Flashcards Sociology A Down -to- Earth Approach (Chapter 9)

Social Stratification

The division of large numbers of people into layers according to their relative property, power, and prestige; applies to both nations and to people within a nation, society, or other group.

Slavery

A form of social stratification in which some people own other people.

Bonded Labor (Indentured Service)

A contractual system in which someone sells his or her body (services) for a specified period of time in an arrangement very close to slavery, except that it is entered into voluntarily.

Ideology

beliefs about the way things ought to be that justify social arrangements

Caste system

a form of social stratification in which peoples statuses are lifelong conditions determined by birth.

Endogamy

the practice of marrying within ones own group

Apartheid

the separation of racial-ethic groups as was practiced in South Africa

Estate Stratification System

The stratification system of medieval Europe, consisting of three groups or estates: nobility, clergy, and commoners.

Class System

a form of social stratification based primarily on the possession of money or material possessions

Social Mobility

Movement up or down the social class ladder

Means of production

the tools, factories, land , and investment capital used to produce wealth

Bourgeoisie

Marx's term for capitalist, those who own the means of production

Proletariat

Marx's term for the exploited class, the mass of workers who do not own the means of production.

Class Consciousness

Marx's term for awareness of a common identity based on one's position in the means of production .

False Class Consciousness

Marx's term to refer to workers identifying with the interests of capitalists

Meritocracy

a form of social stratification in which all positions are awarded on the basis of merit

Divine Right of kings

the idea that the kings authority comes from God; in an interesting gender bender, also applies to queens

Colonialism

the process by which one nation takes over another nation, usually for the purpose of exploiting its labor and natural resources

World System Theory

How economic and political connections developed and now tie the worlds countries together

Globalization Of Capitalism

Capitalism (investing to make profits within a rational system) becoming the globe's dominant economic system

Culture Of poverty

the assumption that the values and behaviors of the poor make them fundamentally different from other people, that these factors are largely responsible for their poverty, and that parents perpetuate poverty across generations by passing these characteristics to their children.

Neocolonialism

the economic and political dominance of the most industrial nations over the least industrialized nations

Multinational Corporations

Companies that operate across national boundaries; also called transitional corporations

3 ps

property, power, presitge

Functionalist View on Social Stratification

Davis and Moore says because of

1. For society to function, its positions must be filled

2. Some positions are more important than others

3. The more important positions must be filled by the more qualified

4. to motivate the more qualified people to fill these positions they must offer greater rewards.

Conflict theorist view on social stratification

Moscas says

1. No society can exist unless it is organized. This requires leadership of some sort in order to coordinate peoples actions

2. Leadership requires inequalities of power. By definition, some people take leadership positions, while others follow.

3. Because human nature is self centered, people in power will use their position to seize greater rewards for themselves.

Lenskis Synthesis

Basically says that Moscas and Davis and Moores argument are both right and that social stratification uses both of the opposing sides theories to be created