Sociology Chapter on Social Stratification

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Questions and Answers

What defines a class in an open class system?

A class is defined as a set of people who share similar status based on factors like wealth, income, education, and occupation.

Describe the concept of social mobility.

Social mobility is the ability to change positions within a social stratification system, which can be upward or downward.

What are endogamous unions?

Endogamous unions are marriages that occur within the same social background or class.

Explain the term 'status consistency.'

Status consistency refers to how an individual's rank across factors like income, education, and occupation remains stable. Signup and view all the answers

What is meritocracy and its implication in social stratification?

Meritocracy is an ideal system where social stratification is based on personal effort or merit. Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between intergenerational and intragenerational mobility.

Intergenerational mobility refers to changes in social class between different generations of a family, while intragenerational mobility occurs within members of the same generation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of social inequality on individuals in society?

Social inequality can result in harmful economic discrepancies, leading to issues such as prejudice and discrimination. Signup and view all the answers

What are class traits, and why are they significant?

Class traits are typical behaviors, customs, and norms that define each social class. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Davis-Moore thesis suggest about social stratification and rewards for different jobs?

The Davis-Moore thesis suggests that the greater the functional importance of a social role, the greater the reward that role must receive, implying an inherent inequality in the value of different work. Signup and view all the answers

What do conflict theorists argue about social stratification?

Conflict theorists argue that social stratification benefits only a select few and perpetuates inequality, leading to class conflict. Signup and view all the answers

How does symbolic interactionism approach the concept of social status?

Symbolic interactionism examines how people's social standing affects their everyday interactions and how they associate primarily with others of similar status. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways have class distinctions changed in recent decades, according to the content?

Class distinctions have blurred in recent decades, with overlapping traits among upper, middle, and lower classes, complicating traditional stereotypes. Signup and view all the answers

What economic conditions are highlighted by the Rana Plaza disaster in terms of global stratification?

The Rana Plaza disaster illustrates the severe inequalities and exploitation faced by workers in poorer countries, emphasizing global stratification. Signup and view all the answers

How do cultural exposure and resource availability relate to social class?

Cultural exposure relates to the level of access a person has to diverse cultures, while resource availability affects spending on hobbies, vacations, and leisure activities, both reflecting social class differences. Signup and view all the answers

What role does education play in social stratification, as discussed in the content?

Education is a significant factor in social stratification as inequalities can arise based on race or gender affecting access to quality education. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'conspicuous consumption' in relation to social status?

Conspicuous consumption refers to purchasing and using certain products to signal social status and make a social statement about one's identity. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes peripheral nations in the global economy?

Peripheral nations are characterized by minimal industrialization, with their means of production owned by core nations, leading to economic dependence and instability. Signup and view all the answers

What is social stratification and how does it manifest in society?

Social stratification is the categorization of people based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power. It manifests through hierarchies organized by social and economic divisions, as well as various other divisions such as gender, ethnicity, and age. Signup and view all the answers

How do closed and open systems of stratification differ?

Closed systems allow little change in social position and restrict movement between levels, while open systems facilitate achievement and encourage movement and interaction between layers and classes. Signup and view all the answers

Define capital flight and its primary consequence.

Capital flight refers to the movement of capital from one nation to another, often resulting in deindustrialization due to lost jobs without new opportunities arising. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of absolute poverty.

Absolute poverty is defined as the lack of basic necessities such as adequate food, clean water, safe housing, and access to healthcare. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of 'invisible poverty'.

'Invisible poverty' refers to the deprivation that is not immediately visible or recognized in society, often affecting individuals who live in poverty but do not display overt signs of it. This can make it challenging to address their needs. Signup and view all the answers

What role does inheritance play in social stratification?

Inheritance plays a crucial role in social stratification as it allows the social position and cultural norms of parents to be passed down to their children, perpetuating social inequalities across generations. Signup and view all the answers

How is the global feminization of poverty related to female-headed households?

The global feminization of poverty is linked to an increase in female-headed households, which often face greater economic challenges and social disadvantages. Signup and view all the answers

Describe subjective poverty and how it differs from absolute poverty.

Subjective poverty refers to the perception of poverty when one's income does not meet personal expectations, while absolute poverty is a measurable lack of basic necessities. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the impact of cultural beliefs on social stratification.

Cultural beliefs reinforce the inequalities of stratification by fostering certain values that affect how individuals perceive their social standing and interactions within society. These beliefs can influence ambition and acceptance of one's social position. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the characteristics of the caste system.

The caste system is a closed system where individuals are born into their social standing and remain in it for life, with assigned occupations based on their caste, which limits personal agency and mobility. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does the underground economy have on impoverished communities?

The underground economy often thrives in impoverished communities, providing unregulated job opportunities but lacking protections, which can perpetuate poverty. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the psychological effects of poverty based on a quote from a poor person.

A poor woman from Moldova described poverty as a disease that attacks both materially and morally, suggesting severe psychological tolls on individuals' dignity and hope. Signup and view all the answers

How does globalization contribute to global inequality?

Globalization can exacerbate global inequality by concentrating wealth and resources in developed nations, while developing countries may experience exploitation and remain marginalized in the global economy. Signup and view all the answers

What dilemmas do low-income nations face regarding debt accumulation?

Low-income nations often struggle with significant debt accumulation, limiting their economic growth and ability to provide adequate social services. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'minimum wage' in the context of social stratification?

In the context of social stratification, minimum wage refers to the lowest legal income that workers can be paid, which can influence economic standing and quality of life for the lower classes. Signup and view all the answers

What are the working conditions described for workers in the context of modern capitalism?

Workers often endure long hours with minimal days off and receive wages significantly above the federal minimum wage yet below living standards, reflecting exploitative labor practices. Signup and view all the answers

How does the GINI coefficient relate to global inequality?

The GINI coefficient measures income distribution, with values closer to 100 indicating higher inequality; in global terms, it signals vast wealth disparities between the richest and poorest populations. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Anatolian tigers' signify in the context of Turkey's economic landscape?

'Anatolian tigers' refers to the rapidly developing and industrializing regions in Turkey that contribute to the nation's economic growth and social mobility. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of global stratification as discussed in the provided material.

Global stratification refers to the unequal distribution of resources and wealth among nations, leading to significant disparities in living standards and opportunities for individuals across different countries. Signup and view all the answers

How does Immanuel Wallerstein's World Systems Approach interpret global inequality?

Wallerstein's World Systems Approach posits that global inequality is rooted in an economic hierarchy where core nations hold power and resources while peripheral nations face significant challenges to economic mobilization. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'Fourth World' in global classification?

The 'Fourth World' refers to marginalized minority groups, including indigenous populations and the homeless, who lack political power and resources. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the impact of gentrification on communities like Sulukule.

Gentrification in areas like Sulukule leads to the displacement of disadvantaged communities, transforming their socio-economic landscape often at the expense of original residents. Signup and view all the answers

What challenges do poorer nations face according to the global stratification discussion?

Poorer nations encounter obstacles such as unequal resource distribution, lack of infrastructure, and dependence on developed countries, hindering their economic growth. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social stratification is the categorization of people based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power. It's analogous to geological layers.
An economic system encompasses wealth, money, assets, income, wages, and investment dividends.
Social standing is influenced by factors like wisdom, charisma, age, and cultural beliefs, which reinforce stratification.
Family plays a role by passing social position and cultural norms to children through inheritance.

Global Inequality

Wealth is concentrated among a small percentage of the global population.
Developed countries tend to have wealthier populations than developing countries.
There are significant disparities in income and opportunities between nations worldwide.
Economic instability within countries can lead to gaps in wealth distribution.
The richest 85 people in the world have more combined wealth than the poorest 3.5 billion, highlighting a severe disparity in wealth distribution.

Systems of Stratification

Closed systems exhibit little or no change in social position, such as the Caste system.
Open systems allow for achievement and movement between social layers, such as the Class system.
Caste systems are associated with high status consistency.
Class systems often have lower status consistency due to greater flexibility.
Social mobility is the ability to change social position (up or down), affected by factors like income, occupation, and education. This includes structural and intragenerational mobility.

Functionalism: Different societal aspects have inherent functions, and social stratification helps fill some social roles (Davis-Moore thesis).
Conflict theory: Social stratification perpetuates inequalities, benefits some at the expense of others, and generates conflict. Class conflict can occur based on ownership of production resources.
Symbolic interactionism: Everyday interactions reflect and reinforce social standing, with symbols (like possessions or appearance) communicating social status and status consistency.

Global Classification

Global classification avoids ethnocentrism.
Systems such as the "first-world, second-world, third-world, and fourth-world" categorizations exist but are increasingly challenged.
More inclusive models of global classification are evolving.

Global Stratification - World Systems Approach (Wallerstein)

Global economic disparities are seen through a hierarchy of nations.
Core nations dominate global economics and exploit peripheral nations.
Peripheral nations, with very little industrialization and weak governments, are economically dependent on core nations.
Semi-peripheral nations occupy a middle ground and exhibit some characteristics of exploitation of peripheral states, but are insufficient in power to dictate policy for core states.

Causes and Consequences of Global Inequality

Poverty can be relative or absolute. Relative poverty refers to individuals lacking societal standards. Absolute poverty is related to the inability to afford basic needs, like food, water, housing, and healthcare.
Slavery, modern-day forms like human trafficking, debt bondage, and child labor perpetrates cycles of inequality and dependency.
Consequences of global inequality include disparities in physical and mental health, crime, and further marginalization of minority groups and underclasses.

Global Inequality Data

Statistics like infant mortality rates and life expectancy vary drastically across countries, highlighting the scale of global inequality.
Global wealth concentration is not evenly distributed, with disparities among nations.

Case Studies

The Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, Bangladesh, highlights the exploitation of marginalized workers in global supply chains.
Sulukule, Turkey, illustrates gentrification and the displacement of poorer communities, often driven by economic and geographical trends.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts in social stratification, including social mobility, endogamous unions, and the implications of meritocracy. You'll delve into the impact of social inequality and examine various theoretical perspectives on social status and class distinctions. Test your understanding of how education, cultural exposure, and economic conditions shape social class dynamics.