Stratification and Social Mobility in the United States

These flashcards cover key concepts related to stratification and social mobility, including definitions of terms, different systems of stratification, and theories of social inequality.

Social inequality

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

Stratification

Structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal, hierarchical economic rewards in a society.

Income

Salaries and wages earned by individuals.

Wealth

All of a person's material assets.

Slavery

Individuals owned by other people who treat them as property.

Castes

Hereditary ranks usually religiously dictated and tend to be fixed and immobile.

Estate system (feudalism)

Required peasants to work land leased to them in exchange for military protection and other services.

Class system

Social ranking based primarily on economic position where achieved characteristics can influence social mobility.

Upper class

The highest social class, typically with significant wealth and power.

Davis and Moore’s theory

Functionalist perspective that social stratification has beneficial consequences in society.

Bourgeoisie

Capitalist class that owns the means of production.

Proletariat

Working class in a capitalist society.

Class consciousness

Subjective awareness of common vested interests and the need for collective political action.

False consciousness

Attitude held by members of a class that does not accurately reflect their objective position.

Max Weber’s view of stratification

No single characteristic defines a person's position within the stratification system; includes class, status group, and power.

Veblen

Sociologist who noted individuals at the top of the social hierarchy convert part of wealth into conspicuous consumption.

Stratification

A system of unequal rewards that benefits society as a whole.

Poverty Line

Minimum level of subsistence that no family should live below.

Relative poverty

Floating standard by which people at the bottom of a society are judged as disadvantaged in comparison to the nation as a whole.

Socioeconomic status (SES)

A combined measure that includes income, education, and occupation to define social class.

Feminization of poverty

Trend of women constituting an increasing proportion of poor people in the U.S.

Social Mobility

Movement of individuals or groups from one position in a society’s stratification system to another.

Open system

Stratification system where positions are influenced by achieved status.

Closed system

Stratification system that allows little or no possibility of moving up.