Module 5 (midterm 2) Flashcards
(43 cards)
Income
Amount of money received through paid labour and/ or investments
Social Class
A grouping based on social factors, including income, wealth, education, and occupation
Social class implies a shared standing of living based off
Income, wealth, education, occupation
Social class impacts:
How much power and prestige individuals have
-people in the same class share similar life chances/ opportunities
People in the same social class share opportunities like:
Succeed, gain economic power, health, PA (or not)
Social classes exist:
In all industrial countries
Success is not always a direct result of:
How hard one works
-reflects Meritocracy (effort to outcome)
What are the social classes in Canada?
Upper, Middle (has an upper and lower), Lower
Upper Class:
-wealthiest and most powerful (corporate leaders whose decision affect job status)
-have control over their lives
-economic positions gives power to control others lives
EX) contribute to political parties who protect them
-own mainstream and social media companies that shape our perceptions of the world
Upper class can be Divided into: (2)
Old Money: inherited wealth, passed along to each generation
New Money: wealth earned by oneself
-less social connections than old money circles
Middle Class
-most tend to have a minimum of bachelors or two- year college degree
-work hard and have fairly comfortable lives
-white collar jobs, lower level managers, highly skilled blue collar workers
White Collar Workers:
-performs non0manual labor/ tasks (not physically demanding)
-usually salaried
-white shirts =easily soiled, distinguish workers who “don’t get their hands dirty”
Blue Collar Workers:
-perform manual labour
-hourly wage
Upper Middle Class
-bachelors or postgraduate degrees
-comfortable incomes, allowing holidays (cabin, boating, etc)
-children receive quality education
Lower Middle Class:
-bachelors or associates degree (2year community college)
-hold jobs supervised by upper middle class
-decent lifestyle but struggle to maintain it
=more likely to lose their jobs and thus their grip on being middle class
-also threatened in recent years by higher taxes, education costs, shelter costs
-called the “middle class squeeze” -can be squeezed out to lower class
Lower Class:
-less education and usually earn smaller income than middle class
Working Class: Blue Collared
-perform blue collar jobs requiring little skill or experience with benefits (holidays, sick days)
-perform routine tasks under close supervision
-blue collar work, hourly wage
-physically demanding (blue overalls)
Working Class: Pink Collared
-low paying, semi skilled positions traditionally held by women
-tailor, daycare worker, housecleaner, etc
-women in industrialized countries entered the workforce to earn their own income
-kept out of blue and white collars by physical requirements and discrimination
Working Poor:
-perform blue collar jobs requiring little skill or experience without benefits
-usually seasonal or temporary work -snow removal, farmhand, etc
-many have no graduated from high school
-even if they work full time, they earn less than living wage
Underclass:
-live mainly in inner cities
-unemployed or underemployed (low pay)
-homeless
-rely on gov assistance (food, meds, housing, etc)
Social Mobility
-ability to change social class positions
-a high degree of social mobility, upwards or downwards -suggests that equal opportunities exist for all people
Intergenerational mobility
differences is social classes between family generations
Intragenerational Mobility
differences in social classes between different members of the same generation
INTRA=same generation
