Socy Final exam Flashcards
three types of societies
Egalitarian, Rank, Stratified
Egalitarian
no individual or group has appreciably more wealth, power, or prestige than any other.
Rank
unequal access to prestige or status but not unequal access to wealth or power.
Stratified Societies
considerable inequality in all forms of social rewards (power, wealth, prestige).
Class systems
an individual can change his or her social position dramatically within a lifetime. based on achieved status.
Caste societies
have no social mobility; membership in a caste is determined by birth and lasts throughout ones lifetime. based on ascribed status.
Class structure in U.S.
Upper class- 5% of population
Upper-Middle & Average Middle- 40-45%
Working class & Lower-Middle class- 30-35%
Lower class- 20%
Hindu caste system
social boundaries are strictly maintained by caste endogamy and notions of ritual purity and pollution.
Varnas
caste groups in hindu india associated with certain occupations.
Dalit
politically correct term for those formerly called the untouchables in india; the lowest caste
Jati
local subcastes found in hindu india
Sanskritization
a form of upward social mobility found in contemporary india whereby people born into lower castes can achieve higher status by taking some of the behaviors and practices of the highest caste.
Functionalist theory
Class systems contribute to the well-being of a society by encouraging constructive endeavors.
Conflict theory
Stratification systems exist because the upper classes strive to maintain a superior position at the expense of the lower classes.
Absolute poverty
exists when people do not have the means to secure the most basic necessities of life. live on less that $365 a year
Relative poverty
the definition of poverty in the U.S. exists when people may be able to afford basic necessities but are still unable to maintain an average standard of living.
Extreme poverty
is defined as living on less than $275 a year or .75 cents a day.
Multidimensional poverty index (MPI)
measured with three dimensions:
- Living standards
- Education
- Health
Ethnic group
a group of people who share many of the same cultural traits.
Cultural traits include:
- religion, dietary practices, language, humor, clothing, cultural heritage, folklore, national origin.
Biology
Race is thought of as a genetically distinct subpopulation of given species.
Social construction
divisions of people based on certain physical characteristics.
Minorities that out weight the majority
1) California
2) New mexico
3. ) Hawii
4) Texas
what percentage of the worlds women are poor?
70%
what are the causes of hunger/ poverty?
1) Harmful economic systems
2) Conflict
3) Hunger is a cause of poverty, and thus of hunger.
4) Climate change
