Term
| What are the bases of social stratification? |
|
Definition
| Wealth, Power, and Prestige |
|
|
Term
| How equal is the distribution of wealth in the United States? |
|
Definition
The richest 20% of population has 48% of total income
Poorest 20% earns less than 5% of total income |
|
|
Term
| What do Marxists and Elite Theorists say about how power is distributed in the United States? |
|
Definition
| They say that the power is distributed unequally, concentrated in the hands for very few people. |
|
|
Term
| What does Pluralist theorists say about wealth distribution in the United States? |
|
Definition
| They say that power is widely dispersed among competing groups |
|
|
Term
| What is an important source of prestige in the United States? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Why is it important to consider gender, ethnicity, and age when studying social stratification? |
|
Definition
| Without taking these issues into account, the social inequality of a society will appear to be less than it is |
|
|
Term
| What are the methods used to define who is in which social class? |
|
Definition
Reputational Method
Subjective Method
Objective Method |
|
|
Term
| What is the distribution of classes in the U.S? |
|
Definition
Upper Class - 3%
Upper Middle Class - 25%
Middle Class - 34%
Working Class - 23%
Lower Class - 15% |
|
|
Term
| What are the two types of poverty? |
|
Definition
Absolute Poverty
Relative Poverty |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Social scientists say personal weakness and the "culture of poverty" cause people to be poor.
Sociologists say society's need for dirty work to be done causes poverty. |
|
|
Term
| Why do functionalists think that social stratification is useful to society? |
|
Definition
| Stratification ensures that relatively important jobs are performed by competent people |
|
|
Term
| How do conflict theorists view stratification? |
|
Definition
| It is considered harmful to society - limiting opportunities for those not in the privileged class, preserving the status quo of injustices, and producing social unrest |
|
|
Term
| How do symbolic interactionists view stratification? |
|
Definition
| Stratification influences interactions between higher-status and lower-status people. |
|
|
Term
| How does an ethnic group differ from a race? |
|
Definition
| Races are defined by perceived physical characteristics, whereas ethnic groups are dfined based on shared cultural characteristics |
|
|
Term
| What do the functionalists think about race and ethnic groups? |
|
Definition
| Intergroup relations appear in the form of assimilation, amalgamation, and cultural pluralism, all of which are assumed to contribute to social cohesion |
|
|
Term
| What do conflict theorists think about race and ethnic groups? |
|
Definition
| Intergroup relations appear in the form of segregation, expulsion, and extermination, all of which harm society |
|
|
Term
| What do symbolic interactionists think about race and ethnic groups? |
|
Definition
| Stereotyped definitions affect intergroup relations and vice versa. |
|
|
Term
| According to the functionalist perspective, what are the functions of education? |
|
Definition
| The main functions are teaching knowledge and skills, enhancing social mobility, promoting national unity, and providing custodial care. |
|
|
Term
| Viewed from the conflict perspective, what does education do for society? |
|
Definition
| Education reinforces inequality by channeling students of different socioeconomic backgrounds into different classes and colleges. Education also imposes much of the dominant WASP culture on US minorities. |
|
|
Term
| According to symbolic interactionism, how does the pygmalion effect work? |
|
Definition
| By having certain expectations about students, teachers behave in particular ways that cause students to live up to what their teachers expect of them |
|
|
Term
| What do functionalists think about Capitalism? |
|
Definition
| To functionalists, capitalism serves a useful function by bringing baout a prosperous and stable society |
|
|
Term
| What do conflict theorists think about Capitalism? |
|
Definition
| Capitalism threatens society by allowing the rich to exploit the poor |
|
|
Term
| What do symbolic interactionists think about Capitalism? |
|
Definition
| They focus on how people's definition of their world creates or supports capitalism. |
|
|
Term
| What does pluralist theory say about how governs the US? |
|
Definition
| Diverse interest groups share power in the US |
|
|
Term
| What does C. Wright Mills say about who controls the US government? |
|
Definition
| Control is held by the power elite. |
|
|
Term
| What does Marx think about who controls the government? |
|
Definition
| Marx thinks that the capitalists use the state to maintain their dominance over the other classes. |
|
|
Term
| What does functionalism think about the global divide? |
|
Definition
| Functionalists think that the global divide is a product of social disorganization in the less-developed countries, and they recommend programs to speed up the transition to full industrialization in order to bring more stability to these societies. |
|
|
Term
| What do conflict theorists say about the global divide? |
|
Definition
| Conflict theorists see most of today's global problems as the direct result of European colonialism and the exploitative economic system that developed from it. They recommend an international effort by poor and working-class people around the world to create a more just international order. |
|
|
Term
| What do feminists say about the global divide? |
|
Definition
| Feminists call for more female oriented development programs both to improve the status of women and to promote general economic improvements |
|
|
Term
| What do interactionists say about the global divide? |
|
Definition
| Interactionists point out that the destruction of the traditional worldview and way of life in agricultural societies has also meant a great deal more insecurity and anxiety for the average person. They urge the leaders of the less developed countries to work to keep their family and community institutions strong. |
|
|
Term
| What conditions make revolution likely? |
|
Definition
- some disgruntled, well-off, well-educated individuals
- the masses' rising expectations
- a sudden economic crisis
- weak government
|
|
|
Term
| When is terrorism likely to occur? |
|
Definition
| It is likely to occur when the would-be leader of a revolution does not have the support of the masses against a strong government |
|
|
