Studied by 2 people
Social Stratification
Caste System
A system of social stratification in which resources and rewards are distributed on the basis of ascribed status
The most closed system, based on parents statuses
Example: India’s 5-caste system- Brahmas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras, and Harijans
Class System
System of social stratification in which distribution of scarce resources and rewards is determined on the basis of achieved statuses
Exogamy
Marriage outside of one’s own social category
Life Expectancy
The average number of years a person born in a particular year can be expected to live
The leading causes of this lower life expectancy are inadequate nutrition and minimized access to quality medical care.
Additionally, the environment that poor Americans work and live in has negative effects on health.
The jobs that the working poor are employed in expose them to considerable health and safety risk
Objective Method
A technique used to rank individuals according to social class in which sociologist define social class in terms of factors such as income, occupation, and education
The statistical basis of this method makes it the most reliable because of its objectivity, but it is not flawless.
“Old Money”
Refers to the families that have been wealthy for generations
Most of their wealth comes from inheritance
Family name and the accomplishments of previous generations are as important as the size of the family’s fortune
Most of these individuals are born into an atmosphere of power and wealth
Power
The ability to control the behavior of others, with or without their consent
People with wealth hold the most of this
Vertical Mobility
A type of social mobility in which an individual moves from ONE SOCIAL CLASS TO ANOTHER
Two types: intragenerational mobility and intergenerational mobility.
Welfare Class
People who choose to live off the government subsidy systems rather than working
Working Poor
These people work for the lowest-paying jobs (typically seasonal. which means they work 1/4 to 1/2 of the year)
They do not make '“living wage” and depend on federal-support programs
Most are high school dropouts and believe their situation is permanent
About 22% of the population falls into this category
Medicaid
The state and federally funded health insurance program for low-income individuals
Poor Schools
Transfer Payments
Method used by the government to attempt to reduce social inequality by redistributing money among various segments of society
These groups include those who are poor, unemployed, elderly, or disabled.
Supplemental Security Income
Known as the SSI
Provides income support for people 65 and older
Also for blind and disabled adults and children
One of the major transfer payments
Life Chances
The likelihood that individuals have of sharing in the opportunities and benefits of society
They include things such as health, length of life, housing, and quality/level of education.
Social Classes in U.S.
upper class
upper middle class
lower middle class
working class
working poor
underclass.
U.S. Standard of Living vs. World
Reputational Method
A technique used to rank individuals according to social class in which individuals in the community rank other community members based on what they know of their characters and lifestyle
Useful when polling smaller, more close-knit communities where most people know each other well.
Structural Causes for Upward Mobility
Advances in technology
Increase in white-collar workers (changes in merchandising patterns)
Increase in general education
More common
Social Class
A grouping of people with similar levels of wealth, power, and prestige
Lower Middle Class
Makes up about 30% of the population
Jobs include nursing, middle management, owners of small businesses and sales positions
Most members of this class hold white-collar jobs
equires less education and the people live comfortably but work hard to keep what they have
Intergenerational Mobility
A form of vertical mobility in which social status differs between GENERATIONS in the SAME FAMILY
Horizontal Mobility
A type of social mobility in which an individual moves WITHIN a social class
Example: This could include an accountant moving from one company to another because he feels the new company can offer him more options for promotion down the line.
Synthesis of Functional and Conflict Theories
develop when one group rises to the top and fights to keep its position.
Open Stratification System
an individual can move vertically through society based on his efforts to do so.
The level of “openness” varies from society to society.
Conflict Perspective of Stratification
would apply best to more complex societies in which people struggle every day to gain control of wealth and power.
Percentage of Wealth Held by 1%
Roughly 1% falls into the “upper class”
The richest 1% of the population controls nearly one-half of the country’s wealth
The top 1% earned roughly 22% of the national income
Socioeconomic Status
A rating that combines social factors such as level of education, occupational prestige, and place of residence with the economic factor of income in order to determine an individual’s relative position in a stratification system
Prestige
The respect, honor, recognition, or courtesy an individual receive from members of society
Generally based on the characteristics a society considers important-- occupation, education, family background, or area of residence
Poverty Rate by Gender
57% are women
43% are men
Endogamy
Marriage within one’s own social category
Most caste system societies practice this
Working Class
30% of the population identifies with this group of the population
The jobs require manual labor like factory workers, tradespeople (Blue-collar)
Some jobs pay more than jobs held by members of lower middle class but hold less prestige
Medical bills or loss of job could force members into one of the lower classes
Functionalist Perspective of Stratification
works for simple systems such as hunter/gatherers because it states that the stratification system works because the members of society accept it, and hunter/gatherer societies’ survival depends totally on cooperation.
“New Money”
Generally acquired their wealth through their own efforts rather than through inheritance
Less prestigious status than “old money”
Social Stratification
The process of dividing societies into categories, ranks, or classes based on certain characteristics
Division based on individual characteristics and abilities lead to social inequality
Social Inequality
The unequal sharing of scarce resources and social rewards
Depends on the degree to which that society’s stratification system is open or closed
Bourgeoisie
Owners of the means of production in a capitalist society
Proletariat
Workers who sell their labor in exchange for wages in a capitalist society
Wealth
A combination of an individual’s assets-the value of everything the person owns-and income-the money earned through salaries and investments
It is concentrated overwhelmingly in the hands of a considerable minority.
Subjective Method
A technique used to rank individuals according to social class in which the individual themselves are asked to determine their own social rank
If only given the choices of upper, middle, and lower classes, when this method is employed, research has indicated that people won’t place themselves in the upper or lower class very often
Intragenerational Mobility
A form of vertical mobility in which social status changes during ONE INDIVIDUAL’S life
Poverty
The standard of living that is below the minimum level considered adequate by society
Differ from society to society
The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty in terms of the minimum level of income needed by a family to survive
Poverty Level
The minimum annual income needed by a family to survive as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau
spending for the basic necessities, which include food, clothing, housing, and “a little bit more” (other personal expenses) raise that level of this
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