exam 2

Social Stratification

Social Stratification

The categorization and division of members of a society into groups, which are then placed into a social hierarchy.

Social Inequality

The distance between the different classes or groups within a society.

Slavery

An extreme form of inequality where certain people are owned as property by others.

Caste

A closed system in which social status is given for life, such as in India and South Africa.

Estates

Feudal estates were strata with differing rights and obligations towards each other. Localized in Europe.

Class

Large-scale groupings that share common economic resources, which shape their possible lifestyles.

Upper-class

The highest social class with significant economic resources and privileges.

Upper-middle class

A social class below the upper-class but still with considerable economic resources.

Middle class

A social class in the middle of the social hierarchy with moderate economic resources.

Lower middle class

A social class below the middle class, with fewer economic resources.

Poor working class

The lowest social class with limited economic resources and often working in low-paying jobs.

Conflict theory

A theory by Karl Marx that identifies two main social classes:capitalists/bourgeoisie who own the means of production, and workers/proletariat who sell their labor for wages.

Weberian theory

A theory by Max Weber that defines class status based on three components:wealth (prestige), power, and privilege.

Structural functionalism

A perspective that views a system of stratification as functional for society, with certain roles being more important and deserving of greater rewards.

Social Mobility

The movement of individuals or groups within the social hierarchy.

Closed system

A system with little opportunity to change social classes.

Open system

A system with ample opportunities to change social classes.

Social reproduction

The tendency for social-class status to be passed down from one generation to the next.

Absolute deprivation

The inability to meet minimal standards for food, shelter, clothing, or healthcare.

Relative deprivation

People are considered poor if their standard of living is less than that of other members of society.

Group

A collection of people who share interests, identify with one another, and interact frequently in some way.

Aggregate

A group of people who share a physical location but have no lasting social relations.

Primary groups

Groups with more face-to-face interaction, greater cooperation, and deeper feelings of belonging.

Secondary groups

Larger, less personal groups organized around a specific activity or task.

Consequential stranger

An in-between group that is important to us but doesn't matter as much, such as a barista.

In-group

A group that a person identifies with and feels loyalty toward.

Out-group

A group that a person feels opposition, rivalry, or hostility toward.

Compliance

Going along with the group to avoid conflict.

Identification

Identifying with the group and believing it is the right thing to do.

Internalization

Believing in and adopting the group's norms and values.

Power

The ability to control others' actions.

Coercive power

Backed by the threat of force.

Influential power

Supported by persuasion.

Social loafing

The phenomenon in which individuals contribute less as more individuals are added to a task, leading to inefficiency in teamwork.

Social identity theory

A theory that stresses the need for individual members to feel a sense of belonging in a group.

Bureaucracy

A type of secondary group designed to perform tasks efficiently, characterized by specialization, hierarchy, written rules, impersonality, and formal written communication.

Rationalization

The application of economic logic to human activity, using formal rules and regulations to maximize efficiency without considering subjective or individual concerns.

McDonaldization

The spread of bureaucratic rationalization and the accompanying increases in efficiency and dehumanization, coined by George Ritzer.

Defining Race

The social construction of race based on real or perceived biological differences.

Ethnicity

The social construction of ethnicity based on common language, religion, nationality, history, or another cultural factor.

Racism

A set of beliefs about the superiority of one racial or ethnic group used to justify inequality, often invisible to whites.

Functionalism

A theoretical approach that sees race as creating social ties and strengthening group bonds.

Conflict theory

A theoretical approach that views race as a struggle for power and control over scarce resources.

Symbolic Interactionism

A theoretical approach that emphasizes how race, class, and gender intersect to produce an individual's identity.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic extermination of a racial, ethnic, national, or cultural group.

Population transfer

The forcible removal of a group of people from the territory they have occupied.

Settler colonialism

The economic and political subjugation of a minority group by the dominant group within a nation.

Segregation

The physical and legal separation of groups by race or ethnicity.

Assimilation

A pattern of relations between ethnic or racial groups in which the minority group is absorbed into the mainstream or dominant group, making society more homogeneous.

Pluralism

A cultural pattern of intergroup relations that encourages racial and ethnic variation and acceptance within a society.