Chapter 1: Investigating Social Problem

Race

Divide continuous traits into discrete groups of people

Ethnicity

A social construction used to categorize people based on shared cutural characteristics, including language, food, family ancestry, religion, history, and nationality

“Differences between people based on cultural customs (food, religion, etc.)”

Sex

biological differences between individuals (males and females)

Gender

social role and expectations (social meanings, roles, and cultural ideas)

Social Class (Class)

Income, Wealth, Occupation, Education

Stereotype

Fixed and largely negative generalization about a group of people (an oversimplified or generalized belief about a particular social group)

Prejudice

Negative or hostile attitude towards another social group

Discrimination definition and the 4 types

Actions on the basis of stereotypes and prejudice (vs. discretion)

4 - Systematic Discrimination, Institutionalized Discrimination, Contextual Discrimination, Individual Discrimination

Systematic Discrimination

Discrimination at all stages of the system at all times, and places

Example: Law banning left-handed individuals from government jobs and public schools

Contextual Discrimination

Discrimination found in particular contexts or circumstances (certain regions)

Example:

Institutionalized Discrimination

Disparties in outcomes for different people based on facially neutral criteria or factor

Example: A new rule where college freshmen are required to be at least 6’0 in height to enter a university

Individual Discrimination

Individuals who consciously or unconsciouly favors one race, ethnicity, class, or gender

The 4 Forms of Capital

Economics, Cultural, Social, Symbolic

Economic Capital

Financial resources available for an individual (wealth, income, assets, etc.)

Cultural Capital

Education, knowledge, skills that give a person an advantage

Social Capital

Connections you have to leverage for success (private vs. collective)

Symbolic Capital

Prestige about you (basic honor, prestige of recognition)