Social Stratification Flashcards
Marx’s theory of stratification
The maturing of industrial capitalism would create an increasing gap between the wealth of the minority and the poverty of the mass of the population
Weber’s theory of stratification
Class divisions derive not only from control or lack of control of the means of production, but also from economic differences that have nothing to do with property
Status (Weber)
The social honor or prestige a particular group is accorded by other members of a society
Intergenerational
Movement up or down a social stratification hierarchy from one generation to another
Intragenerational
Movement up or down a social stratification hierarchy within the course of a personal career
Upward/downward Mobility
Movement up into higher classes, or down into lower
Structural Mobility
Mobility resulting from changes in the number and kinds of jobs available in a society
Exchange Mobility
Mobility resulting from changes in the number and kinds of jobs available in a society
Functionalism
Stratification makes some useful contribution to the maintenance of society
Conflict theory
“Contradictory class locations”
Contradictory class locations
Between two main classes, groups whose position is more ambiguous
Cultural capital
The cultural advantages that come with being from a “good home”
Absolute Poverty
People who not have access to healthy food or, in situations of famine, may even starve to death
Relative Poverty
A measure of inequality, being poor as compared with the standards of living of the majority
Working poor
People who spend the majority of their time working or looking for work but whose incomes fall below the poverty level
