Sociology Chapter 9 Flashcards
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Elisa graduated from college with a double major and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa society. This form of promotion is based on the principles of:

  • A democracy
  • A closed stratification system
  • A caste system
  • A meritocracy (correct)
  • Mohit is an example of someone living under:

  • An oligarchy
  • A dictatorship
  • A meritocracy
  • A caste system (correct)
  • Oli and his bride will have a(n) _______ marriage.

    endogamous

    They will have a(n) __________ wedding.

    <p>exogamous</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is considered when evaluating someone's standard of living?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much of the United States wealth rests in the hands of the wealthiest 1% of people?

    <p>1/3</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Charlotte becomes CEO of the company by age 50. What type of mobility is shown in this story?

    <p>Intragenerational mobility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is particularly unique about the United States middle class?

    <p>It is broken into two subcategories: upper and lower middle class.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which historical event was greatly responsible for global stratification?

    <p>The Industrial Revolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the most significant threat to the relatively high standards of living in the United States?

    <p>The decline of the middle class</p> Signup and view all the answers

    GNI PPP helps measure:

    <p>The standard of living in a country.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    For many people, it was a time of ________.

    <p>downward mobility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Since the social classes in the United States do not have any clear boundaries, a sociologist should determine whether their subjects are in the upper class or the upper-middle class by:

    <p>Upper class is often defined as having control over one's life and the lives of people around you.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What seems to be the key to upward social mobility?

    <p>How much education you have.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A person's position in a country's social stratification is determined by:

    <p>Wealth, power, income, race, education</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Davis-Moore Thesis states:

    <p>That the more society values a profession, the more the people in that profession will make.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Whose work do conflict theorists rely on to help form their arguments surrounding social stratification?

    <p>Karl Marx</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Hope's purchasing is called:

    <p>Conspicuous consumption</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Symbolic interactionists have concluded that:

    <p>Most people only socialize with people in their same social class.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    One main issue in studying global social inequality is:

    <p>Social inequality is relative and difficult to compare across cultures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor makes caste systems closed?

    <p>People cannot change their social standings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor makes class systems open?

    <p>They allow for movement between the classes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these systems allow for the most mobility?

    <p>Class</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which person best illustrates opportunities for upward social mobility in the United States?

    <p>First-generation college student</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement illustrates low status consistency?

    <p>A college dropout launches an online company that earns millions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Based on meritocracy, a physician's assistant would:

    <p>Earn a pay raise for doing excellent work.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the United States, most people define themselves as:

    <p>Middle class</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Structural mobility occurs when:

    <p>A large group moves up or down due to societal changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The behaviors, customs, and norms associated with a class are known as:

    <p>Class traits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of intragenerational mobility?

    <p>A lawyer belongs to a different class than her sister.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Occupational prestige means that jobs are:

    <p>Not equally valued</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Social stratification is a system that:

    <p>Ranks society members into categories.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which concept best illustrates the concept of social stratification?

    <p>Pyramid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The GNI PPP figure represents:

    <p>The average annual income of a country's citizens.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The basic premise for the Davis-Moore thesis is that the unequal distribution of rewards in social stratification:

    <p>Serves a purpose in society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Unlike Davis and Moore, Melvin Tumin believed that, because social stratification, some qualified people were ________ higher-level job positions.

    <p>denied the opportunity to obtain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement represents social stratification from the perspective of symbolic interactionism?

    <p>After work, Pat, a janitor, feels more comfortable eating in a truck stop than a French restaurant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When Karl Marx said that workers experience alienation, he meant that workers:

    <p>Do not feel connected to their work.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Conflict theorists view capitalists as those who:

    <p>Get rich while workers stay poor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of primogeniture?

    <p>The eldest child inherits his or her parents' farm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of an endogamous marriage?

    <p>A US Senator marries the governor of another state.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In exogamous marriages, the spouses share the same class background.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Davis and Moore argued that a certain level of social stratification is a necessity.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Intergenerational mobility is a difference in social class between different members of the same generation.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Intragenerational mobility is a difference in social class between generations of a family.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a meritocracy, the status of one's parents determines one's own status to a great extent.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a class system, people are born into a social standing that they will retain for their entire lives.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a caste system, people achieve higher status through higher education.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Conspicuous consumption involves eating very loudly in public places and drawing attention to oneself.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is not an author cited in the textbook who wrote 19th century 'social problems' novels?

    <p>George Eliot</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Social Stratification and Mobility

    • Meritocracy rewards individuals based on ability and achievement, exemplified by Elisa's career advancements.
    • Caste systems are closed, meaning individuals like Mohit are unable to change their social status.
    • Endogamous marriages are between individuals of the same social class, while exogamous marriages are between different classes, as seen with Cate and Harry.

    Economic Indicators

    • Standard of living assessments consider income, employment, and class collectively.
    • The wealth distribution in the U.S. shows that the wealthiest 1% hold approximately 1/3 of the nation's wealth.
    • GNI PPP measures a country's average income by considering purchasing power.

    Class Structures and Their Implications

    • The middle class in the U.S. is divided into upper and lower subcategories, highlighting its complexity.
    • The Industrial Revolution significantly restructured global social stratification.
    • Decline of the middle class is identified as a major threat to the standard of living in the U.S.

    Social Mobility Types

    • Intragenerational mobility refers to changes in social status within an individual's lifetime, illustrated by Charlotte’s rise to CEO.
    • Structural mobility involves large groups moving up or down the social ladder due to societal changes.
    • Higher education plays a crucial role in upward social mobility, emphasizing the importance of academic achievement.

    Class Traits and Occupational Prestige

    • Class traits encompass the behaviors and customs associated with a particular social class.
    • Occupational prestige varies, with certain jobs being more highly valued than others, influencing societal perceptions and rewards.

    Social Stratification Theories

    • The Davis-Moore Thesis argues that social stratification serves societal purposes by ensuring that important roles are filled by those who are most qualified.
    • Conflict theorists, such as Karl Marx, argue that societal structures favor capitalists while keeping workers in poverty.

    Consumption and Social Interactions

    • Conspicuous consumption describes buying luxury goods to display wealth and status, evident in Hope's designer purse purchase.
    • Social interactions are often limited to one's own class, reflecting shared norms and values within social groups.

    Global Inequality Challenges

    • Social inequality poses challenges for global comparison, as the relativity of status varies across cultures.
    • Class systems are more flexible compared to caste systems, allowing greater social mobility.
    • Primogeniture refers to the inheritance of the family estate by the eldest child, typically reinforcing class structures.
    • Understanding marriage types can reveal social class dynamics; endogamous couples share class backgrounds, unlike exogamous ones.

    Misconceptions and Clarifications

    • Statements about class mobility, social stratification, and economic systems often reveal common misconceptions, such as the belief that caste systems allow for upward mobility through education.

    Conclusion

    • Social stratification reflects complex interrelations between class, occupation, wealth, and education, shaping individual opportunities and societal structures.

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    Test your knowledge with these flashcards from Sociology Chapter 9. This set covers key concepts related to social stratification and meritocracy. Assess your understanding of various social systems through engaging questions and examples.

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