Soc Ch. 8 (Stratification)

power

the ability to exercise one's will over others

caste

a hereditary rank, usually religiously dictated, that tends to be fixed and immobile

Interationist

Focuses on the influences that stratification and inequality have on intergroup relations and people's lifestyles. Note that the wealthy exhibit conspicuous consumption and conspicuous leisure.

class consciousness

In Karl Marx's view, a subjective awareness held be members of a class regarding their common vested interests and the need for collective political action to bring about social change

proletariat

Karl Marx's term for the working class in a capitalist society

bourgeoisie

Karl Marx's the for the capitalist class, comprising the owners of the means of production

Conflict

Social stratification facilitates exploitation and that the wealthy use the dominant ideology to further their own interests. Social inequality is excessive and growing.

Rossides' 5 class model

The US class system includes upper, upper-middle, lower-middle, working, and lower

social inequality

a condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, and power

relative poverty

a floating standard of deprivation by which people at the bottom of society, whatever their lifestyles, are judged to be disadvantaged in comparison with the nation as a whole

class

a group of people that have similar wealth and income

socioeconomic status

a measure of social class that is based on income, education, and occupation

absolute poverty

a minimum level of subsistence that no family should be expected to live below

dominant ideology

a set of cultural beliefs and practices that helps to maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests

ascribed status

a social position assigned to a person by society without regards to the person's unique talents or characteristics

achieved status

a social position that a person attains largely through his or her own efforts

class system

a social ranking based primarily on economic position in which achieved characteristics can influence social mobility

open system

a social system in which the position of each individual is influenced by his or her achieved status

closed system

a social system in which there is littler or no possibility of individual social mobility (ex. slavery)

stratification

a structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power in society

slavery

a system of enforced servitude in which some people are owned by others

estate system

a system of stratification under which peasants were required to work land leased to them by nobles in exchange for military protection and other services. A.ka. feudalism

objective method

a technique for measuring social class that assigns individuals to classes on the basis of criteria such as occupation, education, income and place of residence

false consciousness

a term used by Karl Marx to describe an attitude held by members of a class that does not accurately reflect their objective position

feminization of poverty

a trend in which women constitute an increasing proportion of the poor people in the US

capitalism

an economic system is which the means of production are held largely in private hands and the main incentive for economic activity is the accumulation of profits

wealth

an inclusive term encompassing all a person's material assets, including land, stocks, and other types of property

Functionalist

believe that social stratification facilitates filling of social positions and that social inequality is necessary to some extent

intragenerational mobility

changes in social position within a person's adult life

intergenerational mobility

changes in the social position of children relative to their parents

Weber's 3 components to stratification

class, status, power

precarious work

employment that is poorly paid, and from the worker's perspective, insecure and unprotected

social mobility

movement of individuals or groups from one position in a society's stratification system to another

status group

people who have the same prestige or lifestyle, independent of their class positions

income

salaries and wages

four general systems of stratification

slavery, castes, estates, and social classes

corporate welfare

tax breaks, bailouts, direct payments, and grants that the government gives to corporations

underclass

the long-term poor who lack training and skills

vertical mobility

the movement of an individual from one social position to another of a different rank

horizontal mobility

the movement of an individual from one social position to another of the same rank

life chances

the opportunities people have to provide themselves with material goods, positive living conditions, and favorable life experiences

digital divide

the relative lack of access to the latest technologies among low-income groups, racial and ethnic minorities, rural residents, and the citizens of developing countries

esteem

the reputation that a specific person has earned within an occupation

prestige

the respect and admiration that an occupation holds in a society