Sociology Social Classes Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is Social Stratification?

The system of classifying people based on their family history.
The unequal distribution of wealth among society members.
A measure of an individual's place within a social class system.
The division of society into groups arranged in a social hierarchy. (correct)

What does Social Inequality refer to?

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

Define Slavery.

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

What is meant by Social Class?

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

What does Socioeconomic Status (SES) measure?

An individual's place within a social class system. Signup and view all the answers

What defines the Upper Class?

A largely self-sustaining group of the wealthiest people in a class system. Signup and view all the answers

Who belongs to the Upper-Middle Class?

Mostly professionals and managers who enjoy considerable financial stability. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Castle System?

A form of social stratification where status is determined by family history and cannot be changed. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Apartheid.

A 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 is the Middle Class composed of?

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

Define White Collar workers.

Workers and skilled laborers in technical and lower management jobs. Signup and view all the answers

Who makes up the Working Class/Lower-Middle Class?

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

What characterizes Blue-Collar workers?

Workers who perform manual labor. Signup and view all the answers

Who are considered the Working Poor?

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

Define Underclass.

The poorest Americans who are chronically unemployed and may depend on public or private assistance. Signup and view all the answers

What is Status Inconsistency?

A situation in which there are serious differences between different elements of an individual's socioeconomic status. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Feudal System.

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

What is Prestige in social context?

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 mean?

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

Define Cultural Capital.

Tastes, habits, expectations, skills, knowledge, and other cultural dispositions that help gain advantages in society. Signup and view all the answers

What is Class Consciousness?

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

What does Social Mobility refer to?

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

What characterizes a Closed System?

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

Define 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

Describe Intragenerational Mobility.

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

What is Horizontal Social Mobility?

The occupational movement of individuals or groups within a social class. Signup and view all the answers

Define 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 due to structural changes in society. Signup and view all the answers

What does Relative Deprivation mean?

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

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Study Notes

Refers to the hierarchical division of society into distinct groups.
Influences access to resources and social power among individuals.

Characterized by the uneven distribution of wealth, power, or social prestige.
Impacts life chances and opportunities available to different social groups.

Slavery: The most severe form of stratification based on legal ownership of individuals.
Caste System: Status is determined by family lineage, offering no social mobility.
Apartheid: A legal system of racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 to 1991.

Social Class: Grouping based on access to resources like wealth, power, and prestige.
Socioeconomic Status (SES): Indicator of social class, often reflecting income, education, and occupation.

Class Categories in the US

Upper Class: Comprises about 1% of the population, controls significant wealth.
Upper-Middle Class: Accounts for approximately 14%, includes professionals and managers.
Middle Class: Represents around 30% of the population, includes "white-collar" workers.
Working Class/Lower-Middle Class: About 30% of the population; includes "blue-collar" and service workers.
Working Poor: Constitutes around 20%, full-time workers living below the poverty line.
Underclass: Encompasses the chronically unemployed, about 5% of the US population.

Class Characteristics

White Collar: Workers in managerial and skilled technical roles.
Blue Collar: Workers engaged in manual labor or trade jobs.

Status Inconsistency: Occurs when an individual has conflicting indicators of social status.
Social Mobility: Refers to movement within the social class hierarchy, crucial for understanding class dynamics.
Closed System: Limited mobility between classes; status is often inherited.
Open System: Facilitates movement between social classes, allowing for greater potential for change.

Types of Mobility

Intergenerational Mobility: Social class movement between generations in a family.
Intragenerational Mobility: Changes in an individual’s social status over their lifetime.
Horizontal Mobility: Movement within the same social class, often occupational changes.
Vertical Mobility: Changes in social status that represent a rise or fall in class standing.
Structural Mobility: Often results from large-scale societal changes affecting many individuals simultaneously.

Prestige: Honor associated with membership in valuable social groups, often tied to class.
Social Reproduction: Stability of social classes over generations, perpetuating class status.
Cultural Capital: Skills and knowledge that provide advantages in social contexts.
Class Consciousness: Awareness of one's social status and the collective status of others.
Relative Deprivation: A subjective measure to evaluate poverty in relation to societal standards.

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