Sociology Chapter 7 - 2

vertical social mobility

the movement between different class statuses, often called either upward mobility or downward mobility

intragenerational mobility

the movement between social classes that occurs during the course of an individual's lifetime

horizontal social mobility

the movement of individuals or groups within a particular social class, most often a result of changing occupations

social mobility

the movement of individuals or groups within the hierarchical system of social classes

disenfranchisement

the removal of the rights of citizenship through economic, political, or legal means

digital divide

the unequal access to computer and internet technology, both globally and within the US

meritocracy

a system in which rewards are distributed based on merit

absolute deprivation

an objective measure of poverty, defined by the inability to meet minimal standards for food, shelter, clothing, or health care

structural mobility

changes in the social status of large numbers of people as a result of structural changes in society

culture of poverty

entrenched attitudes that can develop among poor communities and lead the poor to accept their fate rather than attempt to improve their lot

simplicity movement

a loosely knit movement that opposes consumerism and encourages people to work less, earn less, and spend less, in accordance with nonmaterialistic values

relative deprivation

a relative measure of poverty based on the standard of living in a particular society

open system

a social system with ample opportunities to move from one class to another

closed system

a social system with very little opportunity to move from one class to another

just-world hypothesis

argues that people have a deep need to see the world as orderly, predictable, and fair, which creates a tendency to view victims of social injustice as deserving of their fates

everyday class consciousness

awareness of one's own social status and that of others

heterogamy

choosing romantic partners who are dissimilar to us in terms of class, race, education, religion, and other social group membership

homogamy

choosing romantic partners who are similar to us in terms of class, race, education, religion, and other social group membership

intergenerational mobility

movement between social classes that occurs from one generation to the next

hypogamy

marrying "down" in the social class hierarchy

hypergamy

marrying "up" in the social class hierarchy

residential segregation

the geographical segregation of the poor from the rest of an area's population