Social Class and Discrimination Flashcards

Study Notes

Social Class: Unequal opportunities and rewards based on different social positions or statuses within society.
Idleness: Refers to a state of inactivity or lack of engagement in productive activities.
Apartheid: A system of segregation or discrimination based on race, historically associated with South Africa.
Relative Poverty: A situation where individuals lack resources compared to others within a society, highlighting inequality rather than absolute deprivation.
Absolute Poverty: Severe deprivation of basic resources essential for survival, significantly threatening an individual's life.
SES: Acronym for Socioeconomic Status, measuring an individual's or family's economic position in relation to others.
Key Characteristics of Social Class:
- Wealth
- Power
- Prestige These elements significantly influence an individual's social class.
Foreclosure: Legal process in which a lender takes possession of a property due to the borrower's failure to make mortgage payments.
Bourgeoisie: The middle class, specifically those who own the means of production, such as factories and businesses.
Proletariat: Describes the working class, particularly those who do not own the means of production and sell their labor.
Social Class Discrimination (Classism): Prejudice or discriminatory behavior directed at individuals based on their social class.
Reverse Discrimination: Policies or practices favoring individuals from groups that have historically faced discrimination to encourage equality.
Social Classes in the U.S.:
- Upper Class
- Upper Middle Class
- Average Middle Class
- Working Class
- Lower Class These distinctions are often based on income levels.
Marginalized: Process of treating individuals or groups as insignificant or peripheral, often resulting in reduced access to resources and opportunities.
Environmental Racism: Disproportionate placement of low-income or minority communities near hazardous environmental conditions, leading to adverse health and living conditions.
Asthma Disparity: African Americans are twice as likely to die from asthma compared to White Americans, indicating significant health inequities based on race.