31 Questions
What term describes the differences in opportunities and resources that individuals have?
Life chances
What is the term for the social system in which individuals and groups are ranked in a hierarchy?
Social stratification
What is the term for the status that a person acquires based on personal accomplishments and merit?
Achieved status
What refers to prejudice and discrimination based on a person's gender?
Gender discrimination
What measures are introduced by the government to reduce inequality?
Equal opportunities legislation
What describes the unequal distribution of wealth and income in different societies?
Class stratification
What term is used to describe the ranking or grading of individuals and groups in a hierarchy that gives some an advantage over others?
Social stratification
In what ways does social stratification occur?
Through social class, age, ethnicity, and gender
What term is used to describe the division of functions and labor to achieve greater efficiency in human groups?
Social differentiation
What does social differentiation refer to?
Differences in roles and statuses without superiority or inferiority
When does social differentiation become social stratification?
When some individuals are seen to be superior or have greater power than others
What term is used to describe the different layers of rocks deposited one on top of the other?
Geological stratification
In what ways are societies differentiated as they develop?
Through division of labor and additional tasks that need to be done
What term is used to describe the socially constructed decision about who should do what in groups and societies?
Social construction
"Societies become more differentiated as they develop because there are more tasks that need to be done and therefore more statuses and roles." This statement supports the concept of:
"Social differentiation"
What is a minority group based on?
Ethnicity, age, disability, and other factors
In which stratification system are individuals treated as the legal property of another group?
Slavery
What is a characteristic of the caste stratification system?
Inheritance of status at birth and inability to change it
Which term is used to describe societies that use technology for mass production?
Industrial societies
In what type of society were many early societies stratified into citizens and slaves?
Traditional societies
What type of societies use technology for mass production?
Industrial societies
What term is used to describe a society in which mobility between different levels of stratification is not possible?
Closed society
Which system of social stratification was slightly more open than the caste system?
Estate system
What term is used to describe the unequal distribution of wealth and income in different societies?
Social stratification
In traditional societies, which type of statuses are common and can largely determine people's life chances at birth?
Ascribed statuses
What term describes the division of functions and labor to achieve greater efficiency in human groups?
Division of labor
What refers to prejudice and discrimination based on a person's gender?
Gender stratification
In what ways does social stratification occur?
Through gender, ethnicity, and social class
When does social differentiation become social stratification?
When there is a ranking or grading of individuals and groups in a hierarchy
What term is used to describe the socially constructed decision about who should do what in groups and societies?
Division of labor
What term is used to describe the status that a person acquires based on personal accomplishments and merit?
Achieved status
Test your understanding of social stratification, achieved and ascribed status, life chances, and inequality creation. Learn to describe different forms of stratification, assess evidence of inequality, and explain reasons for disparities in modern industrial society.
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