Sociology Exam 2 Content Flashcards
social stratification
arrangement of society into a series of layers or strata based on unequal distribution of resources, prestige, or power, such that the stratum at the top has the most resources
social differentiation
perceiving and differentiating people into distinct categories and/ or social roles
social inequality
people of certain categories or roles have unequal access to valued resources, services, and positions in society
Import things about Social Stratification
1.) not a reflection of individual differences but a trait of society
2.) carries over from generation to generation
3.) also involves beliefs
Castes
reincarnation
the belief that caste and ascriptive differentiation is justified inequality
no social mobility ( moving up or down)
class
meritocracy
emphasis on achievement -> justified inequality
social mobility possible
meritocracy
the belief that achievement overcomes ascription
social mobility
moving up or down in a system
can be intergenerational or intragenerational
intergenerational
what your children do or what you do relative to your parents
intragenerational
what you do, or what has been possible for you or your generation to do in your specific lifetime
plutocracy
government by the wealthy
an elite or ruling class of people whose power derives from their wealth
Weber
class is a continuum from high to low rather than a 2-class model with rigid boundaries
status, prestige, and power are reflected in class positioning
Socioeconomic status (SES)
hallmark variable in sociology
composite metric that refers to a person’s ranking along several dimensions of inequality - education, occupational prestige, and income
upper class
upper upper
lower upper
corporate class
upper upper
top 1%
seeing the biggest gains in wealth
lower upper uppers
2-3%
have to work to maintain lifestyles
corporate class
high corporate positions, supplanting family capitalism
middle class
35% or so of the population and is shrinking
consists of the:
upper-middle
avg-middle
upper-middle
120-220K a year
college educated professionals
avg middle
less prestigious white collar, skilled blue collar
depend heabily on earnings to maintain lifestyle
50 - 120K
working class
another 35% or so of the population
30-50k
little to no property
conformity and adherence to rules
Lower Class
20-25% of population and growing
instability
poverty - absolute or relative
absolute poverty
condition where household income is insufficient to afford basic necessities of life
criteria do not change by economic growth
relative poverty
when households recieve 50% less median income than the average median incomes
criteria will change with economic growth