Sociology Chapter 7 Social Class Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is social stratification?

The division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy (correct)
The equal distribution of wealth and power in society
A system where everyone has the same social status
A form of social organization without any structure

What does social inequality refer to?

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

What is slavery?

The most extreme form of social stratification, based on the legal ownership of people.

Define Caste System.

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

What was Apartheid?

The system of segregation of racial and ethnic groups that was legal in South Africa between 1948 and 1991. Signup and view all the answers

What does social class represent?

A system of stratification based on access to resources such as wealth, property, power, and prestige. Signup and view all the answers

What is socioeconomic status (SES)?

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

Define intersectionality.

A concept that identifies how different categories of inequality (race, class, gender, etc.) intersect to shape the lives of individuals and groups. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the Upper Class?

An elite and largely self-sustaining group who possess most of the country's wealth. Signup and view all the answers

Who belongs to the Upper-Middle Class?

Mostly highly-educated professionals and managers with considerable financial stability. Signup and view all the answers

What defines the Middle Class?

Primarily composed of 'white collar' workers with a broad range of education and incomes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Working Class?

Mostly 'blue collar' or service industry workers who are less likely to have a college degree. Signup and view all the answers

Define blue collar workers.

Skilled and semi-skilled workers who perform manual labor or work in service or clerical jobs. Signup and view all the answers

Who are the Working Poor?

Poorly educated manual and service workers who may work full-time but remain near or below the poverty line. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Underclass?

The poorest group includes the homeless and chronically unemployed who may depend on public or private assistance. Signup and view all the answers

What is status inconsistency?

A situation in which an individual has differing levels of status in terms of wealth, power, prestige, or other elements of socioeconomic status. Signup and view all the answers

Define the Feudal System.

A system of social stratification based on a hereditary nobility served by lower stratum of forced laborers called serfs. Signup and view all the answers

What does wealth measure?

A measure of net worth that includes income, property, and other assets. Signup and view all the answers

What is prestige?

The social honor people are given because of their membership in well-regarded social groups. Signup and view all the answers

What does social reproduction refer to?

The tendency of social classes to remain relatively stable as class status is passed down from one generation to the next. Signup and view all the answers

Define cultural capital.

The tastes, habits, expectations, skills, knowledge, and other cultural assets that help us gain advantages in society. Signup and view all the answers

What is everyday class consciousness?

Awareness of one's own social status and that of others. Signup and view all the answers

What does social mobility mean?

The movement of individuals or groups within the hierarchical system of social classes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a closed system?

A social system with very little opportunity to move from one class to another. Signup and view all the answers

Define an open system.

A social system with ample opportunities to move from one class to another. Signup and view all the answers

What is intergenerational mobility?

Movement between social classes that occurs from one generation to the next. Signup and view all the answers

What does intragenerational mobility refer to?

The movement between social classes that occurs during the course of an individual's lifetime. Signup and view all the answers

Define horizontal social mobility.

The movement of individuals or groups within a particular social class, most often a result of changing occupations. Signup and view all the answers

What is vertical social mobility?

The movement between different class statuses, often called either upward mobility or downward mobility. Signup and view all the answers

What is structural mobility?

Changes in the social status of large numbers of people as a result of structural changes in society. Signup and view all the answers

Define relative deprivation.

A relative measure of poverty based on the standard of living in a particular society. Signup and view all the answers

What is absolute deprivation?

An objective measure of poverty defined by the inability to meet minimal standards for food, shelter, clothing, or health care. Signup and view all the answers

Define homogamy.

Choosing romantic partners who are similar to us in terms of class, race, education, religion, and other social group membership. Signup and view all the answers

What is heterogamy?

Choosing romantic partners who are dissimilar to us in terms of class, race, education, religion, and other social group membership. Signup and view all the answers

What does hypergamy mean?

Marrying 'up' in the social class hierarchy. Signup and view all the answers

Define hypogamy.

Marrying 'down' in the social class hierarchy. Signup and view all the answers

What is the digital divide?

The unequal access to computer and internet technology, both globally and within the United States. Signup and view all the answers

Define the culture of poverty.

Entrenched attitudes that can develop among poor communities and lead the poor to accept their fate rather than attempt to improve their lot. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Just-World hypothesis?

Argues that people have a deep need to see the world as orderly, predictable, and fair, creating a tendency to view victims of social injustice as deserving of their fates. Signup and view all the answers

What does residential segregation refer to?

The geographical separation of the poor from the rest of an area's population. Signup and view all the answers

Define disenfranchisement.

The removal of the rights of citizenship through economic, political, or legal means. Signup and view all the answers

What is meritocracy?

A system in which rewards are distributed based on merit. Signup and view all the answers

What is the simplicity movement?

A loosely knit movement that opposes consumerism and encourages people to work less, earn less, and spend less, in accordance with non-materialistic values. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes conflict in social classes?

Social classes are highly stratified and continue to grow further apart. Signup and view all the answers

Define the Weberian perspective.

Wealth, power, and prestige are interrelated, but one can also be converted into another. Signup and view all the answers

What is structural functionalism?

Stratification is necessary for society to function. Signup and view all the answers

Define postmodernism in the context of social class.

Social class is passed down from one generation to the next through cultural capital. Signup and view all the answers

What is symbolic interactionism?

We judge people's social class constantly during everyday interactions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social Stratification: Division of society into groups based on a social hierarchy.
Social Inequality: Unequal distribution of wealth, power, or prestige among society members.

Slavery: Extreme form of stratification; legally owned individuals.
Caste System: Status determined by family history, unchangeable.
Apartheid: Legal racial and ethnic segregation in South Africa (1948-1991).

Social Class: Stratification based on access to wealth, property, power, and prestige.
Socioeconomic Status (SES): Measures individual’s position within a social class system.
Upper Class: Wealthiest 1% of the U.S. population; elite group.
Upper-Middle Class: Highly educated professionals (14% of the U.S. population).
Middle Class: "White collar" workers with diverse education and income (30% of the U.S. population).
Working Class: "Blue collar" workers, primarily in manual or service roles (30% of the U.S. population).
Working Poor: Poorly educated workers near or below the poverty line (20% of the U.S. population).
Underclass: Poorest group dependent on assistance, making up about 5% of the U.S. population.

Mobility and Change

Social Mobility: Movement within the social class system.
Closed System: Minimal opportunity for class movement.
Open System: Ample opportunities for upward or downward mobility.
Intergenerational Mobility: Class movement from one generation to the next.
Intragenerational Mobility: Class movement within an individual's lifetime.
Vertical Mobility: Movement between different class statuses.
Horizontal Mobility: Movement within the same class, often through changing occupations.

Wealth: Measure of net worth, including income and assets.
Prestige: Social honor derived from group membership.
Cultural Capital: Skills and knowledge that provide social advantages.
Everyday Class Consciousness: Awareness of one’s social status and others' statuses.

Poverty and Deprivation

Relative Deprivation: Measure of poverty relative to societal standards.
Absolute Deprivation: Objective measure of poverty by minimum standards.

Partnership Dynamics

Homogamy: Choosing partners similar in class or race.
Heterogamy: Choosing partners dissimilar in class or race.
Hypergamy: Marrying "up" in the social hierarchy.
Hypogamy: Marrying "down" in the social hierarchy.

Digital and Cultural Divides

Digital Divide: Unequal access to technology.
Culture of Poverty: Acceptance of fate among poor communities.

Theories and Perspectives

Just-World Hypothesis: Belief in a fair and orderly world leads to blaming victims.
Disenfranchisement: Removal of citizenship rights through various means.
Meritocracy: Rewards distributed based on individual merit.
Structural Functionalism: Stratification's necessity for societal function.
Conflict Perspective: Social classes become increasingly stratified.
Weberian Perspective: Interrelation of wealth, power, and prestige.
Postmodernism: Cultural capital is crucial for maintaining social class.

Movements

Simplicity Movement: Opposes consumerism, advocating for reduced consumption and non-materialistic values.

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Description

Test your knowledge on social stratification and inequality with this flashcard quiz based on Chapter 7 of your Sociology textbook. Explore key concepts such as social stratification, social inequality, and slavery. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of social class dynamics.