sociology 100 exam 2

stratification

hierarchical organization of a society into groups with differing levels of power, social prestige, economic resources. structured inequality in society where individuals are ranked class, race, gender. it affects access to resources, opportunities. sociologists study how these divisions are maintained and challenged.

middle income

2/3 to double of the median household income

lower income

households that have less than 2/3 the median

upper income

households that have income more than double the median

wealth

a family or individual’s net worth.

in america’s wealth: bottom 50% control 3% of the total wealth where the top 1% controls 22%

standards of equality:

opportunity:

condition:

outcome:

opportunity: everyone has an equal change to achieve wealth, social prestige, power.

condition: everyone should have equal starting point.

outcome: everyone should end up in the same position

systems of stratification

estate system:

caste system:

slavery system:

education system:

class system:

estate: political based stratification, characterized by limited social mobility

caste: religious based stratification characterized by NO social mobility

slavery: form of social stratification where people are owned by others as their property

• modern slavery: situations of exploitation where a person cant refuse because of threats. people get rich by this slavery.

• old slavery: legal ownership, high purchase/investment, low profits, long term relationship, ethnic differences important

• new slavery: legal ownership avoided, very low purchase cost, high profits, short term relationship, slaves disposable

education: social stratification serving as a pathway to more mobility and reinforces existing class, racial, gender inequalities through differential access to resources.

class: economically based hierarchy, somewhat loose social mobility, marxism, erik olin wright, max weber class and status- free to move up and down

STRATIFICATION systems differ in rigidity and mobility. and are maintained through institutions and ideologies.

social mobility

movement between different positions within a system of social stratification in any society

intergenerational—

intrageneration—

• movement up or down a social stratification hierarchy from one generation to another

• movement up or down a social hierarchy within the course of a personal career

predictors of social mobility

1. segregation

2. income inequality

3. quality of public schools

4. strength of social networks

5. fraction of single parents (family structure)

why are countries unequal?

modernization theory

• emphasizes internal factors

• uniform evolutionary route that all countries follow

• develop the necessary beliefs, values, norms for trade, rapid economic growth

dependency theory

• emphasizes external factors

• disadvantaged integration into world economy

• relationships with developed countries viewed as barriers to development

neoliberalism

• belief that free market forces, with minimal govt restrictions, will provide greatest economic benefit to the widest range of people

geography

• high transportation costs, need access to coasts to interact with world economy

• prevalence of disease

• low agricultural productivity

institutions

• rules that influence how economy works, with incentives that motivate people

inclusive institutions

promote wide participation in economic, political, social activities, equal rights and entitlement

exclusive institutions

opposite as inclusive, reinforces existing inequalities

sex

perceived biological differences that society typically uses to distinguish male and female

gender

behaviors and attributes associated with sex identities

cisgender

identifying with sex assigned at birth

transgender

gender does not correspond with birth sex

gender role

set of behavioral norms assumed to accompany one’s status as male female or other

gender typing

• women holding occupations of lower status and pay, men holding jobs of higher status and pay

• gender segregation in workplace for selected occupations

glass ceiling:

glass escalator:

glass ceiling: invisible limit on women’s climb up

glass escalator: accelerated promotion of men to top especially in feminized jobs

second shift was said by marie? or annie?

unpaid work of housekeeping and childcare that family members face when they return home

why is there gender inequality?

functionalism—

conflict—

interactionism—

intersectionality—

functionalism— gender differences in just specialization, problems: status quo

conflict— uneven distribution of power in society and access to resources

interactionism—constantly performing masculinity and femininity, tend to reaffirm gender nroms

intersectionality—concept that many social identities intersect shaping unique experiences with advantages and disadvantages

practical challenges of aging:

symbolic challenges:

practical challenges of aging: difficulties because of physical changes, loss of independence, constriction of social network, facing own mortality

symbolic challenges: social and psychological implications, loss of identity, fear of invisibility

how do people age?

biological—

psychological—

social—

biological— changes in reproductive capacity, immune system, heart function

psychological— how one feels, acts, behaves, not equal to actual age, personality traits, self esteem self concept- these things usually remain constant

social—society shapes expectations and assumptions of how elderly should behave, too old for certain roles and opportunities

what challenges do the elderly confront?

ageism—

elder abuse—

ageism— discrimination or prejudice (thinking versus doing) against a person on grounds of age

elder abuse— intentional act, or failure to act that causes risk of harm to them

what causes discrimination?

conflict: beneficiaries of inequality protect their privileges and exclude members of other groups

cognition: automatic distortions of our perceptions of others

theories of aging

disengagement theory: functional for society to free up older people’s traditional roles for younger people

activity theory: people who are busy and productive can be functional for society

continuity theory: older adults’ well being is enhanced when their activities are consistent with their personality, preferences and activities earlier in life

life course theory: people play an active role in determining their physical and mental well being

obesity

bmi over 30

sociological imagination

ability to understand the connection between individual experiences and larger historical, social, structural forces.

obesity epidemic has a range of factors

biological: genetics, physiology

economic: food accessibility, socioeconomic status

social: cultural norms - fast food, social networks

technological: food production, lifestyle changes

health

state of complete mental, physical, social well being.

cultures DIFFER in what they consider health and appropriate treatment for illness

medicalization

process by which problems or issues not traditionally seen as medical are seen as such

theories of health and illness:

functionalist— sick role theory, social rights and obligations of a sick individual, includes stigmas and entitlements

symbolic interactionist— lived experience, focuses on everyday experiences of health…

poverty

doesnt have a standard definition, its shaped by context and its political and not just social scientific

absolute poverty vs. relative poverty

absolute is not meeting minimal requirements to sustain a healthy existance. universal baseline.

relative is falling short of what is generally considered normal or acceptable. defined in comparison to other people.

why measure poverty?

how do we measure poverty?

• raise public awareness and build support, identify who is affected, develop interventions, monitor progress

• measure by official poverty measure (OPM). compares pre-tax income to threshold, 3 times cost of minimum food diet in 1963, official poverty thresholds DoNT vary geographically, adjusted for family size and inflation

subjective measure of poverty

do you feel poor? evaluating your own situation with questions.

deprivation measure of poverty

lack of socially perceived necessities lacking 4 or more necessities: meal out once every 2 weeks, replace worn out stuff, three meals a day, bedroom for every child over 10 of different sex

what causes poverty?

individualistic— poverty is an individual problem, results from personal inadequacies

structural— poverty is a social problem, economic and political forces beyond individual control, limited power on availability of jobs or pay

more individualistic theories

cultural: poor lack values and motivation

biogenetic: people with low IQ is likely to be poor

human capital: poor lack knowledge and skill to be successful

deindustrialization: reduction of manufacturing within economy

automation: tech are automating jobs previously done by humans

globalization: global economic integration and movement of jobs offshore

week 5 reading: paul collier bottom billion

country development traps - jeffery sachs: being landlocked, conflict, natural resources, bad governance

week 6 video:

• the way we think about sex is wrong by emily quinn

• arlie h the second shift

week 7 reading by corey abrahamson

the end game, james and lila who grew up very differently describe aging on similar terms. practical versus symbolic aging.

week 8 readings: poverty by america matthew desmond; rethinking american poverty mark rank

• a lot of short memoirs about different people growing up in poverty. poverty is chronic pain.

• structural failings, wealth gaps