Soc 101 Test #2 Flashcards
(41 cards)
What is social stratification?
Structured inequalities
What are two examples of caste systems?
1) Indian caste system
2) American caste system that was enforced by racially discriminating laws such as the Jim Crow laws
(caste systems have codified legal segregation based on something that someone inherits-rank, race, sex/gender)
4 primary factors that indicate position in a class sytstem
income, wealth (most important) and occupation, education
Wealth distribution in America! How much of the “Wealth Pie” does the top 20% own?
85%
Sociology 101 Median income? National Median income?
62,000, 50,000 respectively
If you wanted to support the argument that income inequality has increased in America since the 1970s what are at least two statistics from lecture that you could use?
changes in median income by class, CEO vs. worker pay change over time
Class inequality is a reflection of different investments that people make in their human capital. This would be the theoretical explanation for inequality made by which type of theorist?
This is a rational choice explanation using the human capital theory
Class inequality is caused by the exploitation of laborers by those who own productive property. This explanation of inequality is most likely made by which theorist?
Karl Marx. Conflict theory
This theorist states that position in terms of social stratification is determined by class as well as status and social honor they receive.
Max Weber. Social status and social honor related to norms and values of a society.
Inequality exists because different occupations are rewarded at higher and lower rates based on that societies needs and the skills required for that occupation. This explanation of inequality is most likely made by which type of theorist?
Functionalist theorist. (Davis and Moore)
Inter-generational mobility that shows a decrease in lower paying jobs and an increase in higher paying jobs resulting in more people in the newer generation in higher paying jobs. What kind of social mobility is this?
Structural mobility in which the opportunity structure is improving.
What is the current gender pay gap in the United States?
Women make 80 cents for every $1 that men make
What are the different inter-generational mobility trends that we see? What do they “look like”?
Inheritance (no mobility), structural (shifts in the opportunity structures), exchange mobility (no increase or decrease in location of jobs but people move between classes easily)
How has the poverty rate changed since the 1970s?
It hasn’t. It has stayed around 15%.
How are people ranked in a caste system?
Inheritance. Place in society determined from birth.
Immigrants are becoming more transnational what does this mean?
Easier to maintain financial and emotional ties to native country because of technology and increased mobility. (skype)
Past discrimination that forced African Americans into jobs that were disproportionately effected by the changing economy is the reason for current racial inequality. Which theorist most likely would make this argument?
Wilson
The fact that most of the people who are in poverty are the “working poor” supports which explanation of poverty? (structural or individual failings?)
structural failings
What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?
Prejudice (pre-judging) is the thought process or the idea. Discrimination is the action based on the prejudice thoughts.
How do we know that gender is a social construct?
ideas about gender (the roles of men and women) change over time and between cultures
sex:biology::______:sociology
gender
Non-Hispanic Whites make up 64% of the American population. What is the % distribution of the other racial and ethnic groups that we covered in class?
Native Americans 1%, Asian 6%, African American 13% Hispanic 16%
What act passed by congress actually made it more difficult for undocumented workers to return home to Mexico?
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (disrupted the circular flow of migrant workers)
How are world migration patterns changing?
1) Accelerating-size of the immigrant population is growing rapidly
2) Diversifying- more counties becoming involved and becoming more global.
3) Feminized- the number of female migrants is increasing
4) becoming transnational, better communication allows migrants to stay in contact with their native countries, emotionally and financially.
