C273_Mod 12, 13, 14_Social Inequality, Race, Ethnicity, Sex, Gender, Social Stratification

What is stratification?

The hierarchical arrangement of large social groups based on their control of basic resources (ex, salary)

What is the salience principle?

The sociological principle that states we categorize other people on the basis of what is most noticeable (most salient) about them

What is an ethnic enclave?

Geographic areas that have high concentrations of a particular ethnicity, prevailing cultural norms, and in some cases, distinct economic systems.

What is assimilation?

The process by which ethnic groups gradually give up their distinctive culture and traditions to adopt the patterns of the dominant culture

Who first developed the concept of race?

François Bernier

What is the conflict theory of prejudice?

A theory that assumes that class conflict is inevitable in society, and that those in the dominant class will use prejudice as a means to oppress those in the economically deprived lower classes

What is culture theory (of prejudice)?

A theory that states that prejudice is a learned behavior because it is part of the culture that surrounds us all - it is present in all members of society to a greater or lesser degree

What is prejudice?

An evaluation and unjustifiable attitude toward a group and its members

What is intersectionality?

A theory that holds that class, race, and gender are all intertwined and interact to create different levels of disadvantage in society

What is discrimination?

The unequal treatment of certain groups in society based on prejudiced stereotypes.

What is explicit bias?

A bias toward or against a particular group that a person knows he or she harbors - conscious

What is implicit bias?

A bias that is harbored unconsciously and is often malleable

What is affirmative action?

It allows schools and employers to take an individual's race into account when determining whether to recruit them if that individual is part of an underrepresented minority.

What is institutional racism?

Racism embedded into institutions: policies, laws, and practices that disproportionately favor or disadvantage one race over another.

What is systemic racism?

The underlying societal attitude that drives any form of racism.

What is a pluralist society?

A society in which racial and ethnic groups have distinctive lifestyles and cultural traditions, but have equal social standing and political power

What is social stratification?

The categorization and ranking of groups of people to form a hierarchy.

What is the functionalist approach to gender?

Sexual division of labor, in which men are instrumental and women are expressive, is important to ensure the stability of the family unit and, consequently, the stability of society as a whole.

What is the conflict approach to gender?

Inequality between the sexes exists, traditionally favoring men as the dominant sex because they are rewarded for their roles more than women are (with money, status, authority, etc.).

What is the symbolic interactionist approach approach to gender?

The social construction of gender is perpetuated in everyday interactions that reinforce traditional masculine and feminine traits.

What is the feminist approach to gender?

Similar to the conflict perspective, but with more of a politically activist viewpoint that seeks equal treatment of, and opportunity for, all the genders. It also considers the intersection* of other social factors that contribute to gender inequality, like race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and ability.

What is status?

A position given by a social group or structure

What is ascribed status?

A position given by a social group or structure,

What is an achieved status?

A status or privilege that someone has achieved though personal qualities or hard work.

What is a caste system?

A fairly rigid, explicit system of stratification that a person is born into with little to no social mobility

What is a class system?

A system of stratification that offers the opportunity for social mobility, and is based on wealth and economic standing.

What is the definition of proletariat?

Workers must sell their labor in order to earn money to survive

What is Marx’s definition of alienation?

Working conditions of capitalism leads people to be estranged from themselves as human beings and from a society that does not allow full expression of their humanity

According to Weber, what are the three factors that are integral to his multidimensional approach to stratification?

Cleass (wealth), Status (prestige, reputation, social standing), and Party (political standing, but can think of as “power”)

What is absolute poverty?

The inability to meet basic needs, such as water, nutritious food, and housing

What is relative poverty?

Poverty in relation to those around someone

What is the feminization of poverty?

The fact that women on average earn less than their male counterparts

What is a periphery nation?

A nation that lacks the industrialization and wealth of other countries, under world systems analysis, periphery nations transfer wealth to core nations

How do functionalists view homelessness?

Functionalists identify homelessness as a dysfunction of our society's ability to care for its members.

How do conflict perspectives view homelessness?

They believe that capitalism as a cause of homelessness and that is has criminalized homelessness.

How do symbolic interactionists view homelessness?

As a master status that holds great stigmaWhat

What is the Gini coefficient?

A measure of income or consumption inequality - 0% means perfectly distributed wealth/consumption, 100% means 1 person owns everything

What is the central argument of modernization theory as it pertains to global stratification?

Increased technology in developed countries will eventually lead to more prosperity worldwide