Sociology: US Class System Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Weber divided American classes into what four areas?

Upper Class (Upper Upper, Lower Upper), Middle Class (Upper Middle, Middle, Working), Lower Class and Under Class

Define Upper Class.

The social group that has the highest status in society.

What jobs are associated with Upper Class?

Physicians, Lawyers, Chief Executives

Define Middle Class.

The social group between the upper and working classes, including professional and business workers and their families. Signup and view all the answers

What jobs are associated with Middle Class?

Teachers, Secretaries, Managers Signup and view all the answers

Define Lower Class.

The social group that has the lowest status; the working class. Signup and view all the answers

What jobs are associated with Lower Class?

Cashiers, Nursing Aids, Housekeeping Signup and view all the answers

Why not use the mean of U.S. income?

Differs by gender, type of household, education, age, and ethnicity Signup and view all the answers

Define Social Mobility.

The mobility of individuals and groups between different class positions. Signup and view all the answers

Define Intergenerational Mobility.

The study of how a family moves in SES across generations. Signup and view all the answers

Define Intragenerational Mobility.

How much class mobility one person has in a lifetime. Signup and view all the answers

What class is shrinking in the U.S.?

Middle Class Signup and view all the answers

Define Absolute Poverty.

Severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education, and information. Signup and view all the answers

Define Relative Poverty.

Refers to a standard which is defined in terms of the society in which an individual lives and which therefore differs between countries and over time. Signup and view all the answers

The U.S. bulk of the population under poverty are comprised of?

Working poor who meet a temporary setback, elderly and chronically or terminally ill, single mothers and children. Signup and view all the answers

Individual factors in poverty include?

Laziness, addiction, poor decisions, mental illness, injury, illness, divorce, etc. Signup and view all the answers

Structural factors in poverty include?

Low minimum wage, low income supports for single mothers, poor education in poor areas, social isolation and poor networks. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Structure of the United States Class System

Weber categorizes American social classes into four areas: Upper Class (Upper Upper, Lower Upper), Middle Class (Upper Middle, Middle, Working), Lower Class, and Under Class.

Upper Class

Represents the highest status group in society.
Common occupations include physicians, lawyers, and chief executives.

Middle Class

Positioned between the upper and working classes, often comprising professional and business workers and their families.
Typical jobs include teachers, secretaries, and managers.

Lower Class

Identified as the lowest status group, often referred to as the working class.
Associated job roles include cashiers, nursing aides, and housekeeping staff.

Refers to the ability of individuals and groups to move between different class positions.

Intergenerational Mobility

Examines changes in socioeconomic status (SES) of families across generations.

Intragenerational Mobility

Focuses on the extent of class mobility experienced by a single individual throughout their lifetime.

Declining Class

The Middle Class is noted as shrinking in the United States.

Absolute Poverty

Defined as severe deprivation of basic human needs, such as food, water, sanitation, healthcare, shelter, education, and information.

Relative Poverty

Based on societal standards, differing between countries and over time.

Demographics of Poverty in the U.S.

Majority of the impoverished population comprises:
- Working poor facing temporary setbacks (e.g., injury, illness, divorce).
- Elderly and chronically or terminally ill individuals.
- Single mothers and their children.
- In 2014, 46.6 million people lived in poverty, with a rate of 14.8%.

Individual Factors Contributing to Poverty

Laziness, addiction, poor decision-making, mental illness, injury, illness, and divorce are listed as personal factors.

Structural Factors Contributing to Poverty

Low minimum wage, inadequate income supports for single mothers, poor educational systems in disadvantaged areas, and social isolation with limited networks play a significant role.

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Description

This quiz covers the structure of the United States class system as defined by Weber. It includes definitions and associated jobs of various classes, including upper class, middle class, and lower class. Perfect for sociology students looking to deepen their understanding of social stratification.