Modern Life, Social Structure and Inequality week 6

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to social structure and inequality, providing definitions for better understanding and exam preparation.

Social Inequality

The unequal distribution of valued resources, rewards, and positions in a society.

Social Stratification

An institutionalized system of social inequality that determines who gets what, when, and why.

Ascribed Status

A status one receives by virtue of being born into a category or group.

Achieved Status

A status one receives through individual effort or merits.

Standard of Living

The level of wealth, comfort, material goods, and necessities available to a person or community.

Absolute Poverty

A severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, and shelter.

Relative Poverty

The condition where a person's income or resources are insufficient to meet the minimum standards of living in the area they reside.

Social Mobility

The ability to change positions within a social stratification system.

Upward Mobility

An increase or upward shift in social class.

Downward Mobility

A lowering of one’s social class.

Davis-Moore Thesis

The idea that the greater the functional importance of a social role, the greater must be the reward.

Anomie

A state of normlessness or breakdown in social order as conceived by Emile Durkheim.

Alienation

The condition where individuals feel disconnected from the products of their labor and other workers, as defined by Karl Marx.

Rationalization

The process by which traditional modes of social organization are replaced by calculated and efficient ones, as described by Max Weber.

Cultural Capital

The non-financial social assets that promote social mobility beyond economic means.

Social Institutions

Established patterns of behavior and relationships that play a role in shaping social structure.

Social Hierarchies

The ranking or stratification of individuals and groups within a society.