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Questions and Answers
What is social stratification?
What is social stratification?
- The division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy (correct)
- A system of racial segregation
- A measure of social class based on income
- The cultural beliefs that maintain social classes
What is social inequality?
What is social inequality?
The unequal distribution of wealth, power, or prestige among members of a society.
List the four basic principles of social stratification.
List the four basic principles of social stratification.
- It is a characteristic of a society, rather than a reflection of individual preferences. 2. It persists over generations. 3. Societies use different criteria for ranking members. 4. Maintained through cultural beliefs.
What defines slavery in social stratification?
What defines slavery in social stratification?
What is a caste system?
What is a caste system?
What was the Indian caste system?
What was the Indian caste system?
What was apartheid?
What was apartheid?
What does the term 'The New Jim Crow' refer to?
What does the term 'The New Jim Crow' refer to?
Define socioeconomic status.
Define socioeconomic status.
What characterizes the upper class?
What characterizes the upper class?
What defines the upper middle class?
What defines the upper middle class?
What is the working middle class?
What is the working middle class?
What does the term 'working poor' refer to?
What does the term 'working poor' refer to?
Define the underclass.
Define the underclass.
What is status inconsistency?
What is status inconsistency?
What does conflict theory say about the class system?
What does conflict theory say about the class system?
How does Weberian theory view wealth in the class system?
How does Weberian theory view wealth in the class system?
What is the view of structural functionalism on class systems?
What is the view of structural functionalism on class systems?
What does postmodernism say about class status?
What does postmodernism say about class status?
What does symbolic interactionism say about social class?
What does symbolic interactionism say about social class?
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Study Notes
Social Stratification
- Division of society into groups organized in a social hierarchy.
- Influences access to resources and opportunities.
Social Inequality
- Refers to unequal distribution of wealth, power, or prestige among society members.
Basic Principles of Social Stratification
- Characteristic of society rather than individual preference.
- Persists across generations.
- Varies by criteria for ranking individuals.
- Reinforced by cultural beliefs.
Forms of Social Stratification
- Slavery: Most extreme form, involving legal ownership of individuals.
- Caste System: Rigid social categories dictating occupation, economic potential, and social positioning.
- Indian Caste System: Historically divided into four main castes (Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Sudra) complicating with many sub-castes and including Dalits as outcasts.
Historical Systems of Inequality
- Apartheid: A system of racial segregation in South Africa (1948-1994) limiting rights of the black majority under white minority rule.
- The New Jim Crow: Penal policies, especially war on drugs, disproportionately affect black men, undermining their citizenship rights.
Socioeconomic Status
- Measurement of social class based on income, education, and occupation.
Social Class Categories
- Upper Class: High income and prestige; includes wealthy individuals, top corporate owners, and celebrities.
- Upper Middle Class: Composed of educated professionals and managers; represents about 14% of the U.S. population.
- Working Middle Class: Comprises blue-collar/service workers, about 30% of the population.
- Working Poor: Individuals who are employed but earn below the poverty line.
- Underclass: Individuals experiencing persistent poverty over generations; constitutes about 12% of the population earning less than $15,000.
Status Inconsistency
- Occurs when an individual's social status is ranked high in some dimensions and low in others (e.g., a respected clergy member without material wealth).
Theoretical Perspectives on Class System
- Conflict Theory: Argues poverty is a societal issue, not an individual deficiency, stemming from capitalism; highlights internal societal contradictions.
- Weberian Theory: Proposes that wealth is derived from several sources beyond the means of production, including income and assets; distinguishes between old and new money.
- Structural Functionalism: Suggests society rewards those deemed more crucial, questioning definitions of importance in various roles.
- Postmodernism: Focuses on the generational transfer of class status and cultural capital acquired through experiences and education.
- Symbolic Interactionism: Examines how social class assumptions are formed through daily interactions and perceptions.
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