Chapter 9 Review
Which of the following scenarios is an example of intergenerational mobility? a. A janitor belongs to the same social class as his grandmother did. b. An executive belongs to a different class than her parents. c. An editor shares the same social class as his cousin. d. A lawyer belongs to a different class than her sister.
b) an executive belongs to a different class than her parents *Inter (means DIFFERENT generations of a family are in different social classes)
What factor makes caste systems closed? a. They are run by secretive governments. b. People cannot change their social standings. c. Most have been outlawed. d. They exist only in rural areas.
b) closed system: people can't change their social standings
Which person best illustrates opportunities for upward social mobility in the United States? a. First-shift factory worker b. First-generation college student c. Firstborn son who inherits the family business d. First-time interviewee who is hired for a job
b) first generation college student
Occupational prestige means that jobs are: a. all equal in status b. not equally valued c. assigned to a person for life d. not part of a person's self-identity
b) not equally valued
Structural mobility occurs when: a. an individual moves up the class ladder b. an individual moves down the class ladder c. a large group moves up or down the class ladder due to societal changes d. a member of a family belongs to a different class than his or her siblings
c) Structural Mobility: happens when SOCIETAL CHANGES allow people to move up/down social latter
Absolute poverty
deprivation so severe that it puts day to day survival in jeopardy
relative poverty
is not having the means to live the lifestyle of the average person in your country
class system
social standing based on social factors and individual accomplishments
social mobility
the ability to change positions within a social stratification system
conspicuous consumption
the act of buying and using products to make a statement about one's social standing
status consistency
the consistency, or lack thereof, of an individual's rank across social categories like wealth, power, and prestige
ideology
the cultural belief system that justifies a society's system of stratification
standard of living
the level of wealth available to acquire material goods and comforts to maintain a particular socioeconomic lifestyle
income
the money a person earns from work or investments
class traits
the typical behaviors, customs, and norms that define each class (aka class markers)
wealth
the value of money and assets a person has from, for example, inheritance or salary
endogamous marriages
unions of people within the same social category
exogamous marriages
unions of spouses from different social categories
primogeniture
a law stating that all property passes to the firstborn son
downward mobility
a lowering of one's social class
When Karl Marx said workers experience alienation, he meant that workers: a. must labor alone, without companionship b. do not feel connected to their work c. move from one geographical location to another d. have to put forth self-effort to get ahead
b) Karl Marx said workers experience alienation, aka: do not feel connected to their work
global stratification
a comparison of wealth, status, power, and economic stability of countries as a whole
intergenerational mobility
a difference in social class between different generations of a family
class
a group who shares common social status based on factors like wealth, income, education, and occupation
structural mobility
a societal change that enables a whole group of people to move up or down the class ladder
social stratification
a socioeconomic system that divides society's members into categories ranking from high to low, based on things like wealth, power, and prestige (aka inequality)
caste system
a system in which people are born into a social standing that they will retain their entire lives
closed system
a system of stratification that accommodates little change in social position
open system
a system of stratification, based on achievement, that allows some movement and interaction between layers and classes
davis-moore thesis
a thesis that argues some social stratification is a social necessity and is functional
The behaviors, customs, and norms associated with a class are known as: a. class traits b. power c. prestige d. underclass
a) Class Traits
In the United States, most people define themselves as: a. middle class b. upper class c. lower class d. no specific class
a) middle class
Social stratification is a system that: a. ranks society members into categories b. destroys competition between society members c. allows society members to choose their social standing d. reflects personal choices of society members
a) ranks society members into categories
What factor makes class systems open? a. They allow for movement between the classes. b. People are more open-minded. c. People are encouraged to socialize within their class. d. They do not have clearly defined layers.
a) they allow for movement btwn classes
meritocracy
an ideal system in which personal effort (merit) determines social standing
upward mobility
an increase in social class
socioeconomic status (SES)
an individual's level of wealth, power, and prestige
Which statement represents stratification from the perspective of symbolic interactionism? a. Men often earn more than women, even working the same job. b. After work, Pat, a janitor, feels more comfortable eating in a truck stop than a French restaurant. c. Doctors earn more money because their job is more highly valued. d. Teachers continue to struggle to keep benefits such as health insurance.
b) Symbolic interactionism: focus's on the individual
Which statement illustrates low status consistency? a. A suburban family lives in a modest ranch home and enjoys nice vacation each summer. b. A single mother receives food stamps and struggles to find adequate employment. c. A college dropout launches an online company that earns millions in its first year. d. A celebrity actress owns homes in three countries.
c) a college drop out launches an online company that earns millions in its first year Low status consistency: your status is not consistent (changes) High status consistency: Status stays the same
The basic premise of the Davis-Moore thesis is that the unequal distribution of rewards in social stratification: a. is an outdated mode of societal organization b. is an artificial reflection of society c. serves a purpose in society d. cannot be justified
c) serves a purpose in society Davis-Moore Thesis: social stratification is a good thing, is a function for society
The GNI PPP figure represents: a. a country's total accumulated wealth b. annual government spending c. the average annual income of a country's citizens d. a country's debt
c) the average annual income of a country's citizens
intragenerational mobility
changes in a person's social mobility over the course of their lifetime
Which of these systems allows for the most social mobility? a. Caste b. Monarchy c. Endogamy d. Class
d) Class
Which graphic concept best illustrates the concept of social stratification? a. Pie chart b. Flag poles c. Planetary movement d. Pyramid
d) Pyramid
Based on meritocracy, a physician's assistant would: a. receive the same pay as all the other physician's assistants b. be encouraged to earn a higher degree to seek a better position c. most likely marry a professional at the same level d. earn a pay raise for doing excellent work
d) earn a pay raise for doing excellent work Meritocracy Theory: high levels of effort will lead to a high social postition, and vise versa **Hard work pays off
Conflict theorists view capitalists as those who: a. are ambitious b. fund social services c. spend money wisely d. get rich while workers stay poor
d) get rich while workers stay poor