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Questions and Answers
What does the ladder view of social class represent?
What does the ladder view of social class represent?
What does the box view of social class highlight?
What does the box view of social class highlight?
How do most sociologists conceptualize social class?
How do most sociologists conceptualize social class?
Categories, in which people share a common set of perspectives and circumstances
How do functionalists view social class?
How do functionalists view social class?
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How do conflict theorists view social class?
How do conflict theorists view social class?
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What is the main limitation of the functionalist and conflict views of social class?
What is the main limitation of the functionalist and conflict views of social class?
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What does the theory of social class: life chances refer to?
What does the theory of social class: life chances refer to?
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What does the theory of social class: social capital involve?
What does the theory of social class: social capital involve?
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What has been the changing trend of income inequality since the 1960s?
What has been the changing trend of income inequality since the 1960s?
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What is the Gini index?
What is the Gini index?
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What is the change in the Gini index scores in the U.S. in the past 60 years?
What is the change in the Gini index scores in the U.S. in the past 60 years?
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What are the three main reasons behind the increased income inequality since the 1960s?
What are the three main reasons behind the increased income inequality since the 1960s?
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What caused the dramatic increase in poverty during the 2000s?
What caused the dramatic increase in poverty during the 2000s?
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How does Cohen view the relationship between poor families and family structure?
How does Cohen view the relationship between poor families and family structure?
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What three kinds of scarcities do those growing up with a single parent face?
What three kinds of scarcities do those growing up with a single parent face?
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What is the relationship between social class and parenting?
What is the relationship between social class and parenting?
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What is concerted cultivation?
What is concerted cultivation?
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What is accomplishment of natural growth?
What is accomplishment of natural growth?
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Study Notes
Social Class Perspectives
- Ladder View: Implies a hierarchy where wealthier individuals ascend higher based on resources.
- Box View: Emphasizes shared positions within groups and barriers that hinder mobility between them.
Sociological Approaches
- Conception of Class: Most sociologists classify social class into categories, focusing on shared circumstances.
- Functionalist Perspective: Sees social class as a continuum; rewards differ based on job types, incentivizing talent for complex roles.
- Conflict Theory View: Focuses on ownership as the main class division; capitalists and workers are defined in relation to each other.
Limitations of Views
- Both perspectives fail to address the complexity of familial influences on social class, like spousal income affecting offspring's life chances.
Theories of Social Class
- Life Chances: Refers to the opportunities for achieving desired material and experiential outcomes.
- Social Capital: Represents resources accessed through relationships; significantly affects class status, exemplified by parental support in education and employment.
Income Inequality Trends
- Income Inequality Growth: Notable increase since the 1960s driven by various socio-economic factors.
- Gini Index: Measures inequality from 0 (complete equality) to 1 (complete inequality). Recent U.S. scores have risen, indicating higher inequality levels (0.37 to 0.45).
Causes of Increased Inequality
- Declining real minimum wage post-inflation.
- Shift from blue-collar to higher-education jobs.
- Deregulation and tax policy changes benefiting the wealthy, significantly boosting their income.
Impact of Economic Events
- The 2008 financial crisis greatly exacerbated poverty levels, linked to rising income inequality.
Family Structure and Poverty
- Cohen's view: A strong correlation exists between poverty and family structure, particularly highlighting single-mother households' vulnerability.
Scarcity Issues for Single Parents
- Children in single-parent homes often confront scarcities in time, money, and social capital.
Parenting Dynamics in Social Class
- Variances in social class correlate with differing parenting motives and strategies.
Parenting Styles
- Concerted Cultivation: Middle- and upper-class parenting style focused on deliberate skill development through organized activities, leading to a strong sense of entitlement in children.
- Accomplishment of Natural Growth: Emphasizes natural development with less structure, promoting informal play and less assertiveness in navigating social institutions.
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Description
Explore key concepts of social class through flashcards that present the ladder and box views of social class. Understand how sociologists interpret social class through these differing perspectives. Test your knowledge with definitions and key questions.
