Sociology Study Guide

Class System- 

. Social ranking is based primarily on economic position, in which achieved characteristics can influence social mobility. 

. The boundaries between classes are imprecisely defined, and one can move from one system, or level, of society to another.

. Still, they maintain stable stratification hierarchies and patterns of class division and are marked by unequal distribution of wealth and power.

. Although it is achieved, it is heavily dependent on family and ascribed factors, like race and gender, and disability status.

. It is the assumption that U.S. class system looks like a tear drop, but new research argues that it is looking like a pyramid.

Class System continued

Social Inequality- Stratification results in social inequality because certain groups of people stand higher in social rankings, control scarce resources, wield power, and receive special treatment.

. Social inequality: a condition in which members of a society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige or power

. All societies experience some degree of social inequality.

Race-

a social construct and a concept that signifies and symbolizes identity through different types of human bodies.

. Additionally, perceived phenotypic markers, differences between them and the meaning and social practices escribed to these differences 

. A concept- a measure to study society 

. Not always self Identification 

.Phenotype what we look like 

.Skin color- color line

.Hair type/texture 

.Nose shape

.Lip shape

.Eyes

.Body type

.Height

.Assigned value to different phenotypic markers 

.We know what features hold more value in our society (context matters).

.How resources are allocated

Race Continued-

. A fundamental organizing principle of a social system is ubiquitous (ever present) and inescapable, conscious, and unconscious

.A moving image changes dependent on context and time. more than racism

.Race is racism is race is racism. They shape one another

Race as a Social Construct-

The Social Construction of Race: Race is not based on objective truth.

.That is, race is not rooted in biology or fact; people are the ones who give it meaning and significance

.What we see as obvious differences are subject to each society’s social definitions

.Subject for debate

Racial Formation-

. a sociohistorical process in which racial categories are created, inhabited, transformed, and destroyed.

.Those that have power define the groups according to a hierarchal social structure 

.Includes the riple effects throughout the social order.

Ex: Indigenous groups were combined to create one category- Native Americans 

Radicalization-

The extension of racial meaning to a previously racially unclassified relationship, social practice, or group

. An act of categorizing and assigning different attributes to categories may be universal, but categories themselves are subject to multiple interpretations

.This process is not benign and requires othering, which is used to justify subordinate status. 

.Occurs on a large and small scale

Racial Group-

. A group that is set apart from others because of its obvious physical differences that have taken on social significance 

. The differences lie in physical differences, but it is the culture of a particular society that constructs and attaches social signifigance to those differences 

There are no significant biological differences between racial groups that affect people’s social behavior and abilities

.Racialized folks find it much more difficult to blend in with the larger society and gain acceptance from the majority

Ethnicity-

. A concept that refers to shared cultural, social, and historical experiences.

. Largely based on self-identification 

. Not tied to phenotype

.taught not inherent 

. Can include language, heritage. religion, customs etc

Ethnic group- is set apart from others primarily because of it’s national origin or distinctive cultural patterns

. Groupings can be convenient (Latinos), but they can also hide the differences within ethnic categories

.Overtime, members of an ethnic minority group can sometimes become indistinguishable from the majority may take generations and may not include all people in a group

Ex: Italians