Soci slides 6

Social Class

An ordering of all persons in society by degrees of economic resources, prestige, and privilege.

Life Chances (Weber)

The practical opportunity to achieve desired material conditions and personal experiences.

Social Capital (Bourdieu)

The access to resources one has by virtue of relationships and connections within a social network.

Class Identity

The awareness of, and sense of belonging to, a specific social class.

Four-Class Model

A sociological model used to describe the common classes in society comprising upper, middle, working, and lower classes.

Upper Class

The social class characterized by extreme high standards of living and significant economic and political influence.

Middle Class

Historically a much larger group, stabilized by education and technical skills, with secure incomes.

Working Class

A large group often lacking higher education that faces job instability and economic vulnerability.

Lower Class

Characterized by low education, unreliable jobs, and significant economic hardships.

Income Inequality

The gap between individuals with high and low income levels.

Wealth Inequality

The disparity in the amount of assets people own, including savings and property.

Poverty Line

The minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country to maintain a basic standard of living.

Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM)

A metric that accounts for additional expenses and benefits that the official poverty line does not consider.

Social Mobility

The movement, up or down, between social classes.

Class Persistence

The tendency for individuals to remain in the same social class as their parents.

Cultural Capital

Non-economic resources that enable social mobility, such as education, skills, and knowledge.

Gini Index

A measure of inequality ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality) based on income distribution.

Economic Exploitation (Conflict Perspective)

The view that class distinctions arise from the exploitation of lower classes by higher classes.