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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
segregation
income inequality
quality of public schools
strength of social networks
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