Ch. 5 - Social Stratification and Inequality Concepts

These flashcards cover essential terms and definitions related to social stratification and inequality.

Strata

Layers or levels of power and influence built into the structure of society.

Social Stratification

The existence of structured inequalities between groups in society in terms of their access to material and symbolic rewards.

Slavery

A form of social stratification in which some people are owned by others as their property.

Caste System

A social system in which one’s social status is held for life.

Class Systems

A system of social hierarchy that allows individuals to move among classes.

Income

Money earned from paid wages, salaries, or investments.

Wealth

Money or material possessions held by an individual or group.

Educational Attainment

The highest level of education an individual has completed.

Occupational Status/Prestige

The respect an occupation holds in society.

Intersectionality

The way multiple group memberships affect our lives distinctively from single group memberships.

Income Inequality

The unequal distribution of income across the population.

Bourgeoisie

Capitalist class who own companies, land, or stocks.

Proletariat

The working class who sell their labor for wages.

Surplus Value

The value of a worker’s labor power left over after paying for hiring costs.

Communism

A social system based on the collective ownership of the means of production.

Upper Class

More affluent members of society.

Middle Class

Individuals working in white-collar and lower managerial occupations.

Working Class

Individuals employed in blue-collar or manual occupations.

Poverty Line

An official government measure to define those living in poverty.

Feminization of Poverty

An increase in the proportion of the poor who are female.

Parich groups

that face discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or culture, often lacking access to resources and opportunities.

horizontal mobility

moving in social status from one rank to another of same rank

vertical mobility

movement from one social status to another, up or down

intergenerational

movement up and down in social position from 1 generation to the next

intragenerational

individuals movement up and down in social positionwithin their own lifetime.