sociology exam 2 Flashcards
capital
the resources that we use to get things we want and need
economic capital
financial resources that are available or converted into cash investments
soical mobility
the opportunity to move up or down in the economic hierarchy
proletariat
people employed by theirs who worked for a wage.
bourgeoise
owned the means of production
the people who employ the workers
means of production
Resources that could be used to create wealth. EX: land, factories, and money to invest.
labor
The work people can do with their bodies and minds
class consciousness
an understanding that they are members of a group with a shared economic interest
socialism
An economic system based on shared ownership of the resources used to create wealth that is then distributed by the governments for the enrichment of all.
service and information economy
an economy centered on jobs in which workers provide services or work with information
glass ceiling
.An invisible barrier that restricts upward mobility
glass floor
.an invisible barrier that restricts downward mobility
colorism
prejudice against and discrimination toward people with dark skin compared to those with light skin, regardless of race
why are foraging societies more egalitarian
Because the people relied on each other to succeed, and a person could only own as much as they could carry, unlike today. Social stratification came about when people discovered agriculture. Insecurity of if the food would be available led people to stockpile food and trade it for other goods.
what factor led to the creation of soical stratifications
wealth, power, and prestige.
what kind of economic system is capitalism
an economic system in which private individuals or businesses own capital goods.
What is Marx’s theory of capitalism and what is the dark side of capitalism that he reveals
Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership of the resources used to create wealth and the right of individuals to profit personally. Marx predicted that workers would revolt against their employers and that capitalism would ultimately collapse. The dark side was that the rich were getting richer, and the poor were getting poorer.
What is “alienation” in Marx’s theory
why does he argue that workers in capitalist societies feel alienated toward their labor?
Alienation is the feeling of dissatisfaction and disconnection from the fruits of ones labor. He argues that since neither the profits or products of their work belong to them, they will feel disconnected
What is the crisis of capitalism predicted by Marx and what did he predict it would lead to
It is a coming catastrophic implosion from which capitalism would never recover. He believed it would lead to a shift from capitalism to socialism.
What were the characteristics of the Gilded Age? How are those characteristics related to free market capitalism?
The wealthiest people held a majority of the wealth. Free market capitalism allows people to garner immense levels of wealth
less taxes on the rich and 1980s we use less pay and monoploy in power
What are labor unions? What do they try to accomplish and why are they often resisted by capitalists?
Labor unions are bands of employees that fight for better working conditions and benefits. Capitalists resist these movements because it often keeps money our of the pockets of the elite.
What was the New Deal and what kind of changes did it create in American society? (Explain transfer payment, social safety net, the living wage, welfare capitalism, and other related concepts.)
jobs held by mostly black people were exempted from the new minimum wage laws.
Why were the new middle class in the New Deal era mostly white
Many of the policies excluded black people and only benefitted white people.
Why is the contemporary U.S. economy referred to as the New Gilded Age? What led to the emergence of this New Gilded Age?
We are entering the 2nd period of unusually high economic inequality. The process in getting rid of socialist policies through government, such as decreasing taxes, has led to this.
Worse paying conditions monpoloy of power
What is a gig economy and how does it impact people
Jobs that are not “real” or offer full-time benefits. Such as Door Dash and Uber. These jobs have very few worker benefits. Workers are working harder than ever, and getting less than ever.
What does the term “precariat” refer to? Who are at risk of becoming members of the precariat?
The precariat is a new class of workers who live economically precarious lives. Working-class individuals who are only making enough money to support their needs are at risk.
What is the reason for increasing poverty rates in the U.S.? Who are the “working poor”?
People in the labor force who earn poverty-level wages. Jobs are under-paying to maximize their bottom lines
What is the “protestant work ethic” and how is it related to Americans’ lack of care for the poor?
It is the idea that one’s character can and should be measured by one’s dedication to paid work. People think people who arent working hard are morally bad.
What is the process of “legitimation” and how does a racialized Protestant work ethic legitimate economic inequality?
Legitimation is a process by which a potentially controversial social fact is made acceptable. In this case, linking poverty to bad ethics and ascribing bad ethics to low-status groups makes it seem as if the suffering of the poor is inevitable or even good. A racialized Protestant work ethic, then, is used not only to explain economic inequality but to legitimize it.
How is poverty traditionally viewed in the U.S.?
manly people viewed poverty traditionally as moral failing
as a reflection of personal failure
Why does the author argue that poverty affects us all? Provide 2 reasons.
because the majority of Americans will live in poverty for at least a year over half of the Americans have less than 1% of the wealth
Why does the author argue that poverty is caused by structural failures rather than individual failures?
the system failed to provide enough resources, wage for people to thrive in
Why is poverty a moral problem?
there are extreme wealth inequalities and those with money no matter how they got it make themselves out to be hard working self made people and that poor people are just lazy immoral criminals that are undeserving of their help
they don’t know what to do how much money that they have and also low wage workers are struggling to put food on the table.
What does it mean that race is a modern social construction
there is no scientific biological reason behind it it changes overtime and not an accurate marker all people are 99.9% similar and there are different # of races in different countries
race
a socially meaningful set of artificial distinctions falsely based on superficial and imagined biological differences
ethnicity
an identity based on collective memories of a shared history and distinctive culture
colonialism
a practice in which countries claim control over territories, the people in them, and their natural resources, then exploit them for economic gain
genocide
Deliberate extermination of a racial or cultural group
ideology
shared ideas about how human life should be organized
trail of tears
The Trail of Tears was an ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of approximately 60,000 people of the “Five Civilized Tribes” between 1830 and 1850 by the United States government.
What did slavery look like before the invention of race?
-lack of culture
-marriage between Egyptians and blacks were normal
-adopted as kin after a few years
-dehumanized
What was the original perception of Europeans of indigenous people? What did they do to the indigenous lands and populations?
Uncivilized savages. killed indigenous people, treated them as though they were less than human, and took their lands.
What were the objectives of European colonizers? Why did they enslave Africans?
early conquests, claims, and colonies, early state-sponsored colonists, economic immigrants, religious immigration.
