Sociology Chapter 10: Social Class

Questions and Answers

According to Weber, what is a large group of people who rank close to one another in property, power, and prestige?

The proletariat

Status consistency

Social class (correct)

Capitalists

What consists of any of the various types of material possessions?

Power

Income

Property (correct)

Wealth

The total value of all a person owns after subtracting all that person owes is called what?

Power

Wealth (correct)

Property

Income

The money you receive, whether it comes to you from a paycheck or from your assets is considered what?

Income Signup and view all the answers

Income and wealth are what?

Not the same thing Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the nation's wealth is owned by the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans?

About a third Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the nation's wealth is owned by the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans?

About three-quarters Signup and view all the answers

If we can use the analogy that some U.S. families have an income that could be represented by the height of Mount Everest, then the average American family has an income that is about how many feet off the ground?

17 Signup and view all the answers

In 2017, the highest-paid U.S. CEO received what?

$237 million Signup and view all the answers

Income inequality in the United States has what trajectory?

Went down until 1970 and increased thereafter Signup and view all the answers

What enables a person to exert his or her will even in the face of opposition?

Power Signup and view all the answers

C. Wright Mills identified the major decision-makers at the highest levels of corporations, politics, and the armed forces in the United States as what?

Power elite Signup and view all the answers

Which occupation has the most prestige in the United States?

Physician Signup and view all the answers

The prestige of your occupation refers specifically to what?

Prestige Signup and view all the answers

June was the president of her neighborhood association, which afforded her a high what?

Status Signup and view all the answers

Status consistency refers to what?

Ranking the same in power, prestige, and property Signup and view all the answers

Ranking high on some dimensions of social class and low on others is considered what?

Status inconsistency Signup and view all the answers

Durkheim called it what when people became separated from the usual norms that were expected to guide their behavior?

Anomie Signup and view all the answers

Based on the histories of lottery winners, sudden wealth brings what?

Trouble Signup and view all the answers

Wright characterizes a position in the class structure that contains inherently contradictory interests as what?

Contradictory class location Signup and view all the answers

Marx's model of the social classes specifically included what?

Workers Signup and view all the answers

Which group members, because of their great wealth, are at the top of Wright's modification of Marx's model of social classes?

Capitalists Signup and view all the answers

Because of the large differences between types of workers and owners, Wright felt it necessary to modify Marx's model of social classes to include what?

Managers Signup and view all the answers

The upper end of the capitalist class is occupied by those with what?

Old money Signup and view all the answers

Philanthropist Bill Gates has given away how much?

$30 billion Signup and view all the answers

The class members most clearly affected by education are those in which class?

Upper-middle Signup and view all the answers

Compared to the working class, the lower-middle class generally has what?

A higher income Signup and view all the answers

Which class members likely consider themselves the real workers and regard those above them as practically inexperienced?

The working class Signup and view all the answers

Most members of the working-poor class what?

Dropped out of high school Signup and view all the answers

Seth relied on welfare and food stamps. In terms of class, Seth belonged to the what?

Underclass Signup and view all the answers

Part of the what are homeless people?

Underclass Signup and view all the answers

As you go up the social-class ladder, what happens to your health?

It improves Signup and view all the answers

As you go down the social-class ladder, what happens to your mental health?

It worsens Signup and view all the answers

When it comes to raising children, parents in the lower class tend to what?

Encourage their children to obey and conform Signup and view all the answers

When it comes to religion, the lower classes tend to be attracted to what?

A more boisterous form of worship Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true about people toward the bottom of the class structure?

They are less likely to be politically active Signup and view all the answers

White-collar crimes are usually handled how?

Outside the purview of the criminal justice system Signup and view all the answers

What refers to the change that family members make in social class from one generation to the next?

Intergenerational mobility Signup and view all the answers

In Mexico, Javier was a physician. Upon immigrating to the United States, he ended up working as a carpenter. What did Javier experience?

Downward social mobility Signup and view all the answers

Lee started as a bank teller and fifteen years later ended up running the bank. This is an example of what?

Upward social mobility Signup and view all the answers

What type of mobility is movement either up or down the social class ladder due more to changes in society than to individual actions?

Structural Signup and view all the answers

In exchange mobility, a large number of people move up the social class ladder, a large number move down, and the social class system shows little change. This is referred to as what?

Exchange Signup and view all the answers

It is likely to be painful to do what?

To move on the social ladder, either up or down Signup and view all the answers

What proportion of all African American adults works at white-collar jobs today?

More than half Signup and view all the answers

The official measure of poverty of the U.S. government is what?

The poverty line Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about poverty is true?

More children than adults live in poverty Signup and view all the answers

The region of the United States that has the most poverty is what?

South Signup and view all the answers

About what percent of high school dropouts are poor, while approximately what percent of those with college degrees are poor?

25 percent; 5 percent Signup and view all the answers

The Horatio Alger myth does what?

Contributes to maintaining society as it is Signup and view all the answers

According to the author, those who have what will likely make up the second tier in a three-tier society?

Technical skills Signup and view all the answers

What are the four characteristics of jobs that have the most prestige?

They pay more, Require more education, Involve more abstract thought, Offer greater autonomy. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the underclass.

The underclass is the lowest rung of the social class system, about 5 percent of the U.S. population falls into this class, characterized by concentration in the inner city, little or no connection to the job market, support by welfare, and a tough life filled with despair. Signup and view all the answers

Name three effects of social class on family life.

Choice of husband or wife based on social background, Higher divorce rates in lower classes, Differences in child-rearing practices depending on parental occupation. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss research on women in studies of social mobility.

Research has historically not focused on women, often ascribing the husband's social class position to the wife; however, this is changing with increased focus on women's positions and opportunities. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the impact of geography on poverty in the United States.

Poverty has clustered in the South for over 150 years; more rural poverty exists than the national average; suburban poverty has increased, indicating a shift in poverty dynamics. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social class is a large group of people ranked similarly in property, power, and prestige.
Property includes various types of material possessions.
Wealth is the total value of all a person's possessions minus what they owe.
Income is the money received from salaries or assets.
Income and wealth are distinct concepts with different implications regarding economic status.

Wealth Distribution

The wealthiest 1% of Americans own about a third of the nation's wealth.
The top 10% possess approximately three-quarters of the nation's wealth.

CEO Compensation

In 2017, the highest-paid U.S. CEO received $237 million.

Income Inequality Trends

Income inequality in the U.S. decreased until 1970 and has since increased significantly.

Power and Status

Power allows individuals to exert influence despite opposition.
C. Wright Mills termed the high-level decision-makers in corporations, politics, and military as the "power elite."
The occupation with the highest prestige in the U.S. is that of a physician.

Status Consistency and Inconsistency

Prestige refers to the societal perception of an occupation's value.
Status consistency is when a person ranks similarly across power, prestige, and property.
Status inconsistency occurs when an individual ranks high in some areas but low in others.

Anomie describes the disconnection from societal norms and guidance.
Sudden wealth, such as that from a lottery, often brings complications rather than happiness.
Wright's theory identifies "contradictory class location" for those with conflicting interests in the class structure.

Class Structure According to Marx and Wright

Marx's model distinguished between workers and capitalists.
Wright modified Marx’s view to include managers and identify the upper-tier capitalist class, which typically consists of individuals with old money.

Philanthropy

Bill Gates, a notable philanthropist, has donated approximately $30 billion.

Impact of Education on Class

Education significantly affects those within the upper-middle class, influencing their economic opportunities.

Class Characteristics

The lower-middle class generally has a higher income compared to the working class.
Many in the working class view themselves as the "real workers" in contrast to higher classes.

Poverty and Its Effects

High school dropouts make up about 25% of the poor, while only 5% of college graduates live in poverty.
The southern region of the U.S. has the highest levels of poverty.

Intergenerational mobility refers to changes in social class from one generation to the next.
Downward mobility occurs when individuals experience a drop in social class, while upward mobility increases status.
Structural mobility results from societal changes affecting the entire population.

Characteristics of Prestigious Jobs

High-prestige jobs typically involve higher pay, greater education requirements, abstract thinking, and more autonomy.

Underclass Definition

The underclass is the lowest segment of the social class system, comprising about 5% of the U.S. population, often linked to inner-city living, welfare dependence, and homelessness.

Social class influences mate selection, divorce rates, and child-rearing practices due to varying economic pressures and norms.

Historical studies have focused less on women in social mobility, but this area is gaining attention as women's participation in the workforce increases.

Geographic Impact on Poverty

Poverty is primarily concentrated in the South; rural poverty is slightly above the national average.
A trend has emerged where more poor individuals now reside in suburbs rather than urban centers.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz covers key concepts from Chapter 10 of Sociology, focusing on social class in the United States. It includes definitions and explanations of terms related to property, power, and prestige as discussed by Weber. Test your understanding of social class dynamics and terminologies.