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Questions and Answers

What is an example of a college dropout launching a successful online company?

A college dropout launches an online company that earns millions in its first year.

Based on meritocracy, what would a physician's assistant be encouraged to do?

Most likely marry a professional at the same level

Receive the same pay as all the other physician's assistants

Earn a pay raise for doing excellent work (correct)

Be encouraged to earn a higher degree to seek a better position (correct)

In the United States, most people define themselves as which class?

No specific class

Middle class (correct)

Upper class

Lower class

What is structural mobility?

A large group moves up or down the class ladder due to societal changes Signup and view all the answers

What are the behaviors, customs, and norms associated with a class known as?

Class traits Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario is an example of intergenerational mobility?

An executive belongs to a different class than her parents. Signup and view all the answers

What does occupational prestige mean?

Jobs are not equally valued Signup and view all the answers

What does social stratification involve?

Ranking society members into categories Signup and view all the answers

Which graphic concept best illustrates social stratification?

Pyramid Signup and view all the answers

The GNI PPP figure represents what?

The average annual income of a country's citizens Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic premise of the Davis-Moore thesis?

It serves a purpose in society Signup and view all the answers

Unlike Davis and Moore, Melvin Tumin believed that, because of social stratification, some qualified people were _______ higher-level job positions.

denied the opportunity to obtain Signup and view all the answers

Which statement represents stratification from the perspective of symbolic interactionism?

After work, Pat, a janitor, feels more comfortable eating in a truck stop than a French restaurant. Signup and view all the answers

When Karl Marx said workers experience alienation, he meant that workers:

Do not feel connected to their work Signup and view all the answers

Conflict theorists view capitalists as those who:

Get rich while workers stay poor Signup and view all the answers

A sociologist who focuses on multinational corporations' exploitation of local workers in peripheral nations is using a _________ perspective.

Conflict theory Signup and view all the answers

France might be classified as which kind of nation?

Core Signup and view all the answers

What does capital flight refer to?

The relocation of manufacturing to other countries Signup and view all the answers

What type of slavery resembles slavery in the pre-Civil War American South?

Chattel slavery Signup and view all the answers

Maya is a homeless 12-year-old girl in Thailand. She often does not know where she will sleep or when she will eat. This situation represents what kind of poverty?

Absolute poverty Signup and view all the answers

Mike, a college student, rents a studio apartment and lives on cheap groceries. What type of poverty is he experiencing?

Relative poverty Signup and view all the answers

Faith has a job but feels her income should support her family better than it does. What type of poverty is she experiencing?

Subjective poverty Signup and view all the answers

A mining company in town owns all the stores and houses, selling goods to workers at inflated prices. What does this situation resemble?

Debt slavery Signup and view all the answers

One flaw in dependency theory is the unwillingness to recognize _______.

that previously low-income nations such as China have successfully developed their economies and can no longer be classified as dependent on core nations. Signup and view all the answers

One flaw in modernization theory is the unwillingness to recognize _________.

its inherent ethnocentric bias. Signup and view all the answers

Who made most important decisions in the U.S. according to C. Wright Mills?

Power elite Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the small group of officials who make most important decisions in the U.S.?

Power elite Signup and view all the answers

Which individuals are among the Power Elite?

Officials from key economic, political, and military institutions. Signup and view all the answers

Which principle is NOT a characteristic of social stratification?

It is a reflection of individual differences Signup and view all the answers

Which is an effect of absolute poverty that also contributes to its cyclical nature?

Lack of Education Signup and view all the answers

The two regions with the highest risk of social unrest are:

Sub-Saharan & the Middle East-North Africa region Signup and view all the answers

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was created by:

Core nation countries Signup and view all the answers

Which social class is quickly disappearing from modern economies?

Middle Class Signup and view all the answers

Which continent has the greatest number of impoverished nations in the world?

Africa Signup and view all the answers

How is global stratification different from social stratification?

Global stratification examines a myriad of different types of prejudice and inequality Signup and view all the answers

Maria is part of the ________ because she does not report her earnings to the IRS.

Underground economy Signup and view all the answers

Which number does the World Bank use to determine the status and classification of each nation?

Gross National Income per Capita Signup and view all the answers

What is one practical way we can try and stop multinational companies from using child labor?

We can be responsible consumers and research products before we buy them Signup and view all the answers

Which statement would you find in the analysis of poverty by Neckerman and Torche?

Once poverty has entered a geographic location, it is very difficult to get rid of it Signup and view all the answers

Which historical event was greatly responsible for global stratification as we see it today?

The Industrial Revolution Signup and view all the answers

A person's position in a country's social stratification is determined by:

Wealth, power, race, and education Signup and view all the answers

GNI PPP, or gross national income divided by purchasing power parity, helps measure:

The standard of living in a country Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is considered when evaluating someone's standard of living?

All of the Above Signup and view all the answers

Charlotte was born to a lower class family and becomes CEO of a company. What type of mobility is shown?

Intragenerational mobility Signup and view all the answers

Mohair spent his days combing through garbage in Mumbai. He is an example of someone living under:

A caste system Signup and view all the answers

What is the most significant threat to the relatively high standard of living people are accustomed to in the US?

The decline of the middle class Signup and view all the answers

Whose work do conflict theorists rely on for arguments surrounding social stratification?

Karl Marx Signup and view all the answers

What kind of purchasing is it when someone buys an expensive designer bag?

Conspicuous consumption Signup and view all the answers

One main issue in studying global social inequality is:

Social inequality is relative and therefore, difficult to compare across cultures Signup and view all the answers

Women's employment outside the agricultural sector remains under 20 percent in:

Both B & C Signup and view all the answers

Which continent has the largest number of people in poverty in the world?

Asia Signup and view all the answers

Areas that once had vast economic growth but are now suffering from outsourcing are going through a period of:

Deindustrialization Signup and view all the answers

An example of slavery, according to Anti-Slavery International, is:

Factories using child labor Signup and view all the answers

Immanuel Wallerstein's classification of nations uses which set of terms?

Core nation, peripheral nation, semi-peripheral nation Signup and view all the answers

Which trend has the World Bank seen in its study of poverty in low-income nations?

More women live in poverty than men Signup and view all the answers

Which statement explains why Immanuel Wallerstein's classification is preferred by sociologists?

Wallerstein's classification uses neutral terms that allow it to appear less ethnocentric Signup and view all the answers

In the US, where outsourcing is almost always addressed negatively, how do companies get away with it?

Americans want lower prices for consumable products Signup and view all the answers

Which theoretical paradigm would a sociologist studying Africa's economic issues likely ascribe to?

Conflict theory Signup and view all the answers

88 million people live on less than $1.00 a day. These people are said to be living in ______.

Absolute poverty Signup and view all the answers

What is particularly unique about the United States middle class?

It is broken into two subcategories: upper and lower middle class Signup and view all the answers

With the recent Occupy Wall Street Movement, how much of the US wealth is held by the top 1%?

1/3 Signup and view all the answers

After the collapse of the housing market, many people went into foreclosures. This was a time of __________.

Downward mobility Signup and view all the answers

Cate is the daughter of a Senator. She plans a(n) _______ marriage.

Exogamous Signup and view all the answers

How do sociologists determine whether subjects are in the upper class or upper-middle class?

Control over one's life versus control over only one's own life Signup and view all the answers

It was time for Oli to marry. His parents chose a bride for him whose parents had the same amount of wealth and belonged to the same class as they did. Oli and his bride will have a(n) ________ marriage.

Endogamous Signup and view all the answers

Symbolic interactionists have come to the conclusion that:

Most people only socialize with people in their same social class Signup and view all the answers

What seems to be the key to upward social mobility?

How much education you have Signup and view all the answers

Elisa graduated from college and was offered a job where she excelled. This promotion is based on the principles of:

A meritocracy Signup and view all the answers

The Davis-Moore Thesis states:

That the more society values a profession, the more the people in that profession will make Signup and view all the answers

What factor makes caste systems closed?

People cannot change their social standings Signup and view all the answers

What factor makes class systems open?

They allow for movement between the classes Signup and view all the answers

Which of these systems allows for the most social mobility?

Class Signup and view all the answers

Which person best illustrates opportunities for upward social mobility in the United States?

First-generation college student Signup and view all the answers

Which statement illustrates low status consistency?

A suburban family lives in a modest ranch home and enjoys nice vacations each summer Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lack of education is a significant effect of absolute poverty that perpetuates its cycle.
Sub-Saharan and Middle East-North Africa regions face the highest risks of social unrest.
Africa has the most impoverished nations, with the largest number of people living in poverty found in Asia.
Absolute poverty is characterized by living on less than $1.00 a day, which severely impacts well-being.

Trade Agreements and Economic Class

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was created by core nations to enhance trade.
The middle class is rapidly disappearing in modern economies, contributing to economic instability.
Global stratification studies inequality on a broad level, while social stratification focuses on individual social class standings.

Underground Economy and Employment

The underground economy consists of unreported income activities, often prevalent among part-time workers like students.
The World Bank classifies nations based on Gross National Income per Capita, a critical indicator for economic status.
Labor practices such as child labor in sweatshops persist despite modern ethical standards in consumerism.

Intragenerational mobility occurs when an individual moves between social classes over their lifetime, while intergenerational mobility refers to this movement between generations.
Caste systems are characterized by closed social standings, limiting individual mobility, whereas class systems allow for movement and are more open.
The concept of meritocracy suggests that individuals are rewarded based on their abilities and efforts, with promotions based on performance.

Sociological Perspectives

Conflict theory, as proposed by Karl Marx, emphasizes the struggles between different social classes and the impact of historical contexts such as European colonialism.
The Davis-Moore Thesis argues that economic incentives are tied to the societal value placed on certain professions, influencing income distribution.

Conspicuous consumption highlights the trend of purchasing luxury goods as a display of social status.
Most individuals identify as middle class, reflecting the ambiguous nature of social class boundaries in the U.S.

Mobility Trends and Challenges

Economic trends such as deindustrialization lead to job losses and downward mobility for many workers.
Increased participation of women in poverty indicates significant gender disparities in economic challenges.
Structural mobility occurs when large groups shift in social class due to societal changes rather than individual actions.

Class Characteristics and Traits

Class traits encompass behaviors and cultural norms associated with specific social classes, shaping identities and interactions.
Low status consistency is illustrated through scenarios where individuals experience significant variations in class standing relative to their backgrounds.### Occupational Prestige
Occupational prestige indicates that jobs are not equally valued within society.
Individuals’ roles and their perceived value often vary considerably across different professions.

Social stratification ranks society members into categories based on various factors like wealth, education, and power.

Visual Representation

The pyramid graphic is commonly used to illustrate social stratification, emphasizing hierarchical levels.

GNI PPP

The GNI PPP (Gross National Income Purchasing Power Parity) figure reflects the average annual income of citizens in a country, providing insight into economic well-being.

Davis-Moore Thesis

The basic premise asserts that unequal distribution of rewards in social stratification serves a purpose in society, potentially motivating individuals to pursue higher positions.

Melvin Tumin's Perspective

Tumin argued that social stratification denies qualified individuals opportunities for higher-level job positions, highlighting inequality in access.

Symbolic Interactionism and Stratification

From the symbolic interactionist view, Pat the janitor feels more at ease in informal dining settings, illustrating how social class affects daily experiences and interactions.

Alienation as Described by Marx

Workers experience alienation, meaning they feel disconnected from their work and lack a sense of relationship with the labor they perform.

Conflict Theory and Capitalists

Conflict theorists suggest capitalists enrich themselves at the expense of workers, perpetuating economic inequality.

Multinational Corporations Perspective

Understanding how multinational corporations exploit workers in peripheral nations reflects a conflict theory perspective within the global economy.

Functionalist Perspective on Corporations

A functionalist theorist might focus on how wealthy corporations improve lives in peripheral nations by providing jobs and contributing economically.

Symbolic Interaction Perspective in Sociology

A sociologist applying a symbolic interaction perspective may interview factory workers to understand their daily struggles and interactions with supervisors.

Classification of Nations

France is classified as a core nation due to its developed economy and stable infrastructure within the global market.

Capital Flight

The relocation of manufacturing jobs from the United States to countries like China exemplifies capital flight, impacting local employment and economic dynamics.

Types of Poverty

Chattel slavery is the form of slavery most similar to the conditions experienced in the pre-Civil War American South.
Absolute poverty is illustrated by individuals like Maya, who lack basic survival needs.
Relative poverty describes situations where individuals, like Mike, cannot meet societal standards of living but survive on limited resources.
Subjective poverty is experienced by individuals, like Faith, who feel their income is insufficient despite meeting basic needs.

Debt Slavery

A mining company controlling stores and housing in an American town exemplifies debt slavery, where workers are trapped in a cycle of debt and employment.

Dependency Theory Flaws

A flaw in dependency theory is its failure to recognize that countries like China have successfully developed and are no longer entirely dependent on core nations.

Modernization Theory Flaws

Modernization theory is critiqued for its ethnocentric bias, failing to acknowledge various pathways to development.

Sociological Theories on Global Economy

Modernization theory posits that societies evolve towards advanced technology alongside cultural values promoting hard work and success.
Dependency theorists emphasize that core nations dominate the global economy by exploiting peripheral nations.

Power Elite Concept

C. Wright Mills introduced the concept of the Power Elite, a small group of individuals making significant decisions in the U.S., often operating behind the scenes.

Key principles include that stratification persists over generations, is universal, involves inequality, is a trait of society, and is influenced by collective beliefs.

Structural Mobility

Structural mobility refers to movements up or down the class hierarchy due to large-scale societal changes affecting groups rather than individuals.

Class Traits

Class traits encapsulate the behaviors, norms, and customs typically associated with different socioeconomic classes, influencing cultural and lifestyle choices.

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