Social Issues in the Workplace Final Exam Review

How is becoming a working parent related to the gender wage gap?

Working mothers experience a loss in wages known as the motherhood penalty.

What is race?

A category of identity that is determined by the society that surrounds it: In the United States, this includes Black, White, Asian, Latinx, and Native American.

Why is the United States referred to as a "nation of immigrants?

A majority of residents trace their ancestry back to someone born in another part of the world.

Income inequality among nations has ______, while income inequality within nations has ______.

Decreased; increased

The term _____ is a more accurate description of higher temperatures and disruptive weather events than the older term ______

Climate change Global warming

In "Is It Necessary to Become Less Consumerist" Gary Gutting believes economic instability is due to what?

Consumerism

Which type of acculturation creates conflict between children of immigrants and their parents?

Dissonant acculturation

Why are fossil fuels cheaper than renewable energy?

Economies of scale

What variables are used to determine an individual's social class?

Education, income, and occupation

Hailie experienced intragenerational mobility when she graduated medical school, got a great paying job, and was able to attain a higher social class than her parents.

False

Highest paid occupations have the lowest wage gaps between men and women while the lowest paid occupations have the highest wage gaps.

False

If the world reaches the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement it will completely reverse the negative effects of global climate change since the Industrial Revolution.

False

Only the rich consume conspicuously.

False

Race and ethnicity are two different terms that describe the same thing

False

Renewable energy installation is leading to a shortage of jobs.

False

Ritualists are people who adapt to strain by accepting the goals of financial success and the institutionalized means of achieving those goals.

False

Social constructionism is a perspective that discusses the implications of social institutions

False

Social constructionism is a perspective that examines how social structures control the types of opportunities available to individuals, creating inequality.

False

Social problems are social conditions that are objectively problematic to large numbers of people.

False

Social scientists use the mean age and the newborn dependency ratio to assess a population's age.

False

Strain Theory argued that most strains are due to capitalism.

False

The richest 10% of households in the United States own a smaller percentage of the country's wealth when compared to Canada, Belgium, and Japan.

False

The second obligation or core commitment that comes from gaining a sociological perspective is to learn to recognize social patterns.

False

Thomas Theorem was derived from Strain Theory

False

When individuals assign meaning to the world around them, this is called social structure.

False

Which concept describes how an individual's sexual desires are patterned in relationship to the gender system?

Sexual orientation

At a college orientation a career counselor emphasizes the value of maintaining good relationships with classmates and other acquaintances. The counselor explains that maintaining close friends is important to mental and emotional well-being, but having a wide variety of acquaintances on good terms is more likely to open up career opportunities. The career counselor is speaking to the students about ______ capital.

Social

Describe how different systems of stratification permit, or prohibit, movement up or down in the social hierarchy.

lavery for example prohibited African Americans from achieving upwards mobility after the Civil War due to racism and Jim Crow Laws. Caste system forbids movement. Social class allows movement through the accumulation of capital. You explained it partially. See explanation below. In all systems of stratification, dominant groups have the power to shape mobility. In systems of slavery, dominant groups prohibit slaves access to mobility through laws. Caste systems forbid mobility, and people don't challenge it because of widely-shared cultural and religious beliefs. The estate system only allowed mobility in special circumstances, like marriage. Social class systems allow mobility, at least in theory, although the wealthy still maintain dominant positions and can restrict mobility.

A structure built with the needs of children, the elderly, and the disabled in mind aligns with ______.

Universal design

______ is defined as an armed, usually violent fight between states or groups within a state, with each party attempting to impose its will on the other.

War

Domestic partnerships offer the same protections as marriage under the law.

False

What are examples of social issues that are prominent in the workplace?

An example of a social issue in the workplace is sexism. This is seen in the wage gap where women earn 80% of what men make in almost every occupation. In addition, racism is another social issue that is prominent in the workplace. Racism can be seen as isolating through microaggressions that subtly insult someone based on their race or ethnic makeup.

Give an example of identificational assimilation, how could this be an issue in the workplace?

An example of identificational assimilation would be an Irish immigrant who has found friends in his new apartment building located in New York City. He has adapted to their way of life in the city by dressing similar to their style, listening to their taste in music and going out with them on the weekends. He does not identify with his Irish origins anymore and wants to be known as a New Yorker. This could be an issue in the workplace if people discriminate him as a European by making fun of his accent, or show prejudice by mocking him. As such, issues could be seen if his co-workers tease him for trying to be "more American."

Provide an example of internal migration.

An example of internal migration would be a young man moving from Dallas, Texas to Lexington, Virginia because he was promoted and now positioned to work in his company's headquarter office space.

How do Marx and Weber compare in their views of war?

Both believed that war is a necessary and fundamental part of life within society

Countries with push factors will have high levels of_____.

Emigration

What is the difference between a pre-funded model and a "pay-as-you-go" system for social safety net programs

Entitlements come from current earnings of other people in a "pay-as-you-go" system.

"Mankind" and "freshman" are gender neutral terms.

False

Assumptions can be made about the lives of individuals simply upon their age or other social category

False

Bisexuality refers to the attraction to the same sex.

False

How is human migration from a social problems perspective different from imagining it from an individual perspective? Compare and contrast structural and personal factors in migration.

From a social problems perspective, human migration reflects obstacles seen through assimilation, acculturation and prejudice. These are obstacles that immigrants face when entering a new host society, and furthermore illustrate how human migration is often associated with social problems. From an individual perspective, there are structural factors that cause people to migrate such as war, natural disasters, unemployment, lack of government services and poverty. In contrast, personal factors of migration include motivation to live in a new place, seeking religious freedom or victimization due to oppression of minority groups and lack of freedom.

Jamal is always being told that a "real man" does not cry. When he does express his emotions, his friends call him derogatory names. They also tell him to "man-up." The language that Jamal's friends use is an example of ______.

Gender Policing

Maria is promoted to a supervisory position in her company. She is generally regarded as being aggressive and therefore not liked very much. The other supervisors in the company are just as aggressive as Maria. In fact, they are usually more aggressive with clients than she tends to be. The way that the others see Maria and the other supervisors is an example of ______.

Gender bias

In which region are gender disparities between boys and girls in relation to out-of-school rates the highest?

Global South

Fisher states in the review of James Livingston's Against Thrift that we have trained ourselves to associate deferral of emotional gratification with ______

Goodness

Which statement accurately describes the accessibility and abundance of fossil fuels?

Humans have used up the most convenient sources of fossil fuels.

Most demographers agree that a large base of working young people and a small group of elderly people who require social services is what kind of condition?

Ideal

Which term describes movement across an international border with the intent of permanent settlement?

Immigration

What is the general term referring to the process of people moving with the intent to make a new home?

Migration

What approaches are governments using to protect the solvency of old age security programs? Describe at least two approaches in detail.

Increasing the retirement age and subsequently increasing people's contributions into the entitlement programs and reducing their withdrawals is one approach. The age to receive benefits can be changed to an older age, governments can encourage people to stay longer in the workforce, and mandatory retirement ages can be adjusted. Another approach is the expansion of retirement options. Older adults can continue to work for reduced hours or capacity until full retirement.

Iker runs errands for his parents and fixes all the issues around the house for them. What kind of intergenerational help is Iker transferring?

Instrumental Help

Connor is eight years old. He is a sensitive young boy and cries when he is in distress. Classmates tell him that "boys don't cry" and that he needs to be tough. Connor is experiencing gender oppression at the ______ level.

Interactional

How is intersectionality related to the social construct of gender?

Intersectionality is the relationship measuring how different elements of social identity intersect. In regards to the social construct of gender, intersectionality can lead to negative consequences of oppression. For example, the concept of "double binding" is a negative effect of intersectionality for someone who is a minority and might be both African American and a female.

Which entity determines what constitutes a social problem?

Members of Society

Bernat and Charles qualified as domestic partners, and had entered into a civil union. Since that time, their state changed the laws legally allowing same gender marriage. Due to this change, they obtained a marriage license. What changes to their rights and benefits can they expect to experience now that they are legally married?

Now that the spouses are legally married they can receive the benefits of insurance coverage, health care decision making and inheritance.

______ policies encourage citizens to have more children.

Pronatalist

What is the difference between race and ethnicity?

Race is a category of identity that is determined by society and ethnicity is the cultural category of shared traditions and community.

What policy calls for the government to move money from one group to another for the purposes of reducing economic inequality?

Redistribution policies

Researchers focused on the legal case Obergefell v. Hodges would most likely be interested in ______.

Same-gender marriage

If you had to choose which type of capital to have the most of which would it be: economic capital, social capital, or cultural capital? Explain your answer.

Social Capital because you can share information with notable individuals creating a common ground. This will help one to network into a profession, school, organization or community. One can further extend this capital to others that will build their framework of communication in the workforce or economic system.

How does social constructionism help us understand how social problems can change over time and place? Give an example.

Social constructionism can help us to understand how social problems change over time as well as place through historical trends that set each other apart. For example, women in the early 20th century wore corsets to narrow out the appearance of their waist, but today in the 21st century women embrace their natural curves and body features. You explained it partially. See explanation below. Social problems are defined based on perception, and that perception is shaped by culture and social structures within a given society. Any examples should compare social conditions that are seen as problematic by one society and not by another, or should compare social conditions that have become problematic

Which perspective theorizes economic inequality as an exclusive benefit to the wealthy and powerful?

Social reproduction theory

If you are able to connect your personal experiences with public issues, and recognize the historical context in which individuals make choices about their lives, what ability have you gained?

Sociological imagination

Parker identifies his sexual orientation as gay. He has had a few long-term relationships, and is currently engaged to be married. He has no fear of being arrested for same-gender sex due to the removal of the ______ in the United States

Sodomy Laws

What are some of the different agents of the socialization of gender?

Some of the agents of socialization of gender are families, peers, education, media and religion.

Javier writes a paper about how education can lead to upward mobility. He interviewed his mother for the assignment because she was the first person to graduate from college in his family. Based on research and his mother's experience he emphasizes the importance of education in a free society. Javier's research is aligned with ______.

Status attainment theory

What are the current predominant social policies related to sexualities?

The current predominant social policies related to sexualities are enforced at the micro level, during personal interactions and through laws. Today oppression is through bullying and harassment. Many states today do not have laws that protect LGBTQ+ from discrimination in housing, employment and public services.

Describe the most effective strategies for reducing the negative impacts of landfills and waste disposal. Why are systemic solutions more vital than individual ones in this case?

The most effective strategies for reducing negative impacts of landfills are virtual environmentalism practices such as recycling and using ceramic items instead of constantly using plastic products like water bottles. Systemic solutions are more vital to make a difference in the amount of constant consumption, this can narrow and hopefully eliminate these issues.

Community organizers help local citizens organize themselves to have their voices heard by city and state officials. A community organizer offers advice to students interested in starting a social movement. The community organizer has specific information about who should direct a social movement. What advice did the community organizer provide?

The organizer gave the advice of who should direct a social movement. This is a person who should organize with others, identify a goal or social issue, create effective strategy, mobilize resources and organize effective actions such as marches. So close! The short answer is that the people most directly impacted by the problem or issue in question should lead or direct the movement. When people organize effectively, they gain power, and with that power they can influence how society works. The advice given would be that most often, these movements are, and should be, directed by those who have the deepest well of experience with the social problems at hand.

Which is an example of cultural capital?

The society values money over good deeds.

How do the terms queer and LGBTQ+ differ?

The term queer indicates a non-normative sexuality, gender, and/or sex, blurring the lines between these categories. The term LGBTQ+, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, reflects the interconnected experiences of sexual and gender minorities.

Which statement is true of ordinary individuals without high status who wish to change society?

They can gain power to cause change if they organize with others.

Arjun argues that men and women are paid equally. He insists that the gender pay gap exists due to the career choices that women make. How would you explain the gender pay gap to Arjun, with the help of sociology?

To explain the gender gap in regards to sociology it is important to look at hourly wage at entry level jobs with a platform of gender parity. The gender composition in the workplace has resulted in a lower wage level for women who work the same amount of hours as men. This is examined and measured by wage per hour and comparing what a women's wage is every hour to a man's. Elements such as education level, ethnicity and domestic work-health thresholds effect how the wage gap has been accumulated.

"Green" energy is another name for renewable energy.

True

According to Merton, anomic imbalance exists in the United States

True

Buying things that symbolize status is an act of conspicuous consumption.

True

Economic capital refers to the money and resources someone possess.

True

Economic, social, and cultural capital all have equal importance.

True

Eight countries list the death penalty for same-sex relations today.

True

Gender inequality happens on many different levels.

True

In the United States immigrants pay taxes despite being ineligible for social programs that are available to U.S. citizens like Social Security, Medicare, and Earned Income Tax Credit.

True

The Thomas Theorem states that "If [people] define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."

True