Chapter 4 Sociology
An open class system is based on social mobility that includes
horizontal mobility intergenerational mobility vertical mobility.
The United States has an open class system based on social mobility that includes
horizontal mobility. intergenerational mobility. vertical mobility
Differences between social classes in the United States are based on
income, lifestyle, and beliefs
Underclass
social class that relies on public assistance
The unequal sharing of scarce resources and social rewards is called
social inequality
Advances in technology can cause workers with outdated skills to experience _____.
Downward social mobility
Social class
A group of people with similar levels of wealth, power, and prestige.
Socioeconomic status
A rating that combines social factors such as educational level, occupational prestige, and place of residence with the economic factor of income.
Name and describe the two basic types of stratification systems.
Caste System: a system in which scarce resources and social rewards are distributed on the basis of ascribed statuses. Class System: a system in which the distribution of scarce resources and rewards are determined on the basis of achieved statuses.
A groundskeeper who moves from a school to a church and remains a groundskeeper is experiencing _____.
Horizontal mobility
Identify and describe the three types of social mobility.
Horizontal mobility: movement within a social class or stratum. Vertical mobility: movement between social classes or strata. Intergenerational mobility: status differences between generations in the same family.
American society is based on the caste system.
False
Based on the caste system in India, the Harijans are the highest rank in their caste system.
False
Members of the upper middle class hold white-collar jobs.
False
Social mobility is not an important feature of an open class system.
False
The subjective method is used to define social class by income, occupation, and education.
False
How does social class affect societal roles?
Individuals with substantial wealth usually possess considerable power and these individuals are the ones that get the respect, honor, and recognition that are characteristics of prestige.
A doctor whose father works as a janitor would be an example of _____.
Intergenerational mobility
Bourgeoisie
Owners of the means of production in a capitalist society.
Techniques used to rank individuals according to social class are
Reputational Subjective Objective
Name the three basic techniques used to rank individuals according to social class and describe each briefly.
Reputational method: individuals in the community are asked to rank other community members based on what they know of their character and lifestyle. Subjective method: individuals are asked to determine their own social rank. Objective method: social class is defined by income, occupation, and education.
How is socioeconomic status used to determine an individual's rank in society?
SES determines rank in society based on the individuals wealth, power, and prestige. These factors are the result of an individual's education, occupation, and income.
Social stratification
Separation of members in society based on certain characteristics.
The method of ranking social status that asks people to rank themselves is called the _____.
Subjective method
Caste system
System in which scarce resources and social rewards are distributed on the basis of ascribed statuses.
Class system
The distribution of scarce resources and rewards that is determined on the basis of achieved status.
A division of society into categories, ranks, or classes is called social stratification.
True
Competition over scarce resources is seen as a cause of social inequality according to the conflict theory.
True
Endogamy is marriage within one's own social category.
True
In a class system, the distribution of scarce resources and rewards is determined on the basis of achieved status.
True
Marriage outside of one's own social category is called exogamy.
True
Social classes in the United States are usually divided into three classes—upper class, middle class, and lower class.
True
____ individuals can attend prestigious schools and their families have usually been wealthy for generations.
Upper class
In a ____, a person is assigned a status at birth and remains at that level throughout life.
caste system
Lower middle class
nursing and sales are professions associated with this social class
Socioeconomic status (SES) is a rating that combines the following social factors EXCEPT
race and ethnicity
Families that experience unemployment and poverty over several generations are considered
underclass
Individuals that are primarily high-income business people and professionals are
upper middle class
Those who hold jobs that require manual labor are in the
working class