Sociology 1001 Study Guide - Social Stratification and Economic Inequality

These flashcards cover key concepts from the sociology lecture notes focusing on social stratification and economic inequality.

Social Stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals into social classes, ranks, or strata.

Wealth and income gap

The disparity in wealth and income distribution among individuals or groups in society.

Meritocracy

A social system in which success is based on individual merit, such as talent, effort, and achievement.

Social Mobility

The movement of individuals or groups within a social hierarchy, which can be upward or downward.

Hidden Curriculum

Lessons that are learned but not openly intended, often related to social norms and values reinforced in schools.

Cultural Capital

Non-financial social assets, like education and intellect, that promote social mobility beyond economic means.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production and the operation of a market economy.

Proletariat

The working class who sell their labor for wages.

Bourgeois

The capitalist class who own the means of production.

Race

A social construct used to categorize people based on physical characteristics, often leading to discrimination and prejudice.

Institutional Racism

Policies and practices within institutions that, intentionally or not, result in the exclusion or disadvantage of specific racial groups.

Gender Binary

The classification of gender into two distinct, opposite, and disconnected forms of masculine and feminine.

Hegemonic Masculinity

A concept that describes the dominant form of masculinity that promotes men's dominance over women and other gender identities.

Cultural Hegemony

The dominance of one cultural group over another, often through the use of ideology to propagate a worldview.

Intersectionality

A framework for understanding how various forms of social stratification, such as race, gender, and class, intersect and affect individuals.

Glass Ceiling

An unofficial barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting women and minorities.

Second Shift

The double burden of paid work and unpaid household labor that women typically face.

Cumulative Effects

The extent to which various factors of disadvantage or advantage accrue over time, impacting life chances.

Implicit Bias

Attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.

Colorblind Racism

The belief that ignoring racial differences promotes equality, though it may overlook the systemic issues faced by racial minorities.

Social Closure

The practice of maintaining privilege by restricting access to certain social, economic, or political opportunities.

Welfare Capitalism

An economic system that combines a mostly market-based economy with extensive social welfare programs.

Elite Theory of Power

The theory that a small minority, consisting of the economic elite and policy planning networks, holds the most power.

Social Hierarchies

A system in which groups are ranked one above the other based on certain criteria like wealth, power, or prestige.