare

Answer 31

Absolute Poverty

Question 32

what poverty is relative to living standards of society? poverty in comparison to other society at same time/place?

Answer 32

Relative Poverty