Sociology Flashcards on Social Stratification

Questions and Answers

What is social stratification?

The division of large numbers of people into layers according to their relative power, property, and prestige.

What are the three major stratification systems?

Slavery, caste, and class.

How is slavery defined in terms of social stratification?

A form of social stratification in which some people own other people.

Slavery was usually based on , as a punishment for a , or a matter of .

debt, crime, war Signup and view all the answers

What is the caste system?

A form of social stratification based on ascribed status that follows an individual throughout his or her life. Signup and view all the answers

What is a class system?

Based on the possession of money or material possessions, allowing social mobility. Signup and view all the answers

Who are the bourgeoisie?

Those who owned the means of production. Signup and view all the answers

Who are the proletariat?

Those who work for the owners. Signup and view all the answers

People's social class standing consists of what three interrelated components?

Property, prestige, and power. Signup and view all the answers

What do Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore argue regarding societal positions?

Society must offer greater rewards to attract the most capable people to fill important positions. Signup and view all the answers

What does meritocracy refer to?

Promoting people on the basis of their achievements. Signup and view all the answers

What did Gaetano Mosca argue?

In every society, groups compete for power. Signup and view all the answers

What did Gerhard Lenski suggest about stratification?

The key to understanding stratification is based on the accumulation of surplus. Signup and view all the answers

What is ideology in the context of social stratification?

Created by members of the ruling elite to justify their society's social stratification system. Signup and view all the answers

What are two examples of how stratification differs in societies?

In Britain, differences in speech and education; in the former Soviet Union, communism replaced one set of social classes with another. Signup and view all the answers

What are three theories explaining the origins of global stratification?

Colonialism, world system theory, and the culture of poverty. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three levels of a nation's level of industrialization?

Industrializing Signup and view all the answers

What is globalization?

The extensive interconnections among nations resulting from the expansion of capitalism. Signup and view all the answers

What is neocolonialism?

The economic and political dominance of the least industrialized nations by the most industrialized nations. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Michael Harrington?

He asserts that the most industrialized nations control the least industrialized nations through market control. Signup and view all the answers

How do multinational corporations contribute to stratification?

By contributing to the exploitation of the least industrialized nations. Signup and view all the answers

How does the new technology favor industrialized nations?

It enables them to maintain their global domination. Signup and view all the answers

What is social class?

A large group of people who rank closely to one another in terms of property, power, and prestige. Signup and view all the answers

What defines wealth?

Consisting of the value of property and income. Signup and view all the answers

What is power in a sociological context?

The ability to get one's way even though others resist. Signup and view all the answers

Who is referred to as the power elite?

A small group that holds control in business, government, and the military. Signup and view all the answers

What is prestige linked to?

Linked to occupational status. Signup and view all the answers

What does status refer to?

Social position. Signup and view all the answers

What is status consistency?

The rank high or low in all three dimensions of social class. Signup and view all the answers

What is status inconsistency?

Tend to produce political radicalism. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Erik Wright?

Developed a four-class system on Marx; capitalists, petty bourgeoisie, managers, workers. Signup and view all the answers

Who are capitalists?

Owners of large businesses, investors, heirs, and few executives. Signup and view all the answers

What are petty bourgeoisie?

Small business owners. Signup and view all the answers

What defines the working class?

Factory workers and low-paid white-collar workers, most have high school educations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the underclass?

Concentrated in the inner cities with little connection to the job market. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Defined as dividing large groups of people into layers based on relative power, property, and prestige.
Major stratification systems include slavery, caste, and class.

Slavery

A form of social stratification where some individuals own others.
Commonly based on debt, crime, or war.

Caste System

Social stratification based on ascribed status, which is fixed for life.

Class System

Based on financial resources and material possessions.
Allows for social mobility, enabling individuals to move up or down the class ladder.

Bourgeoisie and Proletariat

Bourgeoisie: Owners of the means of production.
Proletariat: Workers for the bourgeoisie.

Composed of property, prestige, and power.

Theory by Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore suggesting society must provide incentives to attract capable individuals to important roles.
Meritocracy promotes individuals based on their achievements.

Theories of Power and Stratification

Gaetano Mosca: Groups in society compete for power.
Gerhard Lenski: Surplus accumulation is key to understanding stratification.

Ruling elites create ideologies to justify existing social stratification systems.

Variability in Stratification

Class distinctions in Britain highlighted through speech and education.
The former Soviet Union saw a shift from one stratification to another under communism.

Global Stratification Theories

Roots explained by colonialism, world system theory, and the culture of poverty.

Levels of Industrialization

Classification of nations: Most Industrialized, Industrializing, and Least Industrialized.

Globalization

The extensive interconnections among nations driven by capitalistic expansion.

Neocolonialism

Economic and political dominance of least industrialized nations by the most industrialized nations.

Economic Power Dynamics

Michael Harrington asserts that most industrialized nations control less industrialized nations through market control and pricing.
Multinational corporations exploit least industrialized nations.

Role of Technology

New technologies favor most industrialized nations, aiding their global dominance.

Large groups ranking similarly concerning property, power, and prestige.

Wealth and Power

Wealth consists of property value and income.
Power is defined as the ability to achieve one's objectives despite opposition.

Power Elite

C. Wright Mills identifies the power elite as a small group controlling business, government, and military power.

Prestige and Status

Prestige linked to occupational status; status refers to social position.
Status can be consistent (ranking similarly across dimensions) or inconsistent (leading to political radicalism).

Erik Wright's Four-Class System

Extends Marx’s model: capitalists, petty bourgeoisie, managers, and workers.
Capitalists: Owners of large businesses.
Petty bourgeoisie: Small business owners.
Working class: Factory and lower-paid white-collar workers, typically with a high school education.
Under class: Positioned in inner cities with limited job market connections.

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Test your knowledge on key concepts of social stratification with these flashcards. Learn about different stratification systems such as slavery, caste, and class, and understand their implications in society.