Social Stratification Concepts

A compilation of key terms related to social stratification for study and review.

Social Stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups in a society.

Closed Systems

Social mobility is highly restricted, and individuals cannot easily change their social status.

Open Systems

Social mobility is more fluid, allowing individuals to change their social status based on their achievements and efforts.

Sex

Biological and physical characteristics.

Gender

Social and cultural constructs distinguishing between roles and behaviors.

Race

A socially constructed category based on physical characteristics such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features.

Ethnicity

Shared cultural heritage, often related to language, religion, tradition, and geographic origin.

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

A contextual measure of a person's or group's social standing.

Intersectionality

A framework for understanding how different social identities interact and intersect, creating overlapping systems of privilege and oppression.

Class Traits

Typical behaviors, customs, and norms that define each social class.

Conspicuous Consumption

The purchase and use of certain products to make a social statement about status.

Upward Mobility

The movement up in social class.

Downward Mobility

The movement down in social class.

Intergenerational Mobility

Changes in social status or economic position between different generations within a family.

Intragenerational Mobility

Changes in social or economic position that occur within an individual's lifetime.

Absolute Poverty

Concerned with basic survival needs.

Relative Poverty

Concerned with quality of life and social inclusion.

Poverty Line

A minimum income threshold set to define the level of income needed to secure necessities.

what does social stratification acknowledge

systematic differences in starting points

poverty is a relative

measurement

income =

power

control = power