Module 7

Question 1

Social Stratification

Answer 1

-Refers to the structured inequalities between differen groups in a society in terms of their access to material or symbolic rewards
~Every human society have same form of stratification
~Social stratifications involve not just inequality, but the beliefs or ideologies use to justify the existing social arrangements

Question 2

Inequality

Answer 2

-Refers to the systematic distinctions that we can rank (more or less, higher or lower) and which concern valued qualities, such as wealth, prestige, education, and security

Question 3

Systems of Stratification

Answer 3

• Slavery
• Caste System
• An estate system

Question 4

Slavery

Answer 4

-A social system in which some people are owned by other’s as property
~US Chattel Slavery System

Question 5

Caste System

Answer 5

-A social system in which one’s social status is given at birth and is maintained for life
~India until 1949 and Apartheid South Afirca

Question 6

An estate system

Answer 6

-A social system whereby a person is born into a social rank, and can move, but only in very limited ways up or down the social ladder
~European feudalism that existed prior to the rise of capitalism

Question 7

Class system

Answer 7

-A system stratification containing unequal groups but with a relatively high degree of social mobility
-Characteristics
~Open social system: mobility possible
~Social boundaries: fluid with social position based on achievement rather then ascription for the most part
~Ideology: used to justify and legitimize societal arrangements

Question 8

Class

Answer 8

-Socioeconomic position among groups of individuals reflect similar levels of wealth, power, occupation, income, and education

Question 9

Income

Answer 9

-Money received from paid wages and salaries or earned from investments over a particular amount of time
~Median US household income
*2000: $63,535
*2011: $55,640 a decline of more than 12%
*2018: $57,700

Question 10

Wealth

Answer 10

-The net assets, or money and material possessions held by an individual or households minus their debts
~68% of Americans own their home
~But the top .1% of the population owns 22% of all household wealth

Question 11

Education Occupation

Answer 11

-Together, sociologists use these characteristics to identify a person’s class. They also affect one’s life chances: a person’s opportunities of achieving economic prosperity

Question 12

Intergenerational mobility

Answer 12

-Movement up/down from one generation to another
-Example
~Comparing children to their parents SES

Question 13

Intragenerational mobility

Answer 13

-individual moves up/down within the course of a personal career
-Example
~Horizontal versus vertical movements

Question 14

Gini Index

Answer 14

-A summary measure of income inequality, by summarizing the dispersion of income across the entire income distribution
~0 = perfect equality (everyone receives an equal share)
~1 = perfect inequality (where only one person/group receives all income)
~Comparative assessment
*US 2018 (.485), up from (.482) in 2017
**Anything above .45 is an extremely inequality society.

Question 15

Economy

Answer 15

-The society institution that organizes that production, trade, and consumption of good and services providing the material needs of a society
~The production process changes over time
~The economy is an inherently social phenomenon

Question 16

Capitalism

Answer 16

• Private ownership over the means of production
• Profit as an incentive
• Free competition with markets

Question 17

The Industrial Revolution

Answer 17

-The increase use of machinery and mass production as a central point in shaping the growth of a class society

Question 18

Characteristics of industrial Revolution

Answer 18

• Increase in urbanization
• Technological innovations
• Mass productions: large scale standardized manufacturing of identical commodities
• Greater division of labor

Question 19

Frederick W. Taylor’s Scientific management

Answer 19

-A system that breaks down production process to generate greater efficiencies and increase output by focusing on simple, coordinated operations in industries
~Has widespread effects on the organization of industrial production and workplace politics

Question 20

Characteristics of Taylorism

Answer 20

• Reduce physical movements of workers to improve productivity and thus increase efficiency
• Managers increase control over the labor process and knowledge by using explicit instructions of how to perform a given task
• Contributes to the deskilling and degradation of labor

Question 21

Unionization

Answer 21

-Organizations of workers that sought to improve wages and working conditions through collective action, strikes, and negotiations
~Workers began unionizing in the 19th century
~From 1888 to 1908, industrial accidents killed 700,000 American workers. Roughly 100 a day.

Question 22

Declining Labor Union Strength

Answer 22

-Unionizing peeked in the 1960s at 35% and it has been declining ever since. Currently stands at 11% (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015)

Question 23

Post-industrial societies

Answer 23

-Flexible forms of production and innovation are maximized to meet global market demands for diverse and customized products
~Old ways
*Ford Motor Company
~New ways
*Walmart

Question 24

Characteristics of Post-Industrial economy

Answer 24

• Global outsourcing
• Greater job insecurity
• Automations
• Flexible productions

Question 25

Structural Changes: Internal dynamics

Answer 25

• Bifurcation of the labor market
• Manufacturing jobs replaced by service sector jobs with lower pay scales and fewer/no benefits, low job security
• Decrease of unionization since the 1960s
• High paying, high skill jobs with benefits require higher education
• Governmental policy shifts forwards cutting taxes and social welfare programs

Question 26

Structure Changes: External dynamics

Answer 26

• International integration through expansion of global capitalism
• New technologies in communication, transportation, and financialization are key factors shaping the expanding the global economy

Question 27

Davis and Moore (1945): The Functions of Stratification

Answer 27

-Argues stratification has positive benefits for society because some positions are functionally more important than others
~Most important positions require special skills, talent, and training and thus are given greater rewards
*Positive Sanctions: Money, leisure, power, and prestige
~The most important positions must be filled by the most qualified individuals

Question 28

Meritocracy

Answer 28

-A society whereby personal success is based on individual talent and effort

Question 29

Melvin Tumin (1953)

Answer 29

-Functional importance of a particular occupation/role is difficult to measure. The social rewards bestowed on “important roles” do not necessarily reflect the job/position’s actual importance
~What is more important for the functioning of society?
*Professional basketball players vs medical doctor
*hedge fund manager vs high school teacher
~Social stratification is dysfunctional for many. Limits the discovery of new talent from disenfranchised and marginalized groups
*Those born into privilege are given fuller opportunities and avenges to realize their potential

Question 30

Karl Marx

Answer 30

-Conflict will always exist between the have’s and the have not’s. The working class is oppressed by the ruling class
~Two main classes within the capitalist system
*The Bourgeoisie
**The capitalist the owners of the means of productions
*The Proletariat
**The wages of the working class never rise far above subsistence level, while wealth piles up in the hands of the owning class
**Alienation

Question 31

Pierre Bourdieu

Answer 31

-The habitus, is the manifestation of social class in individuals, and is informed/shaped by a person’s
~Economic capital
*Income and wealth
~Social capital
*Networking and relationships among people and groups
~Cultural capital
*The tastes, habits, attitudes, knowledge, and other cultural assets of the middle class, that can influence success in school and later on in life
**Symbols and markers related to consumption are playing an ever-greater role in daily life