Sociology Exam 3

Modernization theory

(Cowgill and Holmes) the primary cause of the elderly losing power and influence in society are the parallel forces of industrialization and modernization

Social stratification is created

and supported by society as a whole

Sociologists are interested in

larger social patterns

Redlining

A process by which banks draw lines on a map and refuse to lend money to purchase or improve property within the boundaries.

Gilbert and Kahl

Capitalist; Upper Middle; Lower Middle; Working Class; Working Poor; Underclass

Functionalist perspective on aging and the elderly

Disengagement theory and Activity theory

Five stages of grief

Elisabeth Kubler- Ross 1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance

Conflict theory perspective on aging and the elderly

Modernization theory and Exchange theory

Symbolic interactionism perspective on aging and the elderly

Subculture of aging theory

Gerontology

a field of science that seeks to understand the process of aging and the challenges encountered as seniors grow older

Race

a group of people who are treated as distinct in society based on certain characteristics, some of which are biological that have been given social importance

Minority groups

a groups of people who may be subject to unequal treatment because of certain characteristics

Prejudice

a learned attitude or evaluation of a social group

Double standard

a rule or principle which is unfairly applied in different ways to different people or groups

Social stratification is

a society-wide system that makes inequalities apparent

Social gerontology

a specialized field of gerontology that examines the social (and sociological) aspects of aging

Hospice

a type of healthcare that treats terminally ill people when "cure-orientated" treatments are no longer an option

Social stratification is not

about individual inequalities, but systematic inequalities based on group membership and classes

The structure of a society

affects a person's social standing

Dominant groups

any physically or culturally distinctive group that has the most economic and political power, the greatest privileges, and the highest social status

Heteronormative

assumes sexual orientation is biologically determined and unambiguous or straightforward

Gender

behaviors, personal traits, and social positions that society attributes to being female or male

Symbolic Interactionism perspective on race/ethnicity

contact hypothesis: the more people who get to know members of a minority group, the less likely they are to be prejudiced against that group

Conflict theory perspective on race/ethnicity

dominant groups try to protect their power and privilege while minority groups struggle to gain a larger share of societal resources

Demisexual

experiencing sexual attraction only after the formation of a strong emotional bond

Functionalist perspective on race/ethncity

focus on assimilation to prevent social conflict and maintain social order

Symbolic interactionism perspective on social stratification

focuses on how people reproduce social classes - address micro-level issues - examines the social contexts that affect mobility - socialization of children are different across social classes

Conflict theory perspective on sex/gender

gender inequality is built into the social structure, men control most of society's resources and dominate women - capitalism = women face inequality due to economic exploitation

Symbolic interactionism perspective on sex/gender

gender is a social construction, social interaction shapes gender inequality (cultivates or stifles abilities and interests) sexuality and sexual double standards are socially constructed (individuals learn to express sexually through gender roles)

Sex scripts

ideas of how males and females are supposed to interact with each other

feminization of poverty

likelihood that female heads of household will be poor

Functionalist perspective on sex/gender

men and women have distinct roles that ensure a family's and society's survival - man = instrumental; woman = expressive, gender roles were established before the pre-industrial era

Subculture of aging theory

microanalytical theory that focuses on shared community created by the elderly when they are excluded; suggests that elders will disengage from society and develop new patterns of interactions with peers

Wealth

money and economic assets

Social mobility

movement in the stratification hierarchy

Horizontal mobility

moving from one position to another at the same level

Vertical mobility

moving up or down the stratification ladder

Pluralism

mutual respect on the part of all cultures, (dominate and subordinate) creating a multicultural environment of acceptance

Socioeconomic status

overall ranking of a person's position in a society

Transgender

people identify with the behaviors and characteristics that are other than the sex assigned at birth

Centarians

people living to be 100 years old

David-Moore thesis

social stratification benefits a society

Social stratification

society's categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power

Gender roles

society's concept of how men and women should appear and behave

Conflict theory perspective on social stratification

stratification hurts society - benefit the rich at the expense of the everyday worker - economic struggles are due to gov policies that favor the rich

Functionalist perspective on social stratification

stratification is necessary and inevitable - social class provides people with a place in the social world and motivates them to continue

Institutional inequality, oppression, or mistreatement

structures in society that work against minority groups

Corporate welfare

subsidies, tax breaks, and gov assistance for BUSINESSES - weakens people's trust in political and economic institutions

Power

the ability of individuals to achieve goals, control events, and maintain influence over others despite opposition

Gender pay gap

the average difference between the compensation for men and women who are working

Sex

the biological differences that distinguish males from females

Cost of living

the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living

The second shift

the double burden- work outside the home followed by child care and housework- that many women face and few men share equitably

Inter-generational mobility

the extent a person is better or worse off than one's parents

Intra-generational mobility

the extent a person moves up or down over a lifetime

Life chances

the extent to which people have positive experiences and can secure good things in life because of economic resources

Ethnocentrism

the idea that your group is superior

Social standing

the level of social value a person is considered to possess

Standard of living

the level of wealth available to a certain SES in order to acquire the material necessities and comfort to maintain its lifestyle

Poverty line

the minimal level of income that the federal government considers necessary for basic substance

Activity theory

the more active and involved an elderly person is, the happier they will be

Dependency ratio

the number of nonproductive citizens (young, disabled, elderly) to productive working citizens

Life course

the period from birth to death, including a sequence of predictable life events

the graying of America

the phenomenon of the growing percentage of elderly Americans as part of the total US population

Segregation

the physical separation of two groups, particularly in residence, but also in workplace and social functions

Assimilation

the process of when a minority individual or group takes on the characteristics of the dominant culture

Prestige

the respect, recognition, or regard attached to social positions

Social Construction of Race

the school of thought that race is not biologically identifiable

Ethnicity

the shared culture, which may include heritage, language, religion and more (NOT national origin)

Gender stratification

the social ranking, where men typically inhabit higher statuses than women

Wealth distribution

the way in which the wealth and income of a nation are divided among its population

4 general classes

upper; middle; working; lower

Exchange theory

we experience an increased dependence as we age and must increasingly submit to the will of others

Racial wealth gap

wealth disparities that occur among different races in society

Disengagement theory

withdrawing from society and social relationships is a natural part of growing old

older population can be divided into three life-stage subgroups

young-old (65-74); middle-old (75-84); old-old (85+)