SO 111 – Exam #3 Study Guide

From Caves to Condos: Developed Countries

• Definition:
  • High-income nations characterized by advanced technology and robust economies.
• Features:
  • High standards of living.
  • Availability of good healthcare and education systems.
  • Stable political governments.
• Examples:
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Japan
  • Germany

Developing Countries

• Definition:
  • Nations with lower income levels, limited technological capabilities, and uneven economic growth.
• Features:
  • Lower standards of living compared to developed countries.
  • Limited access to healthcare and education services.
  • Higher levels of poverty.
• Examples:
  • Haiti
  • India
  • Nigeria

Gender

Gender Stratification

• Definition:
  • An unequal distribution of power, resources, and opportunities between genders, primarily men and women.
• Manifestations:
  • Disparities in wages.
  • Unequal job opportunities.
  • Underrepresentation in leadership positions.
  • Educational inequalities.
  • Gender imbalances in political representation.

Historical Maintenance of Gender Stratification

• Factors Contributing to Maintenance:
  • Patriarchal Systems:
  • Societies organized in a way that prioritizes male authority.
  • Traditional Gender Roles:
  • Societal expectations that define the behaviors and responsibilities of males and females differently.
  • Socialization Practices:
  • Boys and girls are taught differing expectations based on their gender.
  • Religious Traditions:
  • Certain religious beliefs position men in roles of authority.
  • Legal Restrictions:
  • Laws relating to property ownership, voting rights, and employment that historically favored men.
  • Workplace Discrimination:
  • Barriers that limit women's opportunities in professional environments.

Present Situation

• Current Trends:
  • Women have achieved greater levels of education and workforce participation.
  • Persistent issues include:
  • Wage gaps continue to exist.
  • Differences in leadership roles between genders.
  • Ongoing issues of sexual harassment.
  • Negative stereotypes affecting women's roles.
  • Unpaid labor within the home predominantly performed by women.

Ethnicity and Race

What Race Is

• Definition:
  • Race is defined as a social construct instead of a biological reality, based on perceived physical differences among people.
• Implication:
  • Racial categories are defined and maintained by societal conventions rather than genetic distinctions.

What an Ethnic Group Is

• Definition:
  • A collective group of people who share common cultural traits such as:
  • Language
  • Religion
  • Traditions
  • Historical experiences
• Examples:
  • Hispanic
  • Irish
  • Japanese
  • Somali

Minority Ethnicity

• Definition:
  • Ethnic groups that possess less social power and influence compared to dominant groups, though not necessarily fewer individuals.
• Characteristics:
  • Often subjected to experiences of discrimination and inequality.

Current Realities of Race and Ethnicity in America

• Inequalities:
  • Disparities exist across various sectors:
  • Income
  • Education
  • Criminal justice system
  • Healthcare access
  • Housing opportunities
• Social Issues:
  • Issues of racial profiling and the persistence of stereotypes.
  • Presence of institutional racism perpetuating systemic inequities.
• Dynamic Changes:
  • Increasing diversity in America is altering traditional racial and ethnic dynamics.