Soc Ch. 8 (Stratification)
power
the ability to exercise one's will over others
caste
a hereditary rank, usually religiously dictated, that tends to be fixed and immobile
Interationist
Focuses on the influences that stratification and inequality have on intergroup relations and people's lifestyles. Note that the wealthy exhibit conspicuous consumption and conspicuous leisure.
class consciousness
In Karl Marx's view, a subjective awareness held be members of a class regarding their common vested interests and the need for collective political action to bring about social change
proletariat
Karl Marx's term for the working class in a capitalist society
bourgeoisie
Karl Marx's the for the capitalist class, comprising the owners of the means of production
Conflict
Social stratification facilitates exploitation and that the wealthy use the dominant ideology to further their own interests. Social inequality is excessive and growing.
Rossides' 5 class model
The US class system includes upper, upper-middle, lower-middle, working, and lower
social inequality
a condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, and power
relative poverty
a floating standard of deprivation by which people at the bottom of society, whatever their lifestyles, are judged to be disadvantaged in comparison with the nation as a whole
class
a group of people that have similar wealth and income
socioeconomic status
a measure of social class that is based on income, education, and occupation
absolute poverty
a minimum level of subsistence that no family should be expected to live below
dominant ideology
a set of cultural beliefs and practices that helps to maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests
ascribed status
a social position assigned to a person by society without regards to the person's unique talents or characteristics
achieved status
a social position that a person attains largely through his or her own efforts
class system
a social ranking based primarily on economic position in which achieved characteristics can influence social mobility
open system
a social system in which the position of each individual is influenced by his or her achieved status
closed system
a social system in which there is littler or no possibility of individual social mobility (ex. slavery)
stratification
a structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power in society
slavery
a system of enforced servitude in which some people are owned by others
estate system
a system of stratification under which peasants were required to work land leased to them by nobles in exchange for military protection and other services. A.ka. feudalism
objective method
a technique for measuring social class that assigns individuals to classes on the basis of criteria such as occupation, education, income and place of residence
false consciousness
a term used by Karl Marx to describe an attitude held by members of a class that does not accurately reflect their objective position
feminization of poverty
a trend in which women constitute an increasing proportion of the poor people in the US
capitalism
an economic system is which the means of production are held largely in private hands and the main incentive for economic activity is the accumulation of profits
wealth
an inclusive term encompassing all a person's material assets, including land, stocks, and other types of property
Functionalist
believe that social stratification facilitates filling of social positions and that social inequality is necessary to some extent
intragenerational mobility
changes in social position within a person's adult life
intergenerational mobility
changes in the social position of children relative to their parents
Weber's 3 components to stratification
class, status, power
precarious work
employment that is poorly paid, and from the worker's perspective, insecure and unprotected
social mobility
movement of individuals or groups from one position in a society's stratification system to another
status group
people who have the same prestige or lifestyle, independent of their class positions
income
salaries and wages
four general systems of stratification
slavery, castes, estates, and social classes
corporate welfare
tax breaks, bailouts, direct payments, and grants that the government gives to corporations
underclass
the long-term poor who lack training and skills
vertical mobility
the movement of an individual from one social position to another of a different rank
horizontal mobility
the movement of an individual from one social position to another of the same rank
life chances
the opportunities people have to provide themselves with material goods, positive living conditions, and favorable life experiences
digital divide
the relative lack of access to the latest technologies among low-income groups, racial and ethnic minorities, rural residents, and the citizens of developing countries
esteem
the reputation that a specific person has earned within an occupation
prestige
the respect and admiration that an occupation holds in a society