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 ____.
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What is the caste system?
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What is a class system?
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Who are the bourgeoisie?
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Who are the proletariat?
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People's social class standing consists of what three interrelated components?
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What do Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore argue regarding societal positions?
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What does meritocracy refer to?
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What did Gaetano Mosca argue?
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What did Gerhard Lenski suggest about stratification?
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What is ideology in the context of social stratification?
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What are two examples of how stratification differs in societies?
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What are three theories explaining the origins of global stratification?
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What are the three levels of a nation's level of industrialization?
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What is globalization?
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What is neocolonialism?
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Who is Michael Harrington?
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How do multinational corporations contribute to stratification?
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How does the new technology favor industrialized nations?
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What is social class?
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What defines wealth?
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What is power in a sociological context?
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Who is referred to as the power elite?
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What is prestige linked to?
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What does status refer to?
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What is status consistency?
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What is status inconsistency?
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Who is Erik Wright?
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Who are capitalists?
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What are petty bourgeoisie?
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What defines the working class?
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What is the underclass?
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Study Notes
Social Stratification
- 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.
Components of Social Class
- Composed of property, prestige, and power.
Social Rewards and Meritocracy
- 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.
Ideology and Social 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.
Social Class Definition
- 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.