Lecture #6- Social Class & Inequality

absolute poverty

Lacking basic necessities for survival

affordable housing

Housing that costs no more than 30% of income

alienation

Feeling isolated or powerless due to work or conditions

capitalist class (bourgeoisie)

Owners of wealth and means of production

caste system

Stratification where social position is fixed at birth

class conflict

Struggle between classes with opposing interests

class system

Stratification based on economic position with mobility

feminization of poverty

Disproportionate poverty among women

food insecurity

Limited or uncertain access to adequate food

income

Money received from work

intergenerational mobility

Movement between classes across generations

intragenerational mobility

Movement within one's lifetime

job deskilling

Simplifying work tasks and reducing required skill

life chances

Opportunities to improve one's quality of life

Market Basket Measure (MBM)

Canadian poverty measure based on cost of essentials

meritocracy

System where success depends on ability and effort

pink-collar occupations

Jobs traditionally held by women

power

Ability to achieve goals despite resistance

prestige

Social respect given to a position

relative poverty

Poverty measured against societal standards

slavery

System where people are owned as property

social mobility

Movement up or down the social hierarchy

social stratification

Ranking of people based on access to resources

socioeconomic status (SES)

Mix of income

wealth

Total value of assets minus debts

working class (proletariat)

Workers who sell their labour