Sociology Exam 2
caste system
a form of social stratification in which status is determined by one's family history and background and cannot be changed
upper class
a largely self-sustaining group of the wealthiest people in a class system; in the United States, they constitute about 1 percent of the population and possess most of the wealth of the country
simplicity movement
a loosly knit movement that opposes consumerism and encourages people to work less, earn less, and spend less, in accordance with nonmaterialistic value
socioeconomic status SES
a measure of an individual's place within a social class system; often used interchangeably with "class"
wealth
a measure of net worth that includes income, property, and other assets
assimilation
a pattern of relations between ethnic or racial groups in which the minority group is absorbed into mainstream or dominant group, making society more homogenous
relative deprivation
a relative measure of poverty baed on the standard of living in a particular society
racism
a set of beliefs about the superiority of one racial or ethnic group; used to justify inequality and often rooted in the assumption that differences between groups are genetic
status inconsistency
a situation in which there are serious differences between the different elements of an individual's socioeconomic status
open system
a social system which ample opportunities to move from one class to another
closed system
a social system with very little opportunity to move from one class to another
ethnicity
a socially defined category based on common language, religion, nationality, history, or another cultural factor
race
a socially defined category based on real or perceived biological differences between groups of people
meritocracy
a system in which rewards are distorted 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 of forced laborers called serfs
social class
a system of stratification based on access to ugh resources as wealth, property, power, and prestige
situational ethnicity
an ethnic identity that can be either displayed or concealed depending on its usefulness in a given situation
symbolic ethnicity
an ethnic identity that is only relevant on specific occasions and does not significantly impact everyday life
prejudice
an idea about the characteristics of a group that is applied to all members of that group and is unlikely to change regardless of the evidence against it
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
structural mobility
changes in the social status of large numbers of people due to 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 primarily of "white collar" workers with a broad range of incomes; they constitute about 30 percent of the u.s. population
minority group
members of a social group that is systematically denied the same access to power and resources available to society's dominant groups but who are not necessarily fewer in number that the dominant groups
working class or lower middle class
mostly "blue collar" or service industry workers who are less likely to have a college degree; they constitute about 30 percent of the U.S. population
upper middle class
mostly professionals and managers who enjoy consider alb financial stability, they constitute about 14 percent of the u.s. population
intergenerational mobility
movement between social classes that occurs from one generation to the next
miscegenation
romantic, sexual, or martial relationships between people of different races
conflict theory approach to social inequality
social inequality crates intergroup conflict - poor and rich groups have different interests and may find themselves at odds as they attempt to secure and protect these interests
structural functionalism approach to social inequality
social inequality is a necessary part of society. Different reward structures are necessary as an incentive of rate best qualified people to occupy the most important positions. Even poverty has functions that help maintain social order
symbolic interactionism 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
conflict theory case study: poverty
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 routs in society
symbolic interactionism case study: racial inequality
some individuals (white ethnics and light-skinned nonwhites in particular) have the option to conceal their race or ethnicity in situations where it might be advantageous to do so. this may allow them as individuals to escape the effects of racial inequality but does not erase it from society at large.
conflict theory case study: racial ineqaulity
some members of major groups (whites and men in particular) object to affirmative action programs that assist underrepresented groups. this can create conflict between racial groups in society
genocide
the deliberate and systematic extermination of a racial, ethic, national, or cultural group
social stratification
the division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy
internal colonialism
the economic and political domination and subjugation of the minority group by the controlling group within a nation
digital divide
the experience of unequal access to computer and internet technology, both globally and within the United States
population transfer
the forcible removal of a group of people from the territory they have occupied
segregation
the formal and legal separation of groups by race or ethnicity
structural functionalism case study: poverty
the functions 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 caseworkers and others who work with the poor
Structural functionalism case study: racial inequality
the functions of racial inequality and conflict for society could include the creation of social cohesion within both the dominant minority groups
residential segregation
the geographical separation of the poor from the rest of the population
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
social mobility
the movement of individuals or groups within the hierarchal system of social classes
horizontal social mobility
the occupational movement of individuals or groups within a social class
underclass
the poorest americans who are chronically unemployed and 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
prestige
the social honor people are given because of their membership in well-regarded social groups
apartheid
the system of segregation of racial and ethnic groups that was legal in South Africa between 1948 and 1991
cultural capital
the tastes, habits, expectations, skill, knowledge, and other cultural dispositions that help us gain advantages in society
social reproduction
the tendency of social classes to remain relatively stable as social class status is passed down from one generation to the next
Social inequality
the unequal distribution of wealth, power, or prestige among members of a society
embodied identity
those elements of identity that are generated through other's perceptions of our physical traits
discrimination
unequal treatment of individuals based on their membership in a social group; usually motivated by prejudice
hypergamy
marrying "up" in the social class hierarchy
white collar
a description characterizing workers an skilled laborers in technical and lower-mangement jobs
blue collar
a description characterizing workers who perform manual labor
individual discrimination
discrimination carried out by one person against another
institutional discrimination
discrimination carried out systematically by institutions (political, economic, educational, and others) that affect all members of a group who come into contact with it
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
symbolic interactionism case study: poverty
poor and wealthy persons have differential 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 a professional image is necessary. Organizations like Dress for Success provide professional clothing for those who can;t affor it, leveling the playing field a bit in terms of impression management
working poor
poorly educated workers who work full-time but remain below the poverty line; they constitute about 20 percent of the u.s. population
passing
presenting yourself as a member of a different racial or ethnic group than the one you were born into
affirmative action
programs or policies that seek to rectify the effects of past discrimination by increasing representation and ensuring equal opportunity for any previously disadvantaged group
symbolic interactionism approach to race and ethnicity
race and ethnicity are part of our identity as displayed through our presentation of self
conflict theory approach to race and ethnicity
racial and ethnic difference create intergroup conflict - minority and majority groups have different interests and may find themselves at odds as they attempt to secure and protect their interests
structural functionalism approach to race and ethnicity
racial and ethnic differences are a necessary part of society. Even racial inequality has functions that help maintain social order