Sociology: Social Stratification and Global Inequality

A set of 15 question-and-answer flashcards reviewing key concepts, definitions, and theories from Chapters 9 and 10 on social stratification and global inequality.

How is social stratification defined?

The way society ranks people into social levels based on wealth, income, education, power, and prestige (respect or status).

What is the difference between wealth and income?

Wealth is the value of money and things a person owns, whereas income is money a person earns from work or investments.

How does a caste system differ from a class system?

In a caste (closed) system, social status is assigned at birth with very little chance of changing it, whereas in a class (open) system, people may change social class through education, work, or other opportunities.

What does status consistency describe?

How closely someone's education, income, and job rank match.

What is the difference between endogamy and exogamy?

Endogamy means marrying within the same social group, while exogamy means marrying outside it.

What is the distinction between intergenerational mobility and intragenerational mobility?

Intergenerational mobility refers to class differences between parents and children, whereas intragenerational mobility refers to class differences among people of the same generation, such as siblings.

What is structural mobility?

A major change in society that moves many people up or down, such as new jobs from industrialization or job losses from a recession.

How does conflict theory explain inequality according to Karl Marx?

Inequality benefits people with wealth and power, dividing society into the bourgeoisie (business owners) and the proletariat (workers).

What is conspicuous consumption in symbolic interactionism?

Buying things to display wealth or position.

What does the Gini coefficient measure, and what does a higher value indicate?

The Gini coefficient measures inequality; a higher value means greater inequality.

What characterizes semi-peripheral nations in the global stratification hierarchy?

They are countries between core and peripheral nations that supply goods and resources and can also exploit poorer nations.

What is the difference between capital flight and deindustrialization?

Capital flight occurs when jobs or investments move from one country to another to reduce costs, whereas deindustrialization occurs when a country loses factories and industrial jobs, sometimes because work has moved overseas.

How is absolute poverty defined?

A state in which a person cannot reliably afford basic necessities such as food, clean water, housing, or healthcare.

What three forms of modern slavery are identified in the study notes?

Chattel slavery (owning a person), debt bondage (forced labor tied to a debt), and human trafficking.

What is the main explanation of global inequality according to dependency theory?

Wealthy core countries benefit from poorer countries' labor and resources, creating dependence that can make it hard for poorer countries to grow.