Chapter 7: Social Class and Inequality

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental concepts, theoretical perspectives, and systems of social stratification and inequality as presented in the Chapter 7 lecture notes.

Social stratification

How groups of people are systematically layered or ranked in society according to how many valued resources they possess or things that society defines as valuable.

Social inequality

A disparity in income, wealth, power, prestige, and other resources.

Symbolic Interaction Theory

A micro-level perspective where individuals learn social positions through socialization and gain cultural/social capital, represented by symbols and conspicuous consumption.

Structural-Functional Theory

A meso/macro-level perspective stating that stratification within societies is inevitable and necessary for the maintenance of society.

Davis and Moore Thesis

The argument that rewards for highly valued positions are necessary to motivate talented individuals, resulting in an unequal distribution of resources.

Conflict Theory

A perspective holding that stratification is the outcome of struggles for dominance and scarce resources, where individuals and groups act in their own self-interest.

Bourgeoisie

The capitalist class described by Karl Marx that controls the means of production.

Proletariat

The working class described by Karl Marx in his two-class economic model.

Max Weber

A theorist who argued that stratification includes power and prestige as well as property, and identified five social classes: capitalists, managers, petty bourgeoisie, workers, and underclass.

Ascribed stratification systems

Systems where individuals’ positions in society are determined by characteristics they are born with.

Caste system

The most rigid ascribed system of stratification based on birth and retained throughout life, determining occupation, marriage, and residence.

Achieved stratification systems

Systems where individuals earn their positions through ability and effort.

Meritocracy

A society in which personal success is based on a person’s talent, qualifications, or individual effort.

Social class system

An economically based system of stratification with somewhat loose social mobility based on roles in the production process rather than individual characteristics.

Social mobility

The extent to which people move in the social stratification system.

Intergenerational mobility

A change in status compared to parents’ status, usually resulting from education and occupational attainment.

Intragenerational mobility

A change in status within an individual’s lifetime, whether up or down.

Vertical mobility

Movement up or down the stratification hierarchy, sometimes including a change in social class.

Horizontal mobility

Movement across the stratification hierarchy, between equal or similarly valued social statuses.

Absolute poverty

Not having sufficient resources to meet basic survival needs, including a lack of prestige, power, or accumulated wealth.

Relative poverty

Having an income below the poverty line and an inadequate standard of living relative to others in the same country.