Sociology Exam 3
Modernization theory
(Cowgill and Holmes) the primary cause of the elderly losing power and influence in society are the parallel forces of industrialization and modernization
Social stratification is created
and supported by society as a whole
Sociologists are interested in
larger social patterns
Redlining
A process by which banks draw lines on a map and refuse to lend money to purchase or improve property within the boundaries.
Gilbert and Kahl
Capitalist; Upper Middle; Lower Middle; Working Class; Working Poor; Underclass
Functionalist perspective on aging and the elderly
Disengagement theory and Activity theory
Five stages of grief
Elisabeth Kubler- Ross 1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance
Conflict theory perspective on aging and the elderly
Modernization theory and Exchange theory
Symbolic interactionism perspective on aging and the elderly
Subculture of aging theory
Gerontology
a field of science that seeks to understand the process of aging and the challenges encountered as seniors grow older
Race
a group of people who are treated as distinct in society based on certain characteristics, some of which are biological that have been given social importance
Minority groups
a groups of people who may be subject to unequal treatment because of certain characteristics
Prejudice
a learned attitude or evaluation of a social group
Double standard
a rule or principle which is unfairly applied in different ways to different people or groups
Social stratification is
a society-wide system that makes inequalities apparent
Social gerontology
a specialized field of gerontology that examines the social (and sociological) aspects of aging
Hospice
a type of healthcare that treats terminally ill people when "cure-orientated" treatments are no longer an option
Social stratification is not
about individual inequalities, but systematic inequalities based on group membership and classes
The structure of a society
affects a person's social standing
Dominant groups
any physically or culturally distinctive group that has the most economic and political power, the greatest privileges, and the highest social status
Heteronormative
assumes sexual orientation is biologically determined and unambiguous or straightforward
Gender
behaviors, personal traits, and social positions that society attributes to being female or male
Symbolic Interactionism perspective on race/ethnicity
contact hypothesis: the more people who get to know members of a minority group, the less likely they are to be prejudiced against that group
Conflict theory perspective on race/ethnicity
dominant groups try to protect their power and privilege while minority groups struggle to gain a larger share of societal resources
Demisexual
experiencing sexual attraction only after the formation of a strong emotional bond
Functionalist perspective on race/ethncity
focus on assimilation to prevent social conflict and maintain social order
Symbolic interactionism perspective on social stratification
focuses on how people reproduce social classes - address micro-level issues - examines the social contexts that affect mobility - socialization of children are different across social classes
Conflict theory perspective on sex/gender
gender inequality is built into the social structure, men control most of society's resources and dominate women - capitalism = women face inequality due to economic exploitation
Symbolic interactionism perspective on sex/gender
gender is a social construction, social interaction shapes gender inequality (cultivates or stifles abilities and interests) sexuality and sexual double standards are socially constructed (individuals learn to express sexually through gender roles)
Sex scripts
ideas of how males and females are supposed to interact with each other
feminization of poverty
likelihood that female heads of household will be poor
Functionalist perspective on sex/gender
men and women have distinct roles that ensure a family's and society's survival - man = instrumental; woman = expressive, gender roles were established before the pre-industrial era
Subculture of aging theory
microanalytical theory that focuses on shared community created by the elderly when they are excluded; suggests that elders will disengage from society and develop new patterns of interactions with peers
Wealth
money and economic assets
Social mobility
movement in the stratification hierarchy
Horizontal mobility
moving from one position to another at the same level
Vertical mobility
moving up or down the stratification ladder
Pluralism
mutual respect on the part of all cultures, (dominate and subordinate) creating a multicultural environment of acceptance
Socioeconomic status
overall ranking of a person's position in a society
Transgender
people identify with the behaviors and characteristics that are other than the sex assigned at birth
Centarians
people living to be 100 years old
David-Moore thesis
social stratification benefits a society
Social stratification
society's categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power
Gender roles
society's concept of how men and women should appear and behave
Conflict theory perspective on social stratification
stratification hurts society - benefit the rich at the expense of the everyday worker - economic struggles are due to gov policies that favor the rich
Functionalist perspective on social stratification
stratification is necessary and inevitable - social class provides people with a place in the social world and motivates them to continue
Institutional inequality, oppression, or mistreatement
structures in society that work against minority groups
Corporate welfare
subsidies, tax breaks, and gov assistance for BUSINESSES - weakens people's trust in political and economic institutions
Power
the ability of individuals to achieve goals, control events, and maintain influence over others despite opposition
Gender pay gap
the average difference between the compensation for men and women who are working
Sex
the biological differences that distinguish males from females
Cost of living
the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living
The second shift
the double burden- work outside the home followed by child care and housework- that many women face and few men share equitably
Inter-generational mobility
the extent a person is better or worse off than one's parents
Intra-generational mobility
the extent a person moves up or down over a lifetime
Life chances
the extent to which people have positive experiences and can secure good things in life because of economic resources
Ethnocentrism
the idea that your group is superior
Social standing
the level of social value a person is considered to possess
Standard of living
the level of wealth available to a certain SES in order to acquire the material necessities and comfort to maintain its lifestyle
Poverty line
the minimal level of income that the federal government considers necessary for basic substance
Activity theory
the more active and involved an elderly person is, the happier they will be
Dependency ratio
the number of nonproductive citizens (young, disabled, elderly) to productive working citizens
Life course
the period from birth to death, including a sequence of predictable life events
the graying of America
the phenomenon of the growing percentage of elderly Americans as part of the total US population
Segregation
the physical separation of two groups, particularly in residence, but also in workplace and social functions
Assimilation
the process of when a minority individual or group takes on the characteristics of the dominant culture
Prestige
the respect, recognition, or regard attached to social positions
Social Construction of Race
the school of thought that race is not biologically identifiable
Ethnicity
the shared culture, which may include heritage, language, religion and more (NOT national origin)
Gender stratification
the social ranking, where men typically inhabit higher statuses than women
Wealth distribution
the way in which the wealth and income of a nation are divided among its population
4 general classes
upper; middle; working; lower
Exchange theory
we experience an increased dependence as we age and must increasingly submit to the will of others
Racial wealth gap
wealth disparities that occur among different races in society
Disengagement theory
withdrawing from society and social relationships is a natural part of growing old
older population can be divided into three life-stage subgroups
young-old (65-74); middle-old (75-84); old-old (85+)
