Sociology Unit 2

Stratification

Structured inequality between groups, where some have more resources than others

Social Structure

The boundaries people confront as they make decisions about their individual and collective actions

Positionality

The social and political context that shape how you see the world

Prejudice

Preconceived beliefs, attitudes, or opinions about members of a group

Stereotype

Widely shared perceptions about personal characteristics, tendencies, or abilities of a particular group

Discrimination

Treating people badly based on implicit bias, prejudice, or stereotypes

Race

A system that humans created to classify and stratify groups of people based mostly on skin tone and other phenotype characteristics, such as nose eye shape, nose shape, and hair texture

Ethnicity

Common culture, religion, history, or ancestry shared by a group of people

Racism

A set of beliefs, ideologies, or institutional practices that are based on the idea that one racial group is biologically or culturally inferior to another group and that reproduces racial domination and exploitation

White Supremacy

The belief that the white race is inherently superior to to other races

Racial Ideology

How people think about race

Social Class

A group of individuals who share a similar economic position based on income, wealth, education, and occupation

Income

How much money someone earns in a year

Wealth

Total money a person would have if they sold all their assets

Ascribed Status

One you are born with, or take on involuntarily later in life

Achieved Status

At least in part through your achievements, abilities, or efforts

Social Mobility

Moving from an ascribed social class to a new achieved social class

Upward Mobility

Moving from a lower social class to a higher social class

Downward Mobility

Moving from a higher social class to a lower social class

American Dream

The idea that anyone who works hard can succeed

Myth of Meritocracy

The idea that hard work and talent alone leads to success

Meritocracy

A system where personal responsibility and individual efforts are the sole determinants of success

GINI Index

Statistical measure that shows level of inequality within a region/country; used to compare inequality across countries

Cumulative Advantages

Build up benefits and resources

Intersectionality

A metaphor for understanding the ways that multiple forms of inequality of disadvantage sometimes compound themselves

Sex

Biology and physiological characteristics of males and females

Gender

Socially-constructed distinctions associated with men/masculinity and women/femininity

Sexuality

A person’s capacity for sexual feelings - can refer to identity, attraction, and/or behavior

Cisgender

Sex assigned at birth corresponds to gender identity

Transgender

Sex assigned at birth does not correspond to gender identity

Intersex

Sex at birth doesn’t fit either male or female sex characteristics (due to genetic, hormonal, or anatomical differences)

Non-Binary

Falls outside the binary gender/sex system

Gender Fluid/Genderqueer

Gender identity is not fixed

Gender Roles

Society’s concepts of how men/boys and women/girls should behave

Socialization

Learning how to behave through interactions

Heteronormativity

Treating cisgender and heterosexual experiences as the “normal” default

Feminism

A collection of movements that advocate for equality for all sexes and gender

Disability

A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities

Ableism

Assigning value to people’s bodies and minds based on socially constructed ideas of normality, productivity, desirability, intelligence, excellence and fitness