Ch 8 and 10 questions

Define a majority and a minority group. Give an example of each type of group.

A majority group holds the majority in power, prestige, and wealth. A minority group is the group that is subordinate in power, prestige, and wealth. An example of a majority is men and an example of the minority group is women.

What is social class

Social class is one's economic position, specifically related to one's occupation.

What is status

Status is the prestige associated with a person's position in society.

What is ethinicity

Ethnicity is socially defined also, but on the basis of a real or presumed cultural characteristic such as language, religion, tradition or cultural practices.

What is income?

Income is the amount of money a person earns from a job or business or returns on various type of assets and is measured on a year by year basis.

Define both income and wealth. Are both of these elements distributed equally in the United States? Which is more unevenly distributed within the United States? Is that difference becoming smaller or greater?

Income is the amount of money a person earns from a job or business or returns on various type of assets and is measured on a year by year basis. Wealth is the total amount of a person's financial assets and other properties minus the total of debt or liabilities. These elements are distributed unequally with wealth being distributed more unequally. This difference is becoming much greater. Over 80% of the united states wealth growth went to the wealthiest 5% of the population.

What is power

Power is the ability to get others to do what you want.

What is race

Race is a socially constructed definition based on some real or presumed physical or biological structure.

Differentiate between race and ethnicity and give two examples of each type of group.

Race is a socially constructed definition based on some real or presumed physical or biological structure. Ethnicity is socially defined also, but on the basis of a real or presumed cultural characteristic such as language, religion, tradition or cultural practices. Two examples of race are black and white. These are considered race because they deal solely with a person's skin color which is a physical characteristic. Two example of ethnicity are tutsi and hutu. Even though they both come from Rwanda they are different ethnicities because they each have their own cultural practices.

Discuss the three main dimensions of social stratification. Give an example of how each dimension shapes one's position within the stratified system.

The three main dimensions of social stratification are social class, status and power. Social class is one's economic position, specifically related to one's occupation. Status is the prestige associated with a person's position in society. Power is the ability to get others to do what you want. You're social class helps determine your income and your wealth. People of the same income and wealth are in the same social class. Those within a upper social class have more status than those who are considered lower or middle class. This status shows that things besides money are considered valuable. For example a doctor is considered to have more prestige than a well paid scientist. Those who have a great deal of power tend to have a higher rank in the stratification system. Greater income, which is associated with a higher social class, tend to have more power. All of the three main dimensions are directly intertwined to create a person position within social stratification.

What is wealth

Wealth is the total amount of a person's financial assets and other properties minus the total of debt or liabilities.