Questions and Answers
What is Social Stratification?
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?
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What does Socioeconomic Status (SES) measure?
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What defines the Upper Class?
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Who belongs to the Upper-Middle Class?
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What is the Castle System?
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Describe Apartheid.
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What is the Middle Class composed of?
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Define White Collar workers.
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Who makes up the Working Class/Lower-Middle Class?
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What characterizes Blue-Collar workers?
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Who are considered the Working Poor?
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Define Underclass.
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What is Status Inconsistency?
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Describe the Feudal System.
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What is Prestige in social context?
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What does Social Reproduction mean?
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Define Cultural Capital.
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What is Class Consciousness?
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What does Social Mobility refer to?
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What characterizes a Closed System?
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Define Open System.
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What is Intergenerational Mobility?
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Describe Intragenerational Mobility.
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What is Horizontal Social Mobility?
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Define Vertical Social Mobility.
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What is Structural Mobility?
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What does Relative Deprivation mean?
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Study Notes
Social Stratification
- Refers to the hierarchical division of society into distinct groups.
- Influences access to resources and social power among individuals.
Social Inequality
- Characterized by the uneven distribution of wealth, power, or social prestige.
- Impacts life chances and opportunities available to different social groups.
Forms of Social Stratification
- 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 Definitions
- 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.
Social Mobility Concepts
- 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.
Key Social Concepts
- 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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Explore the key concepts of social classes and social stratification with these flashcards. Each card focuses on essential terms and definitions that highlight the structure of society and its inherent inequalities. Perfect for students looking to deepen their understanding of sociology.