1: Social Stratification and Inequality- Theoretical Perspectives on Stratification

Question Which statement represents stratification from the perspective of symbolic interactionism? Teachers continue to struggle to keep benefits such as health insurance. Men often earn more than women, even working the same job. Doctors earn more money because their job is more highly valued. After work, Pat, a janitor, feels more comfortable eating in a truck stop than a French restaurant.

After work, Pat, a janitor, feels more comfortable eating in a truck stop than a French restaurant.

Question When it comes to global stratification, the two most widely applied perspectives are the ________. Core Theory and Periphery Theory Social Conflict Theory and Interactionist Theory Modernization Theory and Dependency Theory Gross National Income Theory and Purchasing Power Parity Theory

Modernization Theory and Dependency Theory

What would a functionalist say about social stratification? Social stratification creates class conflict. Social stratification is reflected in patterns of conspicuous consumption. Symbols of stratification help to reflect our identity with certain groups. Social stratification is necessary to promote excellence, productivity, and efficiency, thus giving people something to strive for.

Social stratification is necessary to promote excellence, productivity, and efficiency, thus giving people something to strive for.

modernization theory:

a theory that low-income countries can improve their global economic standing by industrialization of infrastructure and a shift in cultural attitudes towards work

dependency theory:

a theory which states that global inequity is due to the exploitation of peripheral and semi-peripheral nations by core nations

Davis-Moore thesis:

a thesis that argues some social stratification is a social necessity

According to ________, social stratification is bad because it doesn't benefit the entire society, but just the people at the top. symbolic-interactionist theory conflict theory laissez-faire capitalism functionalist theory

conflict theory

Dependency theorists explain global inequality and global stratification by focusing on the way that core nations and peripheral nations exploit semi-peripheral nations. core nations exploit peripheral nations. semi-peripheral nations exploit core nations. peripheral nations exploit core nations.

core nations exploit peripheral nations.

When Karl Marx said workers experience alienation, he meant that workers move from one geographical location to another. must labor alone, without companionship. have to put forth self-effort to get ahead. do not feel connected to their work.

do not feel connected to their work.

Conflict theorists view capitalists as those who spend money wisely. are ambitious. fund social services. get rich while workers stay poor.

get rich while workers stay poor.

One flaw in modernization theory is the unwillingness to recognize ________. the importance of semi-peripheral nations industrializing that peripheral nations prevent semi-peripheral nations from entering the global market that semi-peripheral nations are incapable of industrializing its inherent ethnocentric, specifically Eurocentric, bias

its inherent ethnocentric, specifically Eurocentric, bias

Question If a sociologist says that nations evolve toward more advanced technology and more complex industry as their citizens learn cultural values that celebrate hard work and success, she is using ________ theory to study the global economy. dependency theory modernization theory modern dependency theory evolutionary dependency theory

modernization theory

The Davis-Moore thesis states that the unequal distribution of rewards in social stratification cannot be justified. is an outdated mode of societal organization. is an artificial reflection of society. serves a purpose in society.

serves a purpose in society.

Elements of personal style such as hairdos, fashion accessories, and transportation, any of which might indicate social status within a stratified society, would be of interest to sociologists working from the perspective of functionalism symbolic interactionism feminist theory conflict theory

symbolic interactionism

Which theory focuses on everyday interactions to explain people's social standing in society? functionalist theory symbolic-interactionist theory feminist theory conflict theory

symbolic-interactionist theory

Question One flaw in dependency theory is the unwillingness to recognize ________. that countries such as China are growing more dependent on core nations that countries such as China do not necessarily want to be more like core nations that previously high-income nations such as China have been economically overpowered by low-income nations entering the global marketplace that previously low-income nations such as China have successfully developed their economies and can no longer be classified as dependent on core nations

that previously low-income nations such as China have successfully developed their economies and can no longer be classified as dependent on core nations

conspicuous consumption:

the act of buying and using products to make a statement about social standing

A sociologist working from a Marxist perspective would likely attribute the causes of the 2008 global recession to the desire to signify affluence through conspicuous consumption. the class standing and power of the owners of the means of production. the symbolic meanings revealed in our day-to-day interactions. the balance of class-based power that is necessary to social cohesion.

the class standing and power of the owners of the means of production.

Unlike Davis and Moore, Melvin Tumin believed that because of social stratification, some qualified people were ________ higher-level job positions. often fired from forced into encouraged to train for denied the opportunity to obtain

denied the opportunity to obtain

If a sociologist points out that core nations dominate the global economy, in part by creating global interest rates and international tariffs that will inevitably favor high-income nations over low-income nations, he is a ________ . Functionalist dependency theorist modernization theorist symbolic interactionist

dependency theorist