Sociology Lecture Notes on Stratification, Poverty, and Gender Inequality

These flashcards cover critical vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on stratification, inequality, and gender, facilitating targeted study and comprehension.

Sociological Concept Application Paper

A paper requiring students to analyze a sociological event, due April 30th.

Stratification

Structured ranking of entire groups that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power.

Social Inequality

Condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, or power.

Class Systems

Social hierarchy allowing movement between classes, such as slavery or caste systems.

Social Class

Group of people with similar levels of wealth and income.

Capital

Skills and attributes considered valuable in society.

Wealth

Total value of all material assets including land, stocks, and investments.

Minimum Wage

The lowest legal hourly pay for workers, which hasn't changed since 2009.

Absolute Poverty

Minimal requirements necessary to sustain a healthy existence.

Relative Poverty

Defined by the living standards of the majority in society.

Deserving Poor

Individuals who are poor through no fault of their own and deserve assistance.

Undeserving Poor

Individuals considered poor due to their lack of effort or personal issues.

Cognitive Function and Poverty

Financial stress can lower IQ scores and impair decision-making.

Myths About Poverty

Common misconceptions about the reasons behind poverty and welfare.

TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a welfare program in the U.S.

Food Deserts

Areas lacking access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.

Globalization

Development of social and economic relationships worldwide.

Global Inequality

Systematic differences in wealth and power between countries.

High-Income Countries

Countries that have historically industrialized first and possess high standards of living.

Market-Oriented Theories

Economic theories promoting minimal government intervention leading to development.

Dependency Theories

Theories explaining how developed countries exploit low-income nations.

World Systems Theory

Theory describing the interconnectedness of nations in a global capitalist economy.

Gender

Cultural and social definitions of masculinity and femininity.

Gender Roles

Expectations regarding the behavior and activities of males and females.

Social Construction of Gender

The learning of gender roles through socialization and interaction.

Hegemonic Masculinity

Cultural norm that defines masculinity primarily by opposition to femininity.

Cisgender

Individuals whose gender identity matches their biological sex.

Transgender

People whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth.

Gender Identity

How individuals perceive and express their gender.

Discrimination vs. Prejudice

Discrimination is action against a group while prejudice is a belief about that group.

Microaggressions

Subtle, often unintentional, discriminatory comments or behaviors.

Cultural Appropriation

Adoption of elements of one culture by another, often stripping context and meaning.

Intersectionality

Concept describing how different forms of oppression intersect.

White Privilege

Unrecognized advantages granted to white individuals in society.

Internalized Racism

When individuals of color adopt negative stereotypes about their own racial group.

Absolute Poverty vs. Relative Poverty

Absolute refers to minimal living standards while relative compares living conditions to norms.

Gender Stratification

Hierarchical ranking based on gender, affecting power and resources.

Second Shift

The additional domestic tasks done by women after their paid work.

Weaponized Incompetence

Performing tasks poorly to avoid future responsibility.

Gendered Institutions

Institutions shaped by gender expectations and norms.

Structural Causes of Gender Inequality

Factors within the structure of society that propagate gender discrepancies.

Socialization and Gender

The process through which individuals learn social norms regarding gender.

Cultural Norms

Shared expectations and rules that guide behavior within a group.

Norms of Masculinity

Expectations around male behavior that often promote dominance.

Norms of Femininity

Expectations surrounding female behavior that often promote passivity and support.

Gender Nonconforming

Individuals who do not adhere to traditional gender norms.

Gender Expression

How one presents their gender identity through behavior and appearance.

Labor Appropriation

Public and private differences in recognition of work done by men and women.

Racialization

The process by which social, political, and economic forces determine the significance of racial categories.

Color Gradient

The continuum of skin color rather than distinct racial categories.

Prejudice vs. Discrimination

Prejudice refers to attitudes, while discrimination refers to actions based on those attitudes.

Racial Formation Theory

The process by which racial categories are created and transformed.

Ethnic Identity

The social identification based on cultural characteristics, such as language and religion.

Thick vs. Thin Identity

Thick identity is deeply integrated into daily life; thin identity is more superficial.

Ascribed vs. Achieved Identification

Ascribed identities are assigned, while achieved identities are claimed.

The Thomas Theorem

Situations defined as real are real in their consequences.

Overt Racism vs. Subtle Racism

Overt racism is blatant, while subtle racism is often unintentional.

Blumer's Theory on Race Prejudice

Group status is key in understanding hostility between racial groups.

Social Construction of Race

Races are socially defined constructs rather than biologically determined.

Gender Dynamics

Interactions of gender roles and how they shift within contexts.

Global Commodity Chains

Networks of labor and production processes leading to consumer goods.

Cognitive Dissonance (in Poverty)

The mental discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs.

Sociological Imagination

Ability to understand individual experiences in the context of broader social forces.

Welfare Dependency Myths

False beliefs about the reasons behind welfare support and poverty.

Knowledge Production and Race

The process of how research and knowledge about race are constructed.

Impression Management

The process by which individuals control the impressions others form of them.

Economic Capital

Financial resources or assets owned by individuals or groups.

Social Capital

Networks of relationships among people that enable society to function.

Human Capital

Skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by an individual.

Cultural Capital

Non-financial social assets that promote social mobility.