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Social Problems Exam 2
Social inequalities, Poverty and Stratification, Issues of Race and Ethnicity, gender inequality, age inequalities
49
Sociology
Undergraduate 1
03/07/2011

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Term
Characteristics of a minority group
Definition
share cultural or physical characteristics

denied equal access to power/resources

fewer rights, privileges, opportunities
Term
Sociological definition of race
Definition
biological group with genetic traits defined as important

social category = race
Term
Definition of an Ethnic Group
Definition
share common history + cultural heritage
+ belongingness
Term
Prejudice vs Discimination
Definition
Prejudice: attitude

discimination: behavior
Term
3 Social sources of discimination
Definition
1. Ethnocentricism
2. Competition for resources - split labor market (2 groups of workers, doing same work, but one works for lower wage)
3.Socialization
Term
3 Psychological sources of discrimination
Definition
1. Stereotypes - categories to simplify things
2. Frustration because cannot achieve goals
3. Skapegoat
Term
Social stratification
Definition
ranking of a society into a hierarchy - uneven distribution of resources
Term
Definition of poverty
Definition
deprivation

compared to some other standards

-how many resources people have and why they failed to reach a higher economic level

for a family of 4, $20,000 poverty line
Term
relative definition of poverty
Definition
deprivation, compared to some other standard

ex: other people in US
Term
When will the stratification system find it difficult to motivate people to perform their social duties?
Definition
Some positions require scarce talents and abilities = lack of people to fill these jobs
Term
According to Herbert Gans, how do the poor subsidize the activities of the affluent? (5)
Definition
1. ensures that dirty work is done

2. poor people work for low wages

3. creates jobs for all those people who serve the poor

4. creates a market for inferior goods

5. lets everyone else know where they stand in the hierarchy, because the poor are at the bottom
Term
definition of social mobility
Definition
movement of people from one social position to another in the stratification hierarchy
Term
According to the cultural definition of poverty, who would be identified among the poor toward whom poverty programs should be directed
Definition
People who are considered for poverty
programs are unwillingly poor and permanently poor (unlike college
students who may be temporarily poor).
Term
What is the “blame the victim stance”?
Definition
Interactionist

poor people are blamed for their own difficulties by arguing that poverty is due to their character flaws and lack of effort
Term
How did William J. Wilson attribute to the emergence of a group of entrenched, long-term poor people in the United States
Definition
Structural conflicts led to UNDERCLASS and relocation of industry
Term
According to Leslie Dunbar, what came out of his interviews with poverty stricken people?
Definition
poor value many of the same things that we do(ambition, self-reliance, and family life). most want to support themselves, but can't because of bad luck or cirtumstances.
Term
Definition of Ethnocentricism, according to functionalist perspective
Definition
tendency to view one's own group or culture as an in-group that follows the best and the only proper way to live.
Term
Split labor market
Definition
2 groups of workers, doing same work, but one works for lower wage
Term
Definition: institutionalized discrimination
Definition
Discrimination is built into the institution itself - policies, etc.

Not necessarily related to individual's prejudice
Term
Definition: Stereotype
Definition
generalization made about a particular group of people
Term
What are the consequences of DISCRIMINATION?
Definition
1. Forces some groups into a disadvantageous positions in the hierarchy, adversely affecting life chances.
ex: Higher rates of illness, injury, and death for minorities. Deprived of resources, leads to violence and resentment.

2. Effects peoples' views of themselves. Powerless and at the bottom of society. lower self-esteem

3. Generates cynicism due to political and economic institutions. People may lose faith in the system's core values.
Term
Define: Genocide
Definition
annihilation of an entire group
Term
Define: melting pot
Definition
beliefs and values of many different cultures
Term
Define: melting pot
Definition
beliefs and values of many different cultures
Term
According to William J. Wilson, what is more important in determining the position of blacks in the United States today?
Definition
class is more important...

problem lies in existence of groups of poor, marginally skilled african americans who have little opportunity to obtain education and skills.
Term
Unprejudiced Discriminator vs Prejudiced Discriminator
Definition
Unprejudiced discriminator: have no prejudices of their own, but discriminate when it is convenient for them. decisions based on other peoples' prejudices

Prejudiced Discriminator: Has own prejudice views, discriminates
Term
Prejudiced Nondiscriminator vs Unprejudiced Nondiscriminator
Definition
Prejudiced Nondiscriminator: "closet bigot" - does not act on prejudice views

Unprejudiced Nondiscriminator: accepts other racial and ethnic groups
Term
Gender Stratification: Functionalist Perspective
Definition
1. Task allocation - practicality and convenience
-more convenient to have men/women do certain things (ex: hunting-gone for long periods of time, not practical for pregnant women)
Term
Functionalist perspective: Sex roles
Definition
Instrumental tasks: goal-oriented activities (hunting, building something, or managing a work team). given to MEN

Expressive tasks: Focus on the relationships between people- maintaining happiness, harmony, and emotional stability. Given to WOMEN
Term
Conflict perspective: gender inequality
Definition
competing, battle of the sexes, domination
Term
30. From the conflict perspective, when does gender inequality become a social problem?
Definition
when females realizes it is being exploited and that something can be done about it. women realize that sexual inequality is caused by male domination, not biology
Term
Interactionist perspective: Gender inequality
Definition
-human beings relate to one another on the basis of symbols that have social meaning within a given culture or society

-most important symbol system = language

-words "he" and "his" maintains male dominance
Term
32. Know what has been concluded from recent investigations in the ORDER in which people speak in mixed sex groups (interactionist)
Definition
Men initiate more conversation and receive more interaction than women, men interrupt more
Term
According to the interactionist perspective, when does gender inequality become a social problem?
Definition
becomes a problem when there is a lack of consensus and a lack of shared expectations about the roles of men and women in society
Term
Definition: Gender

Gender terms?
Definition
Gender: learned behavior involving how we are expected to act as males and females in society

terms: Masculine and feminime
Term
Definition: Sex

Terms for sex...
Definition
Definition: biological role that each of us plays, such as in reproduction

terms: male and female
Term
family as an agency of socialization
Definition
fathers are rougher with boys, gentler with girls

speak more softly to girls

gender stereotyping
Term
sexist treatment in schools
Definition
-children see men in positions of authority

-female teachers are more likely to encourage independence and assertion in boys than in girls

-teachers also provide less attention to girls and reward girls for conforming behavior and male students for aggression
Term
gender inequality involving males
Definition
myth of masculinity: men are supposed to be strong, dominant, tough, unemotional, etc.

-limiting, because men that who enter unconventional male roles are considered weirdos (jobs)

-laws in some states that men can't swear in front of females.

-insurance companies charge more to younger males
Term
Definition: Feminist movement
Definition
collective activities of individuals, groups, and organizations whose goals is the fair and equal treatment of women and men around the world
Term
Definition: comparable worth
Definition
Concept that jobs which require comparable abilities, knowledge, and skills, should be paid the same wage/salary rate irrespective of the employee's age, race, sex or any other difference.
Term
Definition: hostile environment
Definition
repeated sexual advances, disturbing to woman and create an environment that makes work difficult
Term
functionalist perspective on age and social structure
Definition
-stages of the life course are intimately related to the social needs of particular societies (therefore, they differ from each society)

ex: preindustrial societies: people usually learn how to fill adult positions fairly early in life

-Industrial societies: need a highly educated and well-trained work force
Term
According to functionalist perspective, when is treatment of young and old a social problem?
Definition
-when it is inconsistent with their capabilities and development

can lead to social disorganization

ex: Forced retirement can lead to depression and alcoholism

---societies need to provide appropriate statuses for people at every stage of life
Term
Conflict perspective: position of age groups and how it’s determined
Definition
-in preindustrial societies, old people had all of the power b/c they controlled resources. people learned trades from their parents

-in industrial societies: people are not as heavily depending on their parents to make a living. family ties have become less important. elderly no longer have positions of power

-position of any age group in society is determined by the resources that they have access to
Term
Definition: Dependency ratio
Definition
shows the relative size of the group in out society that is economically dependent for support on others who are working
Term
What difficulties to children experience, if they grow up in single-parent homes? Why?
Definition
-strong emotional problems

-do less well in school

-are more prone to delinquency and other kinds of behavioral problems

----Why?
-low income
-inadequate parental guidance
-less access to community resources
Term
sources of homophobia and anti-gay violence
Definition
-Western christian ideology: defines homosexuality as a sin

-People think that homosexuality is a threat to the family or to the reproductive potential of society

-Freud: Sees homosexualiy as being an immature and underdeveloped form of adult sexuality

-Most of homophobes are young men - they participate in activities that show their dominance, bravery, etc.

-Homophobia is associated with rigid and deep-seated negative feelings about human sexuality where sex is seen as "dirty" and a threat to the social order

-AIDs crisis - people are uninformed
Term
49. From the conflict perspective, what is the social problem concerning homosexuality
Definition
-people of the same sex cannot reproduce...therefore, eliminates 2 possible mates that could reproduce.

-competition of mates
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