Social Stratification and Class Systems

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Questions and Answers

What is social stratification?

Social stratification is the categorization of people based on factors such as wealth, income, race, education, and power.

Describe the difference between closed and open systems of stratification.

Closed systems allow little change in social position, while open systems enable movement and interaction between different layers and classes.

In the context of social stratification, what is 'invisible poverty'?

Invisible poverty refers to the poverty that is often overlooked or unrecognized within society.

How does inheritance play a role in social stratification?

Inheritance affects social stratification by passing down not just wealth but also social position and cultural norms from parents to children. Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary forms of social divisions contributing to stratification?

The primary forms of social divisions include economic, gender, racial, ethnic, age, health, and linguistic factors. Signup and view all the answers

Can you explain the significance of the caste system as a closed system of stratification?

The caste system is significant as it enforces lifelong social standing and assigned occupations, disregarding individual talents or potential. Signup and view all the answers

How does cultural belief reinforce social stratification?

Cultural beliefs reinforce social stratification by shaping individual values and expectations regarding social roles and status. Signup and view all the answers

What are the main classes identified in social stratification based on national income in Turkey?

The main classes identified are the richest 20%, fourth 20%, third 20%, second 20%, and the poorest 20%. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary basis for the class system as described in the content?

The class system is based on both social factors and individual achievement, such as wealth, income, education, and occupation. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the term 'social mobility' in the context of the class system.

Social mobility refers to the ability to change positions within a social stratification system, including upward or downward shifts in social class. Signup and view all the answers

What are endogamous and exogamous marriages in relation to class structure?

Endogamous marriages occur within the same social class, while exogamous marriages involve individuals from different social categories. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the concept of meritocracy in the context of social stratification.

Meritocracy is the belief that social stratification results from personal effort or merit that determines an individual's social standing. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'status consistency' indicate in a class system?

Status consistency refers to an individual's rank being similar across various factors like income, education, and occupation. Signup and view all the answers

How does intergenerational mobility differ from intragenerational mobility?

Intergenerational mobility involves changes in social class across different generations of a family, while intragenerational mobility occurs within members of the same generation. Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of social inequalities mentioned in the content?

Examples of social inequalities include economic discrepancies, gender inequity, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Signup and view all the answers

What does the onion model illustrate in terms of class structure?

The onion model represents the class structure by depicting layered classes, including an underclass characterized by social exclusion. Signup and view all the answers

How do functionalists view the role of social stratification in society?

Functionalists believe social stratification serves a necessary purpose by ensuring that the most important jobs are filled by the most skilled individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main critique of social stratification from the conflict theory perspective?

Conflict theory criticizes social stratification by arguing that it benefits only a select few while perpetuating inequality for the majority. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how symbolic interactionism interprets social stratification.

Symbolic interactionism focuses on the micro-level interactions of individuals, emphasizing how one's social standing influences their everyday interactions and relationships. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways have class distinctions changed in recent decades?

Class distinctions have become blurred, with identification traits of upper, middle, and lower classes becoming less clear and more intertwined. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the implications of global stratification.

Global stratification highlights the wealth, economic stability, and power disparities between countries, revealing patterns of social inequality on a worldwide scale. Signup and view all the answers

What tragic event exemplifies global inequality in the garment industry?

The Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh is a tragic example, where inadequate safety standards led to the deaths of over 1,100 workers. Signup and view all the answers

How does social stratification impact an individual's daily life?

Social stratification affects daily life by influencing the social groups individuals associate with and their opportunities for education, employment, and social mobility. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the Davis-Moore thesis significant in understanding social stratification?

The Davis-Moore thesis is significant because it attempts to justify social inequality by arguing that it motivates individuals to fill essential roles with appropriate skills. Signup and view all the answers

What is the key characteristic that distinguishes peripheral nations from core nations in the global economy?

Peripheral nations feature little industrialization and rely on core nations for ownership of production. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the term 'capital flight' and its effect on high-income nations.

Capital flight refers to the movement of capital from one nation to another, often leading to deindustrialization as jobs are lost and not replaced. Signup and view all the answers

How does relative poverty differ from absolute poverty?

Relative poverty occurs when people can afford necessities but not society's average standard of living, while absolute poverty means lacking even basic necessities. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'global feminization of poverty'?

Global feminization of poverty refers to the phenomenon where women disproportionately bear the burden of poverty, often due to factors like increased female-headed households. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the concept of the underground economy.

The underground economy refers to unregulated markets operating outside of tax and legal frameworks, often lacking protections for workers. Signup and view all the answers

What social issues can contribute to the high rates of poverty among women?

Issues such as the rise of female-headed households and systemic inequalities contribute to the high rates of poverty among women. Signup and view all the answers

Why is subjective poverty significant in understanding the experience of impoverished individuals?

Subjective poverty reflects personal perceptions of poverty, indicating that individuals may feel impoverished even with adequate income if their expectations are unmet. Signup and view all the answers

What are some consequences of deindustrialization in middle-income nations?

Deindustrialization in middle-income nations can lead to increased unemployment and economic instability as new industries fail to replace lost jobs. Signup and view all the answers

What is the range of weekly pay mentioned for those working under poor conditions in the content, compared to the U.S. federal minimum wage?

$10.56 to $12.48 a week, which is significantly higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of the GINI coefficient and how it relates to global wealth inequality.

The GINI coefficient measures income inequality within a population, where 1 represents complete equality and 100 represents maximum inequality, indicating significant disparities in resource distribution. Signup and view all the answers

What historical changes are associated with the emergence of Turkey’s social classes, as mentioned in the content?

The foundation of the nation state, war riches, and the rise of 'Anatolian tigers' contributed to shifting social mobility and class structures in Turkey. Signup and view all the answers

What does Immanuel Wallerstein's World Systems Approach emphasize regarding global inequality?

It underscores the economic hierarchy among nations, identifying core nations as dominant capitalist countries that control significant resources, against those in economic subordination. Signup and view all the answers

What are the implications of the term 'Fourth World' in global classification, as discussed in the content?

The 'Fourth World' refers to marginalized groups with no political voice, such as indigenous populations and the homeless, highlighting societal inequities. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the double speed of modernity as proposed by Alain Touraine.

The double speed of modernity refers to the rapid advancements in technology and society versus the slower adaptation of social systems and actors to these changes. Signup and view all the answers

How do outsourcing practices relate to the labor conditions of women and children, particularly in reference to slave labor?

Outsourcing often leads to exploitation, as many well-known brands outsource labor to countries with poor working conditions, including the use of women and children in labor akin to slave labor. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the wealth concentration among the richest 85 people compared to the poorest 3.5 billion individuals?

It highlights extreme wealth inequality, as the total wealth of 85 individuals exceeds that of half the world's population, emphasizing the urgent need for economic reforms and social justice. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social stratification is the categorization of people based on factors such as wealth, income, race, education, and power. It's like layers in geology.
An economic system involves wealth, investments, incomes, and wages.
Social standing, for instance, the elderly, is often influenced by wisdom, charisma, and cultural beliefs, shaping stratification inequalities.
Family background plays a role, with social positions and cultural norms inherited by children.
Social stratification systems can be "closed" (little chance of social mobility, like the caste system) or "open" (more opportunities for movement, like the class system).
The caste system is a closed system where people are born into a social standing that remains unchanged throughout their lives. Assigned occupations are based on caste, not individual merits.
The class system is an open system based on social factors and personal achievements. Classes like upper, middle, and lower are evident.
Examples of class systems include those in the pyramid model and the onion model (with potentially an underclass at the bottom exhibiting social exclusion).
Status consistency refers to an individual's rank across factors like income, education, and social position, with caste systems often correlating with high status consistency. More flexible class systems tend to show lower status consistency.
Social mobility is the ability to change social positions (economic status improving or diminishing).
- Upward mobility is increasing social class.
- Downward mobility is decreasing social class.
- Intergenerational mobility involves differences in social classes between different generations in a family.
- Intragenerational mobility involves differences in social classes between members of the same generation.
- Structural mobility refers to changes in society that affect social mobility for everyone, not just individuals.
Social inequality (prejudice and discrimination) is harmful, with examples like apartheid in South Africa and gender inequities (e.g., FGM).
Class traits, or markers, are behaviours, customs, and norms defining a class. They include varying levels of exposure to diverse cultures, as well as resources for hobbies, vacations, and leisure.
Theoretical perspectives on stratification include functionalism (society functions with needed aspects), the Davis-Moore thesis (reward is tied to job importance/skill needs), conflict theory (social stratification benefits some, not all), and symbolic interactionism (how social standing affects everyday interactions).
Global inequality is a worldwide pattern of wealth, economic stability, status, and power differences between countries.
Cases like the Rana Plaza collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, illustrate the risks of exploitative global labor practices for women and children.
Global stratification involves the issue of wealthy countries exploiting economically disadvantaged countries and impacting their populations, and involves a gap in global wealth.
Modernization theory suggests that low-income countries need to adjust cultural values and/or improve economic growth and industrialization to improve their economic standing, while dependency theory contrasts this by suggesting that global inequality is caused by core nations exploiting less-powerful nations.
Global poverty manifests in relative poverty (unable to meet societal standards of living) or absolute poverty (lacking basic needs like food, water, shelter, or healthcare).
Global feminization of poverty refers to women disproportionately bearing economic burdens. Consequently, women head a greater number of households and suffer from intra-household inequalities.
Consequences of poverty often stem from poverty itself(e.g., physical/mental health issues and increased crime).
Modern slavery, child prostitution, debt bondage, and human trafficking are issues in countries with global inequality.

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Description

Explore the concepts of social stratification, including closed and open systems, inheritance, cultural beliefs, and various forms of social divisions. This quiz provides insights into national income classes in Turkey and examines concepts like social mobility and meritocracy. Test your understanding of these important sociological ideas.