sociology chapter 7

delayed gratification—

delaying rewards or benefits until a later time.

In many societies around the world, the stratification system is used to rank some people as more?

deserving than others

A conflict theorist, Weber critiqued Marx's sole focus on ____ ____

economic factors

Social stratification

how individuals and groups are ranked in a society according to how many valued resources they possess

To Weber: social class is more than just __________ His stratification theory included _______ and ______, as well as __________.

income power and prestige, as well as property.

Property includes: (2)

income and assets

Conflict Theory (Marx): Inequality is not ________

inevitable

Social inequality (stratification)

is found in some form in all societies and thus is inevitable

Closed Systems

-Based mostly on ascribed attributes -Social mobility-movement between ranks-absent for the most part.

Open Systems (achieved systems)

-Based mostly on our achievements -High levels of mobility, or social mobility is possible

Structural-Functional Theory:

-Social inequality is found in some form in all societies and thus is inevitable -Inequality must therefore be beneficial, as it contributes to the smooth functioning of societies

Structural-Functional Theory: The Davis and Moore Thesis

-Some positions are more highly valued because people feel they are very important -Rewards for these positions are high because society must motivate talented individuals to undertake the necessary but difficult preparation for them

Slavery

-When an individual or a family is bound in servitude as the property of person or household, bought and sold, and forced to work -An estimated 30 million people are slaves (women and children from poor families in poor countries)

Measuring Social Mobility Traditional method: -compare the occupations of _____ and ______ or ____ -There is a high level of occupational _______ -The higher the father's occupation, the ______ the _____ chances of occupational success -There is considerable __________ movement up and down the ladder -______ are more likely to move up than down; _______ are even more likely to move up

-fathers, and son's or daughters - inheritance -greater the son's - intergenerational -son's , daughters

Relative poverty

-having an income below the poverty line, and an inadequate standard of living relative to others in the same country -Also poorer health, shorter life expectancy, greater infant mortality than others in the same country

Absolute poverty

-not having sufficient resources to meet basic survival needs (food, shelter, clothing) -Also no prestige, power, or accumulated wealth

Caste systems

-one is born into determines one's occupation, potential marriage partners, residence, group memberships, and prestige level -The most rigid ascribed status system; maintained by norms, ideologies, and social control mechanisms embedded in religious, political, and economic institutions

Estate systems

-one is born into the nobility, the political-military elites, or into the peasantry, whose labor supports the elites

Feminization of poverty

-trend in which single females, often young and with children, make up a growing proportion of those in poverty

Types of stratification 2 Broad categories:

1) closed systems 2) open systems

Example of Open Stratification Systems

Class Based Societies

Conspicuous consumption

Displaying goods in a way that will be noticed and will earn the owner respect

Class

A group of people who share a similar economic position in society based on wealth and income

Achieved stratification systems (Open)

Individuals in this system theoretically speaking are believed to earn their positions through their ability and own effort (for the most part)?

Is there a "land of opportunity"?

It is difficult to identify opportunity-rich countries due to the complex factors that influence mobility

Ascribed stratification systems (Closed)

Under these stratification systems, people's (an individuals') position(s) in society are determined by characteristics they are born with

Factors Affecting Individual Mobility: (2)

1.) Micro-level factors 2.) Macro-level factors

Factors Affecting Individual Mobility: Macro-level factors: (3)

1.) National population trends and economic vitality 2.) Gender, race, ethnicity, and earnings 3.) The interdependent global market

Four issues dominate analysis of mobility:

1.) Types of social mobility 2.) Methods of measuring social mobility 3.) Factors that affect social mobility 4.) Whether there is a "land of opportunity"

Recent conflict theorists argue that there are 5 social classes:

1.) capitalists 2.) Managers 3.) petty bourgeoisie 4.) Workers 5.) Underclass

Class members share similar:(4)

1.) lifestyles 2.) education 3.) culture 4.) interaction patterns

4 social classes in the U.S.A.

1.) upper class 2.) Middle class 3.) Working class 4.) poor (lower class or under class)

three types of poverty:

1.)Absolute poverty 2.) Relative poverty 3.) Femeninization poverty

Major Stratification Systems: Two broad categories

1.)Ascribed stratification systems (Closed) 2).Achieved stratification systems (Open)

Each society determines how individuals are ranked, depending on that society's: (5)

1.)History 2.)Geographic location 3.)Level of development 4.)Political philosophy 5.)Decisions of those in power

3 Types of Social Mobility

1.)Intergenerational mobility 2.)Intragenerational mobility 3.) vertical mobility

Overall, the concept of stratification assumes that: (2)

1.)People are divided into ranked categories 2.) Desired resources are unequally distributed

Examples of Closed Stratification Systems: (3)

1.)Slavery 2.)Caste systems 3.)Estate systems

Marx described two economic classes:

1.)The bourgeoisie, capitalists, or "haves" 2.)The proletariat, working class, or "have nots

An individual's caste is recognized through:(4)

1.)clothing 2.)speech 3.)family name 4.)skin color

Factors Affecting Individual Mobility: Micro-level factors:

Family background, socialization, marriage, and education

Power includes:

ability to control or influence others

Since members of the working class lack their own means of production, they must work for ______ in order to earn a living

capitalists

The bourgeoisie:

capitalists, or "haves"

Intergenerational mobility:

change in status compared to parents' status, usually resulting from education and occupational attainment

Intragenerational mobility

change in status within an individual's life, whether up or down

Ascribed stratification systems Also referred to as?

closed stratification systems (no or limited social mobility)

Evolutionary Theory of Stratification: To survive people must ________, but conflicts occur when important ________ items are always in demand but short supplysions advantage one group over another

cooperate deciValued

Most people in the U.S. identify as ______ or ______ class

middle or working class

Structural functionalism Talented individuals need to be ________

motivated

Vertical mobility

movement up or down the stratification hierarchy, sometimes including a change in social class

Life chances

one's opportunities, which depend on our achieved and ascribed statuses

Achieved stratification systems Also referred to as?

open systems (where social mobility is possible)

Rational Choice: Theorists here suggest that people make decisions influenced by their _____ and _____.

perception of costs and benefits.

To structural functionalists, the stratification system provides each individual with a _____ in the social world

position

Capitalists control the means of ___ Ex: ____, _____, ____ which they use to create _______ for themselves

production EX: money, materials, factories profits

Our social class is often defined by our access to _____, ______, and _____; it is officially achieved, but actually ______ in part

property, power and prestige achieved inherited

Peasants receive ______ and _____ to survive from the nobility

protection and enough food

Prestige:

recognition, esteem, respect given those whose occupation and lifestyle are socially valued

Symbolic Interaction: Cultural capital influences children's _____ and ____ _____

school and home environment

Individuals learn their caste through

socialization

Conflict arises from _____ between classes

struggle

According to symbolic interactionists, we (individuals)

take up social positions through socialization, in which they learn the appropriate cultural capital

Level of inequality depends on ________

technology

Social Mobility deals with

the extent to which people move up and down in the class system

Digital divide

the gap between those with and without access to information technology.

To conflict theorists, stratification is:

the outcome of struggles for dominance and scarce resources

Peasants are _____ to a noble's land and are rarely able to become ______ _______-________

tied independent land-owners

Conflict theory Individuals will attempt to control as much _______, _______, and ________ as possible, resulting in ________ _________

wealth power and prestige in potential conflict

The proletariat:

working class, or "have nots