Module 4-7 Flashcards
(242 cards)
social stratification
the existence of structured inequalities among groups in society in terms of their access to material or symbolic rewards
slavery
a form of social stratification in which some people are owned by others as their property
caste system
a social system in which one’s social status is determined at birth and set for life
endogamy
the forbidding of marriage or sexual relations outside of one’s social group
class
although it is one of the most frequently used concepts in sociology, there is no clear agreement about how the term should be defined. Most sociologists use the term to refer to socioeconomic variations among groups of individuals that create variations in their material prosperity and power
life chances
a term introduced by Max Weber to signify a person’s opportunities for achieving economic prosperity
means of production
the means whereby the production of material goods is carried on in a society, including not just technology but the social relations among producers
bourgeoise
people who own companies, land, or stocks (shares) and use these to generate economic returns according to Marx
proletariat
people who sell their labor for wages, according to Marx
surplus value
in Marxist theory, the value of a worker’s labor power left over when an employer has repaid the cost of hiring the worker
status
The social honor or prestige that a particular group is accorded by other members of a society. Status groups normally display distinct styles of life—patterns of behavior that the members of a group follow. Status privilege may be positive or negative
pariah group
groups that suffer from negative status discrimination - they are looked down on by most other members of society
power
the ability of individuals or the members of a group to achieve aims or further the interests they hold. Power is a pervasive element in all human relationships. Many conflicts in society are struggles over power, because how much power an individual or group is able to obtain governs how far they are able to put their wishes into practice
contradictory class locations
positions in the class structure, particularly routine white collar, and lower managerial jobs, that share characteristics with the class positions both above and below them
income
payment, usually derived from wages, salaries, or investments
wealth
money and material possessions held by an individual or group
upper class
a social class broadly composed of the more affluent members of society, especially those who have inherited wealth, own businesses, or hold large numbers of stocks
middle class
a social class composed broadly of those working in white-collar and highly skilled blue-collar jobs
working class
a social class broadly composed of people working in blue collar or manual occupations
blue and pink collar jobs
jobs that typically pay low wages and often involve manual or low-skill labor. Blue-collar jobs typically are held by men (e.g. factory workers) whereas pink-collar jobs are typically held by women (e.g. clerical assistant)
lower class
a social class composed of those who work part-time or not at all and whose household income is typically low
social mobility
upward or downward movement of individuals or groups among different social positions
intragenerational mobility
movement up or down a social stratification hierarchy within the course of a personal career
intergenerational mobility
change in social class between generations