Sociology Chapter 7

Apartheid

Apartheid: the system of segregation of racial and ethnic groups that was legal in South Africa between 1948 and 1991 - South Africans were legally classified into four main racial groups: white (English and Dutch heritage), Indian (from India), "colored" (mixed race), and black. Blacks formed a large majority, at 60 percent of the population. These groups were geographically and socially separated from one another. Blacks were forcibly removed from almost 80 percent of the country, which was reserved for the three minority groups, and relocated to independent "homelands" similar to the Indian reservations in the United States. They could not enter other parts of the country without a pass—and if they did get a pass it was usually in order to work as "guest laborers" in white areas. Ironically, African Americans visiting South Africa were given "honorary white" status and could move freely within white and nonwhite areas.

Social inequality

Social inequality: the unequal distribution of wealth, power, or prestige among members of a society

What sorts of jobs are usually available to members of the lower-middle class?

blue collar or manual labor jobs

Poverty can be defined in either relative or absolute terms. How is poverty defined according to relative deprivation?

by comparing the poor with more affluent members of society

The marriage of Prince Harry, a white man and member of the British royal family, and Meghan Markle, a mixed-race American actress, is an example of _____.

heterogamy

Relative deprivation theory

relative deprivation theory: a theory of social movements that focuses on the actions of oppressed groups who seek rights or opportunities already enjoyed by others in the society

Relative deprivation

relative deprivation: a relative measure of poverty based on the standard of living in a particular society

slavery

slavery: the most extreme form of social stratification, based on the ownership of people This is an extreme form of stratification because the individuals who are slaves have no access to pursuing the resources available in society and no opportunity for social mobility

What system of stratification is commonly used in modern capitalist societies?

social class

Social class system

social class system: a system of stratification based on access to such resources as wealth, property, power, and prestige - Sociologists often refer to social class as socioeconomic status (or SES).

The folk-pop singer Jewel is famous for having lived in her van when she first moved to San Diego and started performing in a coffee shop. Soon after Atlantic Records signed her, her advance allowed her to rent a house and buy a new car. Of what class-based phenomenon is this an example?

social mobility

What does Pierre Bourdieu call the tendency of social class to be passed down from one generation to the next and consequently remain relatively stable over time?

social reproduction

Social reproduction

social reproduction: the tendency of social classes to remain relatively stable as class status is passed down from one generation to the next - Oscar Lewis - "Culture of poverty" - tends to blame the victims of poverty for their own misfortune while failing to take into account the structural factors that shape culture.

Mother Teresa was a person with tremendous power and prestige yet she was very poor. Mother Teresa is an example of which of the following?

status inconsistency

Consider the three major theoretical perspectives we've routinely explored throughout our text. Which perspective is likely to explore the ways in which poverty serves a purpose in society by ensuring that even the "ugly" jobs get done?

structural functionalism

What school of social thought insists that all social structures, including systems of stratification, are built out of everyday interactions?

symbolic interactionism

Elizabeth has a graduate degree and works as the program director for a local nonprofit organization. She owns her home and enjoys traveling during her yearly two-week vacation. She is most likely a member of which social class in the United States?

upper-middle class

Which of the following demonstrates Karl Marx's conviction that social inequality would continue to grow?

"The modern laborer . . . instead of rising with the process of industry, sinks deeper and deeper below the conditions of existence of his own class. He becomes a pauper, and pauperism develops more rapidly than population and wealth."

Conflict theory view of inequality

- Karl Marx believed that there were two main social classes in capitalist societies: - Capitalists (or bourgeoisie), who owned the means of production - Workers (or proletariat), who sold their labor for wages - He believed that the classes would remain divided and social inequality would grow.

Weberian view of inequality

- Max Weber offered a similar model that also included cultural factors. - He argued that class status was made of three components: Wealth (or privilege); Power; Prestige - Wealth might be considered money and investments (earned or inherited); power is political power or ability to make changes in the system; and prestige is the social honor people are given because of their membership in well-regarded social groups.

Structural-functionalist view of inequality

- Suggests that the system of stratification that has emerged is functional to society in many ways: - Certain roles are more important for the functioning of society, and these roles may be more difficult to fill, so more incentive is needed. - Greater rewards are necessary for work that requires more training or skill.

Symbolic interactionist view of inequality

- Symbolic interactionists examine the way we use status differences to categorize ourselves and others. - As Erving Goffman pointed out (Dramaturgy), our clothing, speech, gestures, possessions, friends, and activities provide information about our socioeconomic status.

American Dream

- the ideology that anyone can achieve material success if he or she works hard enough - has been criticized for legitimizing stratification by implying that everyone has the same opportunity to get ahead - This is the idea of meritocracy (that hard work is justly rewarded). This notion tells us that success or failure depends on the person, when in reality we know that there are structural advantages and disadvantages that also contribute to an individual's success or failure. - The simplicity movement is a reaction to this ideology. It encourages people to work less, oppose consumerism, earn less, and spend less - placing less value with materialistic goods.

Greg J. Duncan and a team of researchers analyzed the effect of parental income on the academic achievement of children. What do you think Duncan found given what you have read about socioeconomic status and life chances?

Parental income is strongly correlated with academic achievement, especially in low-income families.

Habitus

Pierre Bourdieu - A system of dispositions and tendencies that organize the ways in which individuals perceive the social world around them and react to it. - These dispositions are usually shared by people with similar background, as the habitus is acquired through imitation - Represents the way group culture and personal history shape the body and the mind, and as a result, shape social action.

Social stratification/ 4 basics

Social stratification: the division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy - Social stratification is a characteristic of society; it persists over generations and is maintained through beliefs that are widely shared by members of society. In a stratified society, groups at the top of the hierarchy have greater access to goods and services than members of groups at the bottom. 1) Stratification is a characteristic of society, not a reflection of individual differences. 2) Stratification persists over generations. 3) The criteria for stratification differs from place to place. 4) Stratification is maintained through beliefs.

Joanie lost her job eight months ago and has not been able to find a new one. She and her children were kicked out of their apartment because they were behind on rent. With no income, Joanie and her kids are living on the street. Each meal poses a significant hardship for the family because they often cannot find food, and the family is becoming malnourished. Joanie and her family are experiencing _____.

absolute deprivation

Absolute deprivation

absolute deprivation: an objective measure of poverty, defined by the inability to meet minimal standards for food, shelter, clothing, or health care

Caste system

caste system: a form of social stratification in which status is determined by one's family history and background and cannot be changed - India is the country most closely associated with the caste system.

In the 1960s, many sociologists noticed that economic obstacles alone were insufficient in explaining disparities in the educational attainment of children from different social classes. Which concept was introduced to explain these disparities?

cultural capital

James is a smart, college-educated man but his career in business hasn't taken off like he'd hoped. He thinks this is because he doesn't come across very well in interviews due to his strong country accent and lack of familiarity with golf. James is concerned that he's at a disadvantage because he lacks _____.

cultural capital

What are the tastes, habits, and expectations called that children "inherit" or learn from their parents and that help to achieve material success in life?

cultural capital

What might an individual be trying to gain if he or she takes adult education classes, attends lectures and concerts, or travels to Europe?

cultural capital

Cultural capital

cultural capital: the tastes, habits, expectations, skills, knowledge, and other cultural assets that help us gain advantages in society

Culture of poverty

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

According to Karl Marx, what social relations matter MOST in a capitalist system?

economic relations

When young people go away to college, it is often the first time they make friends with people of substantially different class statuses. Sometimes this leads to tension when the wealthier member of a friendship is oblivious to his or her friend's class status and suggests activities that are beyond the friend's means. This tension results from a lack of

everyday class consciousness.

What sort of jobs can support a middle-class lifestyle in America today?

jobs in the service, information, and technology sectors

Amir and his family recently immigrated to the United States. His mother dreams of him becoming a doctor because they are so well respected and held in such high esteem in America. In other words, she wants this career for him because it has high _____.

prestige

Harvey is a middle-class college student who is skeptical of social programs aimed at helping the poor. He thinks that what would really help is for poor people to start delaying gratification, valuing education, and trying to improve their own situations by setting and working towards higher goals. Harvey's perspective is best reflected in which of the following concepts?

the culture of poverty

Oscar Lewis was the first to suggest that the poor develop a way of life with fundamentally different values and goals because they are excluded from mainstream social life. Consequently, they are much less likely to join the middle class. This way of life is usually called

the culture of poverty.