Sociology chap 7 terms
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
Socioeconomic status (SES)
a measure of an individual's place within a social class system; often used interchangeably with "class"
Closed system
a social system with very little opportunity to move from one class to another
Meritocracy
a system in which regards are distributed based on merit
Feudal system
a system of social stratification based on hereditary nobility who were responsible for and served by a lower stratum of forced laborers called serfs
Social class
a system of stratification based on access to such resources as wealth, property, power, and prestige
Absolute deprivation
an objective measure of poverty, defined by the inability to meet minimal standards for food, shelter, clothing, or health care
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
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
Upper class
makes up 1% of the U.S population and its total net worth is greater than that of the entire other 99%
Hypogamy
marrying "down" in the social class hierarchy
Hypergamy
marrying "up" in the social class hierarchy
Working class or lower-middle class
mostly "blue collar" or service industry workers who are less likely to have a college degree; 30% of U.S
Intergenerational mobility
movement between social classes that occurs from one generation to the next
Social reproduction
the tendency of social classes to remain relatively stable as social class status is passed down from one generation to the next
Social inequality
the unequal distribution of wealth, power, or prestige among members of society
White collar
a description characterizing workers and skilled laborers in technical and lower-management jobs
Blue collar
a description characterizing workers who perform manual labor
Caste system
a form of social stratification in which status is determined by one's family history and background and cannot be changed
Wealth
a measure of net worth that includes income, property, and other assets
Relative deprivation
a relative measure of poverty based on the standard of living in a particular spot
Status inconsistency
a situation in which there are serious differences between the different elements of an individual's socioeconomic status
Open system
a social system with ample opportunities to move from one class to another
Structural mobility
changes in the social status of large numbers of people due to structural changes in society
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 using terms of class, race, education, religion, and other social group membership
Middle class
composed primarily of "white collar" workers with a broad range of incomes; 30% of U.S
Upper-middle class
comprises about 14% of the population- mostly professionals and managers who enjoy considerable financial stability
Working poor
poorly educated workers who work full-time but remain below the poverty line; 20 percent
Social stratification
the division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy
Digital divide
the experience of unequal access to computer and internet technology, both globally and within the United States
Residential segregation
the geographical separation of the poor from the rest of the population
Slavery
the most extreme form of social stratification, based on the legal ownership of people
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
Social mobility
the movement of individuals or groups within the hierarchal system of social classes
Horizontal social mobility
the occupational movement of individuals or groups within a social class
Underclass
the poorest Americans who are chronically unemployed and may depend on public or private assistance; 5 percent
Disenfranchisement
the removal of the rights of citizenship through economic, political or legal means
Prestige
the social honor people are given because of their membership in well-regarded social groups
Apartheid
the system of segregation of racial and ethnic groups that was legal in South Africa between 1948 and 1991
Cultural capital
the tastes, habits, expectations, skills, knowledge, and other cultural dispositions that help us gain advantages in society