SOC Ch. 8

social stratification

society's categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors such as race, wealth, income, education, power top layer = most resources

Conflict Theory

strat perpetuates inequality benefits only some people Karl Marx and discussion of classes strained relation btwn employer and employee still exists create class conflict

Standard of living

the level of wealth available to a certain socioecon class in order to acquire the material necessities and comforts to maintain its lifestyle

Class Traits

typical behaviors, customs, and norms that define each class

Exogamous marriages

union of spouses from different social categories (love and compatibility)

Working poor

unskilled, low pay, no benefits (health care, retirement) often seasonal jobs high school dropout, illiterate

Social classes in the U.S.

upper - 20% Middle - 60% lower - 20%

Middle Class ($100,000-$30,000)

upper middle class: bachelor's or postgraduate degree lower middle class: bachelor or associate degree from 2 year community or technical college

Status Consistency

used to describe consistency or lack there of, of an individ's rank across factors such as *income , education, occupation* Caste syst= high status consistency

income

wages or investment dividens

Factors of Stratification

wealth, income, wisdom & charisma, Age(elderly), Parent's status, occupation structure

Functionalism Melvin Tumin

why does media personality w/ little ed, skill, talent become rich and famous? social strat prevents qualified people from attempting to fill roles *early attempt to explain why social strat exists*

Feminization of Poverty

women disproportionately make up the majority of those in poverty

Hindu/Indian Syst

Caste work and marry in caste accepting social standing is moral duty outlawed in 1949 Brahmin Kshatriyas Vash Shudras Dalits

Perspective- Functionalism Davis-Moore thesis

Davis Moore thesis: greater functional importance at the role, greater the reward unequal value of different work certain tasks in society are more valuable than others rewarding encourages ppl to work harder and long

social mobility

ability to change positions within a social strat syst

Power

ability to make other people do stuff ability of individs to achieve goals, control events, and maintain influence over others tradition charisma

Closed System

accommodate little change do not allow people to shift levels do not permit social relationships between levels mobility limited due to ascribed status

Open System

achievement based allow movement and interaction wealth,,education, power and prestige social classes relatively fluid

Models of Global Strat

all rank countries segun relative econ status or GNP "3rd world"= underdeveloped more developed nation vs. less developed nation GDP rates

socioeconomic status

an overall ranking of people's positions based on their income, education, and occupation classes differ in values, power, prestige, social networks, and liestyle

Class SYst

based on social factors and individ achievement can move classes can marry and socialize w/ diff classes occupation not fixed at birth

Population Reference Bureau

compares wealth of nations publishes annual report of relative econ well-being

Global Stratification

compares wealth, econ stablility, status, and *power of countries* across the world *highlights worldwide patterns of inequality

working class

decent jobs- cooking, cleaning, landscaping highest subcategory of LC

absolute poverty

deprivation so severe it puts survival in jeopardy

Intergenerational mobility

diff generations of a family belonging to varying social classes OR difference in social classes between different members of same generation

Symbolic Intereactionism

examine from micro-level perspective how ppl's social standing affects their everyday actions people tend to interact w/ others who share same social standing social strat groups us

life chances

extent to which people have positive experiences and can secure good things in life consequence of social strat

inheritance tax

fed gov takes (40% about) of inheritance wealth

status inconsistency

high prestige, low power job is prestigious but doesnt pay very well

Prestige

honor associated w/ your place in society respect, recognition, regard based on wealth, family background, fame, occupation, leadership

Meritocracy

ideal system based on the belief that social strat is result of personal effort (merit) that determines social standing High effort= high social standing has never existed

upward mobility

increase/ upward shift in social class

glass ceiling

invisible barrier that limits women's upward mobility

Primogeniture

law stating all property would inherited by the first born son no son= next closest relative male, no women

Lower Class

less education background and smaller income working class, working poor, underclass

Downward mobiltiy

lowering social class (set backs, unemp, illness)

underclass

lowest tier inner cities unemployed or underemployed homeless, need wealfare

Endogamous Union

marriage to partner from same social background

wealth

net value of money and assets a person has and property cumultaive: passed to next generation and accumulates wealth

relative poverty

not having the means to live the lifestyle of the average person in your country

Caste System

people are born into their social standing and remain in it their whole lives closed people are assigned occupations regardless of talent or interest believe in fate, destiny, and higher power

Closed System: slavery

people own other people abducted, inheritied, gifts to pay debts Chattle, people bought and sold like commodites Banned by UN in 1948

chattle

people you own, like cattle

Upper class

powerful elite, money = power make decisions that affect the status of millions sway campaigns, influence media old money more prestigious

conspicuous consumption

purchase and use of certain products to make a social statement about status

prestigious occupations

require more formal ed, pay more, involve mental activity, offer autonomy, seen as more socially important

Class

set of people who share similar status w/ regards to wealth, income, educ, occupation

power elite

small group of white men who make the important decisions in the U.S. society C. Wright Mills: Circulation of elite

structure mobility

social changes enable a whole group to move up or down the social class ladder (ex: industrialization, recession)