94 Questions
Which term is often used interchangeably with social class inequality?
Social stratification
What is the main difference between status and role?
Status is the position you occupy, while role is the behavioral expectations associated with that position.
What type of status is imposed involuntarily and often determined at birth?
Ascribed status
What was a common form of social stratification that involved slaves and owners?
Slavery
Which term refers to the movement between different positions within a system of social stratification?
Social mobility
What type of status is based on one's abilities and efforts?
Achieved status
What is the sociological understanding of equity?
Rewards are based on one's contributions to the group
What does cultural class focus on?
Prestige and power
What distinguishes the upper-upper class from the lower-upper class?
Inherited wealth vs. newly acquired wealth
Which concept is more commonly applied at the macro level of society?
Equality
What concept describes having a lot more of one factor (e.g., prestige) than another (e.g., power)?
Status inconsistency
What principle is applied more at the meso level in society?
Equity
What did Karl Marx advocate for regarding societal distribution?
Equal distribution based on individual needs
Which term refers to making decisions that impact others despite having little property or prestige?
Political class
What characterizes the lower-upper class mentioned in the text?
Conspicuous consumption and flaunting wealth
What distinguishes the ideologies of conservatives and liberals in terms of social organization?
'Individual precedence' vs. 'Collective precedence'
How does Weber's concept of class differ from Marx's concept?
Weber includes power and prestige in addition to property.
'Relative needs' are most often applied in which context according to the text?
'Micro level' in families and among friends
'Equality is not always social justice whereas relative needs better fits notions of social justice.' What does this statement imply?
'Relative needs are more aligned with achieving social justice'
'Self-interest' plays a significant role in disagreements about inequality primarily due to what factor?
'Ethical systems'
What is the dominant view in modern societies regarding stratification?
Stratification should be based on natural inequalities of ability.
Why do functionalists argue for social inequality based on the text?
To preserve the status quo in society.
What is one argument used by functionalists to justify social stratification?
Different tasks in society have varying importance and difficulty levels.
What does the text mention as a criticism of the functionalist explanation of social stratification?
It fails to consider the importance of inherited wealth.
Why does the text suggest that social stratification is not an accessible competition?
As people face various social barriers to success.
What is one reason provided in the text for rewarding people differently based on their occupations?
Scarcity of skills justifies higher rewards.
Which theoretical perspective mentioned in the text supports social inequality and preserving the status quo?
Functionalism
Why do functionalists argue for rewarding certain occupations more than others?
Based on a hierarchy of job importance and scarcity of skills.
What is the main critique of the structural functionalist explanation of social stratification according to the text?
It ignores the importance of power in society.
According to conflict theory, what is the primary driver of social stratification?
Conflict of interest in coercion and manipulation
Which economic concept did Karl Marx emphasize as shaping the superstructure of society?
Mode of production
What does Marx refer to as the difference between the cost of production and the price at which a product is sold?
Surplus value
What did Marx consider as the primary indicator for predicting other societal aspects like education, family systems, and politics?
Mode of production
What differentiates the proletariat from the bourgeoisie in Marxist theory?
Self-employment and non-employment of others
Which class according to Marx extracts surplus value from others?
Bourgeoisie
What was the primary factor that determined one's social status in the caste system described?
Religion
In the context of the text, what is a defining characteristic of modern stratification systems?
Status is earned through merit
What historical event led to the abolition of the caste system in India?
Independence from Britain in 1949
What did the text describe as the main reason for someone to become a slave historically?
Both B and C
Which aspect plays a significant role in determining distributive justice according to the text?
Equality
Which system saw movement based on the reincarnation belief in Hinduism?
Caste system
What does modernization lead to in terms of stratification systems?
Transition from closed social systems to open social systems
According to Marx, what is the main characteristic of capitalism?
Exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie
Which group holds the lowest position in the caste system described in the text?
Dalits or untouchables
What did Marx predict would happen in the future in relation to the bourgeoisie and the proletariat?
The proletariat would overthrow the bourgeoisie
Why was stratification seen as natural in societies according to the text?
Considered inherent to human nature
What distinguishes social democrats according to the text?
Moderate Marxists
In contrast to Marx, what aspect of society did Max Weber believe was overemphasized?
Economic determinism
According to Weber, what is considered a subjective form of social class?
Prestige
What did Marx believe would lead to a utopian, classless society?
Eradication of private property
'They only call it class warfare when we fight back.' What does this quote imply?
'Class warfare' is ongoing but unnoticed
What distinguishes the upper working class from the middle class according to the text?
All of the above
Which class is most likely to be impacted by economic changes according to the text?
Upper working class
What is a distinguishing factor between the lower middle and upper middle classes?
Both B and C
Which group tends to follow the orders given by upper middle-class professionals?
Lower middle class
What is a key characteristic of the lower-working or working poor class?
Seasonal and temporary jobs
How do the analogies provided in the text highlight the difference between 'Equality of Opportunity' and 'Inequality of Condition'?
They illustrate unequal starting lines and advantages, reflecting disparities in conditions.
What factor plays a key role in upward social mobility according to the text?
Education
What is the term used to describe movement between different positions within a system of social stratification?
Circulation mobility
Which group is mentioned as suffering more from underemployment compared to previous generations in the text?
Gen Z and millennials
What characterizes the least mobile social classes according to the text?
Very top and very bottom classes
Which type of mobility is described as a zero-sum game in social stratification?
Circulation mobility
What is the term used to refer to a comparison of an individual's social class with that of their parents and ancestors?
Intergenerational mobility
Which category of individuals believe in keeping rewards unequal and making people work for and compete for rewards?
Conservatives
How does Canada's wealth inequality compare to Brazil and Sweden based on the text?
Canada is closer to Sweden in wealth distribution
In terms of household income distribution, what does the 'wine glass effect' refer to based on the text?
A higher concentration of wealth among the top 1% of the population
What is a distinguishing characteristic between income and wealth?
Wealth is accumulated while income fluctuates
Who are among the wealthiest individuals in Canada as per the text?
David Thomson and family
What is one key difference between absolute poverty and relative poverty as described in the text?
Absolute poverty indicates a lack of basic necessities compared to others, while relative poverty considers income disparities within a society
What do socialists believe regarding social equality?
'Equality of condition'
In terms of social stratification, what do conservatives tend to favor according to the text?
'Equity over equality'
'Relative needs' better fits notions of social justice than 'equality.' What does this statement imply?
Needs should be considered relative to individual circumstances for true social justice
Which social class tends to historically be more liberal and socialistic according to the text?
Working class
What is the main difference between white collar crime and blue collar crime as mentioned in the text?
White collar crime occurs in boardrooms, while blue collar crime occurs in the street.
What concept reflects the belief that anyone can achieve what they want if they work hard?
Equality of Opportunity
What do Durkheim, Marx, and Weber establish as a material social fact that has a formative impact on social chances in the real world?
Inequality of Condition
Which mechanism of social class mentioned in the text raises questions about whether everyone has the same opportunity or chance?
Inequality of Condition
What are the two main questions about wealth in Canada?
'How much wealth do Canadians have?' and 'How is it distributed?'
Which analogy mentioned in the text illustrates inequality of condition by showing that some people start further back than others?
'100 m dash' analogy
What concept emphasizes that everyone has access to public schooling and libraries, but their quality differs across locations, impacting opportunities?
Inequality of Condition
What impact does not owning a phone have on job eligibility according to the text?
Reduces chances of getting a job
How is relative poverty defined in the text?
Relative to society's standard of living
Why do many Canadians not think in terms of social class according to the text?
Tendency to associate more with similar social classes
What is one way prestige is measured in terms of social class according to the text?
By occupational status and authority
How is the poverty line calculated as per the text?
When a family spends 20% higher than the average Canadian after-tax income on necessities
Which group had the highest rates of individuals below the low-income cutoff line in 2020 according to the text?
Indigenous people
What is one reason suggested in the text for the reluctance of people to identify as working class?
Embarrassment associated with working-class status
How does 'prestige' relate to forming social class according to the text?
Attached to occupation and career
What term is used to describe individuals below the low-income cutoff line according to the text?
Lower-class individuals
What did Weber categorize as one of the dimensions of socioeconomic class?
Property, prestige, power
How does technology impact the rich and the lower class differently according to the text?
It helps the rich get richer and makes the poor poorer.
Why is life expectancy lower for individuals in the lower class according to the text?
They experience constant uncertainty and insecurity.
What distinguishes parenting patterns between middle class and lower class families according to the text?
Middle-class parents emphasize internalization of norms, while lower-class parents focus on attitude development.
How does technology affect job security for the lower class according to the text?
Technology takes jobs from the lower class, making their employment more uncertain.
Explore Karl Marx's concept of the lumpen proletariat, the prediction of the middle class's demise, and the eventual rise of the proletariat to overthrow the bourgeoisie. Delve into Marx's definition of capitalism as the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie.
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