Sociology 100 Exam 2

micro theory (symbolic interaction)

-Individuals take up social positions through socialization, in whcih they learn the appropriate

meso level stratification

-access to resources -individual status is shaped by access to resources and reinforced by the family through socialization -our treatment by educational, religious, political and other institutions often depends on our status and also reinforces it

feminist theory

-class, race and gender intersect in a way that privileges some women over others, though most women are still subordinate to most men -patriarchy is primary cause of womens oppression

Weber's conflict theory

-critiqued Marx's sole focus on economic factors - theory included power and prestige, as well as property

macro level stratification influences

-economic systems and resources within a particular country -position of that country within world systems of economic stratification

symbolic interaction (race)

-if people believe something in real, its real in its consequences (Thomas Doctrine) -race categories (= real consequences)

Cultural capital

-micro level stratification -knowledge and access to important information

Social capital

-micro level stratification -the networks of relationshops among people who live and wokrnin a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively

managers

-privileged in income, neutral on property

The Davis and Moore Thesis

-some positions are more highly valued because we feel they are very important -rewards for these positions are high because society must motivate talented individuals preparation for them -differential rewards for positions result in unequal distribution of resources; stratification is inevitable

conflict theory (meso macro)

-stratification is the outcome of struggles for dominance and scarce resources -individuals and groups act in their own self-interest, taking advantage of others -conflict between those trying to hold onto existing advantages and those trying to gain new advantages is inevitable

structural-functional theory (meso macro)

-stratification within societies is inevitable -the stratification system provides each individual with a position in the social world -the stratification system motivates individual to carry out their roles -as a result, each individual contributes in some way to the maintenance of society

evolutionary theory of stratification

-to survive people must cooperate, but conflicts occur when important decisions advantage one group over another -valued items are always in demand but short supply; struggle over these scarce items is likely -custom shapes the distribution of scarce resources, but after basic societal needs are met, power determines the distribution of surplus

Marx's conflict theory

2 economic classes: -->bourgeoisie, capitalists, or "haves" -->the proletariat, working class, or "have-nots"

conspicuous consumption

Lindsey needs a car to get back and forth from her home in the city to her university, which are 4 miles apart. When shopping for a car, Lindsey decides to buy a Hummer H3 because she wants a car that her peers will notice and respect. Through this purchase, Lindsey exhibits ______.

shrunk

Since 1969, the middle class in the United States has ______.

-People are divided into ranked categories -Desired resources are unequally distributed -each society determines how individuals are raked, depending on history, geographic location, level of developments, political philosophy, decisions of those in power

What does the concept of stratification assume?

meso-macro theory

What type of theory: -societal costs and consequences -stratification has consequences for all social institutions ----poor educational achievement of female children; loss of talents, resources of half of the population; lack of health care impacts women and their children; social divisiveness can lead to alienation, hostility

micro theory

What type of theory: rigid gender stereotypes are constraining -for women: superwomen image and beauty image can lead to depression and health problems -for men: image of "perfect" male body and unemotional male role can lead to guilt, anxiety, and neuroses

Stratification is the outcome of struggles for dominance amid scarce resources.

Which of the following is a key assumption of a conflict theorist's view of social stratification?

b

Which of the following is a micro-level factor that can shape social stratification? a) religious affiliation b) physical attractiveness c) occupational structure d) access to health care

c

Which of the following is an example of cultural capital? a) relationship with college mentor b) relationship with a neighbor c) college degree d) parents' coworkers

a

Which of the following is an example of social capital? a) country club membership b) professional licensure c) postdoctoral training d) playing the piano

conflict

______ theorists argue that poor women in capitalistic economic systems are used as a reserve labor force that can be called and dismissed as needed.

scapegoating

a minority group is blamed and victimized for acts carried out by others, as the perpetrator cannot vent frustration on its real target or cause

power

ability to control or influence others

individual discrimination micro level

action against minority members by individual

frustration-aggression theory

acts of prejudice and discrimination are carried out by individuals who cannot achieve their goals, and direct anger at vulnerable minority group

frustration-aggression theory (prejudice and racism)

acts of prejudice and discrimination are carried out by individuals who cannot achieve their goals, and direct their anger and frustration at vulnerable minority groups

preference policies

based on equity, not equality -based on the belief that due to institutional discrimination, sometimes people must be treated differently in order to be treated fairly

intentional discrimination

built into law or explicit organizational policies

intergenerational mobility

change in status compared to parents status, usually resulting from education and occupational attainment

intragenerational mobility

change in status within an individuals life, whether up or down

social class system

defined by property, power, and prestige

de jure discrimination

deliberate discrimination, often justified by beliefs about women's inability to carry out certain tasks

conspicuous consumption

displaying goods in a way that will be noticed and will earn the owner respect

pluralism

each group maintains its culture and institutions but has recognized equality in society

structural-functionlism theory

each sex has a role to play as societies change, so do roles and relationships -different but complementary roles (expressive-female and instrumental-male)

micro factors affecting individual mobility

family background, socialization, and education

assimilation

forced or chosen social and cultural merging of groups in which minority members may lose their original identity

property

income and assets

ascribed stratification systems

individual positions in society are determined by characteristics they are born with

achieved stratification systems

individuals earn their positions through ability and effort

conflict theory

individuals will attempt to control as much wealth, power, and prestige as possible, resulting in potential conflict

institutional discrimination macro level

intentional or unintentional actions by organizations and institutions that restrict minority members

structural-functional theory

minority groups often serve as pools of cheap, marginally employed labor, and this has several functions for society

vertical mobility

movement up or down the stratification hierarchy, sometimes including a change in social class

macro factors affecting individual mobility

national occupational structure and economic vitality

caste systems

one is born into determines ones occupation, potential marriage partners, residence, group memberships, and prestige level -recognized through ones clothing, speech, family name, skin color, etc.

estate systems

one is born into the nobility, the political-military elites, or into the peasantry, whose labor supports the elites

life chances

one's opportunities, which depend on achieved and ascrdibed statuses -education, health, social conditions and life expectancy are important factors that affect this

lifestyle

ones attitudes, values, beliefs, and behavior patterns, which depend on socialization into ones culture and status -factors that affect this: attitudes toward achievement, family life and child rearing patterns, religious membership, political behavior, status inconsistency (ex: professors high in prestige and low in income)

rentiers

own property, make modest wealth -ex: apartment building owners (dont produce anything, just extract)

symbolic interaction

physical, biological sex differences act as symbols that differentiate rights and rewards

past-in-present discrimination

practices from the past that may no longer be allowed today but continue to affect people anyway

side-effect discrimination

practices in one institutional area that have a negative impact due to links to other areas

DeBouis

psychological wage

prestige

recognition, esteem, respect given to those whose occupation and lifestyle are socially valued

social stratification

refers to how individuals are layered or ranked in society according to how many valued resources they possess.

population transfer

removal of minority group from a region or country often forced

quota systems

require employers to hire a certain percentage of minorities

unintentional discrimination

results from policies that have unanticipated consequences favoring one group over another

conflict theory

sees males as "haves" (power, wealth), women as "have nots" -male dominance justified by traditional ideologies

bourgeoisie

small, business owners, neutral on income and property

sticky floor

social forces that keep the majority of the worlds women stuck in low paid jobs

glass ceiling

social forces that keep women from reaching the highest levels of corporate and public responsibility

glass escalator

social forces that push men up the organizational hierarchy even if they don't seek to climb it, especially in female-dominated occupations

subjugation

subordination of one group by another that holds power and authority

genocide

systematic effort by dominant group to destroy a minority group

structural functionalism

talented individual need to be motivated

conflict theory

the dominant group protects its privileges and resources by creating a "lesser" group -example: WW2; Chinese creating railroads and after finished, dominant group went back to discriminating

social mobility

the extent to which people move up and down in the class system

tokenistic fallacy

token doesnt (shouldnt) reflect group

de facto discrimination

unequal treatment that's unintended (side effect discrimination and past in present discrimination)

institutional discrimination

woven into the social structure and taken for granted