Anthropology Class: Inequality Concepts

Questions and Answers

What is 'class' in the context of anthropology?

A type of financial investment

An educational system

A system of power based on wealth, income, and status (correct)

A group of people with similar interests

What does 'inequality' refer to?

Unequal access to wealth, power, resources, privileges, and status.

What does 'cultural capital' consist of?

Political affiliations

Physical assets only

Wealth owned by a family

Knowledge, habit, and tastes learned from family (correct)

Which of the following describes 'economic capital'?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is 'social capital'?

A social network that helps you advance your social status and access resources. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes wealth from income?

Wealth is what you own; income is what you earn. Signup and view all the answers

What is the proletariat?

The class of laborers who own only their labor. Signup and view all the answers

Define bourgeoisie.

The capitalist class that owns the means of production. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'social reproduction'?

The passing of social and class relations from one generation to the next. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'habitus' refer to?

Dispositions taught and learned through family, education, and media. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a ranked society?

Wealth is not arranged but prestige and status are, often hereditary. Signup and view all the answers

Define an egalitarian society.

A group based on sharing resources with minimal hierarchy and violence. Signup and view all the answers

What is intersectionality?

An analytical framework for assessing social factors Signup and view all the answers

What are 'means of production'?

Factories, machines, tools, raw materials, land, and financial capital needed to produce goods. Signup and view all the answers

What does class stratification refer to?

The unequal distribution of power and access to resources based on class. Signup and view all the answers

Define a caste system.

A class structure determined by birth with no possibility to escape. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key idea presented by Karl Marx?

Workers sell their labor to capitalists. Signup and view all the answers

What did Max Weber contribute to sociological thought?

Prestige and life chances influence class position. Signup and view all the answers

What is social mobility?

The movement of one's class position. Signup and view all the answers

What is meritocracy?

A system where individuals are deemed successful based on talent and motivation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'myth of classless society'?

Both A and C. Signup and view all the answers

Define ideology in the context of inequality.

A system of ideas that justifies the status quo of inequality. Signup and view all the answers

What is the culture of poverty?

Urban poverty characterized by welfare dependency and lack of motivation. Signup and view all the answers

What are life chances?

An individual's opportunities to improve quality of life and achieve goals. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Class and Inequality

Class: A power system based on wealth, income, and status leading to unequal resource distribution in society.
Inequality: Refers to the disproportionate access to wealth, power, resources, privileges, and status among individuals and groups.

Forms of Capital

Cultural Capital: Knowledge and tastes acquired from family that facilitate access to social resources; for example, wealthy families provide children with travel opportunities, language learning, and cultural exposure.
Economic Capital: Includes income earned from work and investments, and wealth defined as total assets minus debts; patterns in income reveal power dynamics in society.
Social Capital: Benefits derived from social networks; personal connections can enhance social mobility and access to resources, exemplified by associations with elite families or educational institutions.

Class Concepts

Wealth vs. Income: Wealth refers to accumulated assets, while income is the money earned from work or investments.
Proletariat: The laboring class who only possess their labor.
Bourgeoisie: The capitalist class that owns the means of production like factories and financial resources.

Social Reproduction: The process through which social and class relations are perpetuated across generations, often reinforced by educational systems that limit opportunities for mobility.
Habitus: The ingrained dispositions acquired through family, education, and culture influencing life choices.

Societal Structures

Ranked Society: A social system where prestige and status are hereditary rather than wealth-based.
Egalitarian Society: A community where resources are shared equitably, typically found in hunter-gatherer societies that emphasize cooperation.

Analytical Frameworks

Intersectionality: Framework examining how interconnected characteristics like race, gender, and class shape individual life outcomes and social stratification.

Economic Structures

Means of Production: Essential materials and resources necessary for production, including land and capital.
Class Stratification: The hierarchy of social classes determined by unequal power and resource access.
Caste System: A rigid class structure where social position is assigned at birth and difficult to escape.

Theorists and Their Contributions

Karl Marx: Key concepts include capitalism, class struggle between bourgeoisie and proletariat, and labor relations.
Max Weber: Introduced ideas of prestige, life chances influenced by resources like education and healthcare, and how class impacts access to opportunities.
Pierre Bourdieu: Focused on social mobility, cultural capital, and how habitus influences social dynamics.

Meritocracy: Education system based on individual talent and motivation that claims to provide equal opportunities for all; however, actual mobility is often tied to systemic barriers.
Myth of Classless Society: The belief that hard work alone can lead to success, ignoring structural inequalities that limit opportunities regardless of work ethic.
Ideology: A set of beliefs that rationalizes and maintains social inequalities.

Cultural and Economic Issues

Culture of Poverty: An urban poverty concept suggesting that dependency on welfare and a poor work ethic perpetuate poverty cycles.
Life Chances: The chances of individuals improving their life quality, which are heavily influenced by financial and social resources.

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Explore key concepts in anthropology related to class and inequality with this flashcard set. Enhance your understanding of how social structures influence access to resources and privileges. Perfect for students looking to grasp essential terminology and definitions.