Stratification and social mobility in the us Terms

Social Inequality

Conditions in which members of society have different amounts of wealth , prestige or power

Stratification

Structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power

Income

salaries and wages interest on saving stock dividends and rental income

Wealth

Inclusive term encompassing all a persons material assets including land , stocks and other type of property

Ascribed status

Social positing assigned to a person by society without regards for talent/characteristics

Achived statues

Social position that a person obtains largely through effort

Slavery

Individuals are owned by other people who treat them as property

Hereditary Ranks

Usually religiously dictated and that tends to be fixed and immobile

Estates system

Required presents to work land leased to them in exchange for military protection / other services

Class system

Social ranking based primarily on economical position in which achieved chacteristies can influence social mobility

Capitalism

Economic system in which the means of production are held largely in private hands and the main incentive for economic activity

Bourgeoisie

Capitalist class owner of the means of production

Proletariat

Working class

class consciousness

A subjective awareness of common vested interests and the need of collective political action to bring about social change

False consciousness

An attitude held by member objective position

Class

A group of people who have similar level of wealth and income

Status group

People who have the same prestige or lifestyle

Power

Ability to exercise one’s will over other

Conspicuous consumption

Purchasing goods not to survive but to flaunt superior wealth and social standing

Objective method

Assigns individuals to classes on a basic of criteria such as occupation, education ,income and place of residence

Prestige

The respect and admiration an occupation holds in society

Esteem

The reputation a specific person has earned within an occupation

Absolute poverty

A minimum level of subsistence that no family should be expected to live below

Poverty line

Money income figure that is adjusted based on their size and composition

Relative poverty

Floating standard by which people at the bottom of society are judged as being disadvantage in comparison to the nation as a whole

Underclass

Long term poor who lack training and skills

Life chances

People’s opportunity to provide themselves with material goods ,positive living conditions and favorable life experiences

Social mobility

Movement of individual or groups from on position in society stratification system to another

Open system

Implies that the position of equal individual is influenced by the persons achieved status

Closed system

Allows little or no possibility of individual social mobility

Horizontal mobility

Persons movement within same range of prestige

Vertical mobility

Movement from one social position to another of a different rank

Interageneratinol mobility

Changes in social positions within a persons adult life