Social Stratification Concepts and Systems
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Questions and Answers

What is Social Stratification?

  • Legal ownership of people
  • Social class composed primarily of white collar workers
  • The division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy (correct)
  • The unequal distribution of wealth, power, or prestige

    • What does Social Inequality refer to?

    The unequal distribution of wealth, power, or prestige among members of a society

    What is the most extreme form of social stratification?

  • Apartheid
  • Caste System
  • Social Class
  • Slavery (correct)

    • Define Caste System.

    <p>A form of social stratification in which status is determined by one's family history and background and cannot be changed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Apartheid?

    <p>The system of segregation of racial and ethnic groups that was legal in South Africa between 1948-1991</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Social Class?

    <p>A system of stratification based on access to resources like wealth, property, power and prestige</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Socioeconomic Status (SES)?

    <p>A measure of an individual's place within a social class system; often used interchangeably with 'class'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Explain Intersectionality.

    <p>A concept that identifies how different categories of inequality intersect to shape lives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the Upper Class?

    <p>An elite group who possess most of the country's wealth; they constitute about 1 percent of the U.S. population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Upper-Middle Class consist of?

    <p>Mostly highly educated professionals and managers with considerable financial stability; constituting about 14 percent of the U.S. population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Describe the Middle Class.

    <p>Social class composed primarily of white collar workers; about 30 percent of the U.S. population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Working Class/Lower-Middle Class.

    <p>Consists of mostly blue collar or service industry workers who are less likely to have a college degree; about 30 percent of the U.S. population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Explain Underclass.

    <p>The poorest group, including the homeless and chronically unemployed; about 12 percent of the U.S. population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Status Inconsistency?

    <p>When an individual has differing levels of status in various aspects like wealth or power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Relative Deprivation?

    <p>A relative measure of poverty based on the standard of living in a particular society</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define Digital Divide.

    <p>The unequal access to computer and internet technology, both globally and within the U.S.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Meritocracy mean?

    <p>A system in which rewards are distributed based on merit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Social Reproduction?

    <p>The tendency of social classes to remain stable as class status is passed down from generation to generation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Simplicity Movement?

    <p>A loosely knit movement that opposes consumerism and encourages nonmaterialistic values</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Social Stratification Concepts

    • Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals within society based on various factors.
    • Social inequality highlights disparities in the distribution of resources such as wealth, power, and prestige among individuals.

    Forms of Social Stratification

    • Slavery represents the most severe stratification, involving ownership of individuals.
    • Caste systems rigidly dictate social status based on family history, with no possibility for change.
    • Apartheid was a legalized racial segregation system in South Africa from 1948 to 1991.

    Social Class Definitions

    • Social class systems are based on access to wealth, property, and social prestige.
    • Socioeconomic status (SES) is used to measure an individual's social class standing.
    • Various classes in the U.S. include:
      • Upper Class: Comprises about 1% of the population with significant wealth.
      • Upper-Middle Class: Represents 14% of the population, typically including highly educated professionals.
      • Middle Class: Encompasses around 30% with diverse occupations and income levels.
      • Working Class/Lower-Middle Class: Also about 30%, consisting mainly of blue-collar workers.
      • Working Poor: 13% of the population, often employed but still near poverty.
      • Underclass: Constitutes 12%, primarily made up of the homeless and chronically unemployed.

    Social Mobility Dynamics

    • Status inconsistency occurs when individuals have mixed levels of social status.
    • Systems of mobility are categorized as:
      • Closed systems: Little opportunity for movement between classes.
      • Open systems: Ample opportunities for upward or downward mobility.
    • Types of mobility include:
      • Intergenerational mobility: Movement between classes across generations.
      • Intragenerational mobility: Movement within an individual's lifetime.
      • Horizontal mobility: Changes within the same social class.
      • Vertical mobility: Movement between different class statuses.

    Economic and Cultural Factors

    • Wealth is calculated based on net worth, including income and assets.
    • Prestige relates to the honor associated with belonging to well-regarded social groups.
    • Cultural capital encompasses the social assets that facilitate advantages in society.

    Poverty and Inequality Concepts

    • Relative deprivation assesses poverty based on societal standards.
    • Absolute deprivation defines poverty by the inability to meet basic needs.
    • The culture of poverty refers to acceptance of socio-economic conditions among disadvantaged communities.

    Social Phenomena and Movements

    • The Just-World Hypothesis explains people's tendencies to believe in a fair and orderly world, often leading to victim-blaming.
    • Residential segregation involves the physical separation of impoverished communities from the wealthier population.
    • Disenfranchisement occurs when citizenship rights are stripped away.
    • The digital divide highlights disparities in access to technology.

    Social Justice Movements

    • Meritocracy is a belief that rewards should be based on individual merit.
    • The simplicity movement advocates for reduced consumerism and encourages non-materialistic values in life choices.

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    Description

    Explore the intricate world of social stratification and its various forms. This quiz covers the concepts of social inequality, class definitions, and historical examples such as slavery, caste systems, and apartheid. Test your understanding of how societal hierarchies affect individuals and groups.

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