SOCIOLOGY EXAM 2: Chapter 7: Social Class: The Structure of Inequality

Apartheid

(example of the caste system) the system of segregation of racial and ethnic group that was legal in South Africa between 1948 and 1991

Caste System

a form of social stratification in which status is determined by one's family history and background and cannot be changed

Simplicity Movement

a loosely knit movement that opposes consumerism and encourages people to work less, earn less, and spend less, in accordance with non materialist values

Wealth

a measure of net worth that includes income property, and other assets

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

a measure on an individual's place within a social class system; often used interchangeable with "class"

Relative Deprivation

a relative measure of poverty based on the standard of living in a particular society (comparative measure: people are considered poor if their standard of living is less than that of other members of society) ex. Walmart worker salary vs. Neurosurgeon salary

Status Inconsistency

a situation in which an individual has differing levels of status in terms of the individual's wealth, power, prestige, or other elements of socioeconomic status ex. Mother Teresa: ranked as among the most admired people of the 20th century but had no personal wealth

Open System

a social system with ample opportunities to move from one class to another ex. United States (perceived)

Closed System

a social system with very little opportunity to move from one class to another ex. India's caste system

Meritocracy

a system in which rewards are distributed based on merit

Feudal System

a system of social stratification based on a hereditary nobility who were responsible for and served by a lower stratum (class) of forced laborers called serfs

Social Class

a system of stratification based on access to such resources as wealth, property, power, and prestige

Upper Class

an elite and largely self-sustaining group who opposes most of the country's wealth; they constitute about 1 percent of the U.S. population

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--we may read another individuals status looking at clothing, speech, gestures, cars individual drives, and homes individuals live in, individual's friends, hobbies

Structural mobility

changes in the social status of large numbers of people as a result of 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 us in terms of class, race, education, religion, and other social group membership

Middle Class

composed primality of "white collar" workers with a broad range of education and incomes; they constitute about 30% of the U.S. population

Working Class/Lower Middle Class

mostly "blue collar" or service industry workers who are less likely to have a college degree; they constitute about 30% of the U.S. population

Upper Middle Class

mostly highly-educated professionals and managers who have considerable financial stability; they constitute about 14% of the U.S. population

INTERgenerational Mobility

movement between social classes that occurs from one generation to the next

Social Stratification

the division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy (present in all societies)--members may be grouped according to their gender, race, class, age, or other characteristics, depending whatever criteria are important to the society

Residential Segregation

the geographical separation of the poor from the rest of an area's population ex. Red Lining

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

Horizontal Social Mobility

the movement of individuals or groups within a particular social class, most often a result of changing occupation (changes of job within a class)

Social Mobility

the movement of individuals or groups within the hierarchical system of social classes

Underclass

the poorest group includes the homeless and chronically unemployed who may depend on public or private assistance; they constitute about 5 percent of the U.S. population

Disenfranchisement

the removal of the rights of citizenship through economic, political, or legal means--when everyday life is a struggle to make ends meet, it is difficult to muster the extra energy necessary to work for political change

Prestige

the social honor people are given because of their membership in well-regarded social groups

Cultural Capital

the tastes, habits, expectations, skills, knowledge, and other cultural assets that help us gain advantages in society ex. An educated parent can help their child with their homework and influence their child to yearn and work for a higher education.

Social Reproduction

the tendency of social classes to remain relatively stable as class status is passed down from one generation to the next--this is enforced through the gain of cultural capital within the family (Parent to Child)

Digital Divide

the unequal access to computer and internet technology, both globally and within the United States

Social Inequality

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

Weberian Theory of Social Class

wealth, power, and prestige are interrelated, but one can also be converted into another

Hypergamy

marrying "up" in the social class hierarchy

Postmodernism Theory of Social Class

Social class is passed down from one generation to the next through cultural capital

Conflict Theory's Approach to Social Inequality

Social inequality creates intergroup conflict--poor and rich groups have different interests and may find themselves at odds as they attempt to secure and protect these interests. Social welfare programs that assist the poor are funded by tax dollars, which some wealthy citizens may be reluctant to provide because taxes reduce their net income. This can create conflict between rich and poor groups in society.

Structural Functionalism's Approach to Social Inequality

Social inequality is a necessary part of society. Different reward structures are necessary as an incentive for the best qualified people to occupy the most important positions. Even poverty has functions that help maintain social order. The function of poverty for society include the facts that the poor take otherwise undesirable jobs and housing, purchase discount and secondhand goods, and provide work for thousands, including social service case workers and others who work with the poor.

Symbolic Interactionism's Approach to social Inequality

Social inequality is part of our presentation of self. We develop everyday class consciousness as a way to distinguish the status of others. Poor and wealth persons have different access to the "props" used to project particular versions of self. In particular, professional clothing such as business suits can be too expensive for poor individuals to purchase, which can put them at a disadvantage in job interviews where professional image is necessary. Organizations like Dress for Success provide professional clothing for those who can't afford it, leveling the playing field a bit in terms of impression management.

Intersectionality

a concept that identifies how different categories of inequality (race, class, gender, etc.) intersect to shape the lives of individuals and groups

White Collar

a description characterizing lower-level professional and management workers and some highly skilled laborers in technical jobs

Blue Collar

a description characterizing skilled and semi-manual labor or work in service or clerical jobs

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

Hypogamy

marrying "down" in the social class hierarchy

Working Poor

poorly educated manual and service workers who may work full-time but remain near or blow the poverty line; they constitute about 20 percent of the U.S. population