Sociology Concepts: Inequality and Social Groups

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key sociological terms regarding prejudice, discrimination, stratification, and social group dynamics based on the lecture notes.

Prejudice

A judgment about an individual or group based on social, physical, or cultural characteristics, often negative but sometimes providing undue favor; it is the attitudinal component of discrimination.

Discrimination

Unequal treatment of an individual or group based on social, physical, or cultural characteristics; it is the behavioral component associated with prejudice.

Institutional Discrimination

Discriminatory practices built into the structure of social institutions, such as education or criminal justice, affecting large groups of individuals through policies and laws.

Social Stratification

A system by which society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy, resulting in structured inequalities in access to power, property, and prestige.

Social Reproduction

The processes by which societies maintain continuity over time, particularly the transmission of social inequality from one generation to the next through socialization and social structures.

Social Mobility

The ability to move up (upward mobility) or down (downward mobility) within a stratification system, influenced by factors like education, family background, and economic opportunities.

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

A measure of an individual's or family's economic and social position relative to others, calculated based on income, education, and occupation.

Secondary Group

A large, impersonal, and typically temporary social group whose members pursue a specific goal or activity and are less emotionally connected.

Ethnicity

A socially constructed attribute representing shared cultural heritage, nationality, or ancestry, often based on shared language, religion, and traditions.

Race

A category of people who share inherited physical characteristics, such as skin color, facial features, and hair texture, that a society defines as important.

Sex

The biological differences between males, females, and the intersex, including chromosomes, hormonal profiles, and internal and external sex organs.

Gender

Socially constructed expectations about how people should think and act based upon their biological sex, which varies by culture and over time.

Primary Group

A small, intimate, and long-term social group characterized by close personal relationships and strong emotional ties, essential for emotional support and socialization.