Sociology Final Exam Part 1: Social Stratification

Front 1

define social stratification

Back 1

a system where categories of people are ranked in a hierarchy

Front 2

What is a system where categories of people are ranked in a hierarchy?

Back 2

social stratification

Front 3

In social stratification, where are the MOST powerful people?

Back 3

at the top of the hierarchy

Front 4

In social stratification, where are the LEAST powerful people?

Back 4

at the bottom of the hierarchy

Front 5

(a) Of what is social stratification a characteristic?

(b) Of what is it NOT a characteristic?

Back 5

(a) society, (b) NOT individuals

Front 6

What does society assign to each category within social stratification?

Back 6

resources

Front 7

What are the 2 important properties of social stratification?

Back 7

It is universal and variable.

Front 8

What does it mean to say that social stratification is universal?

Back 8

Every society has some degree of layering.

Front 9

In general terms, how long does social stratification persist?

Back 9

over generations

Front 10

From where do we get our social position?

Back 10

our parents

Front 11

To whom can we bestow our social position?

Back 11

our children

Front 12

Give 1-2 definitions for social mobility

Back 12

changes in social position within the system of social stratification, (i.e., within the social ladder), or moving (being able to move) from one category to another

Front 13

What are changes in social position within the system of social stratification, i.e., within the social ladder?

Back 13

social mobility

Front 14

What is the act of moving (or the property of being able to move) from one category to another within social stratification?

Back 14

social mobility

Front 15

In what 3 directions can social mobility occur?

Back 15

down the hierarchy, up the hierarchy, or laterally (to the side) within the same layer

Front 16

What is the main characteristic of movement within social stratification that usually applies?

Back 16

It is usually incremental.

Front 17

By what is social stratification supported?

Back 17

patterns of cultural belief

Front 18

What happens if the people within a society no longer support its system of social stratification?

Back 18

The system ceases to exist.

Front 19

What are the 2 types of systems of social stratification?

Back 19

open and closed

Front 20

What is the definitive property of a closed system of social stratification?

Back 20

It lacks social mobility.

Front 21

What is the classic example of a closed system of social stratification?

Back 21

a caste system

Front 22

define caste system

Back 22

a closed system of social stratification, where social position is based on some ascribed status

Front 23

What is a closed system of social stratification, where social position is based on some ascribed status?

Back 23

a caste system

Front 24

What is the definitive property of an open system of soc. strat.?

Back 24

It has social mobility.

Front 25

define class system

Back 25

an open system of soc. strat. where individual achievement plays a role in determining social position

Front 26

What is an open system of soc. strat. where individual achievement plays a role in determining social position?

Back 26

a class system

Front 27

What system of soc. strat. do we (seem to) have in the USA?

Back 27

a class system

Front 28

In a class system, over what does the individual have some control (or influence)?

Back 28

the individual's class (to change it, to exert social mobility)

Front 29

Is there a great deal of social equality or inequality in the USA?

Back 29

There is a great deal of social *inequality* here.

Front 30

What are the 5 causes (categories) of social inequality in the USA?

Back 30

Ascription, economic resources and power (counts for 2 of the 5), formal education, and occupational prestige

Front 31

Within USA society, what do they (the generalized other) say about money?

Back 31

It is power.

Front 32

What does it mean if wealth is very unevenly distributed in USA society?

Back 32

A small percentage of people have control over a very large percentage of the (nation's total) wealth.

(This is why protestors in NYC around 2013 became known as "the 99%".)

Front 33

What can one do in the USA if one has a very large percentage of the nation's wealth?

Back 33

One can dictate what goes on.

Front 34

With respect to social inequality in the USA, how are Americans widely evaluated? To what category of social inequality does this phenomenon belong?

Back 34

(a) according to their jobs

(because of)

(b) occupational prestige

Front 35

In simpler terms, what does occupational prestige mean?

Back 35

It means some jobs are more prestigious (prized, seen by the culture as valuable) than others.

Front 36

What concept do we exemplify when we say that some jobs are more prized or valuable than others?

Back 36

occupational prestige

Front 37

In the USA, what is the phrase used to describe most occupations that have HIGHER prestige?

Back 37

white collar

Front 38

In the USA, what is the phrase used to describe most occupations that have LOWER prestige?

Back 38

blue collar

(A.H. editorial: also, "pink collar", which denotes jobs that are typically performed by women and require less physical labor, such as reception, administrative assisting, light office work, & customer service)

Front 39

Name 3-7 examples of occupations considered MORE prestigious in the USA.

Back 39

celebrity, corporate executive, doctor, engineer, lawyer, military brass, politician, university professor

Front 40

Name 3-11 examples of occupations considered LESS prestigious in the USA.

Back 40

fast food worker, electrician, elementary school teacher, firefighter, janitor, landscaper, nurse, plumber, police officer, social worker, warehouse worker

(A.H. editorial: Many of these are surprising, given the amount of education required for some of them.)

Front 41

What are the more important and the less important things that make a job prestigious?

Back 41

(a) the amount of formal education needed to get it and (b) the kind of knowledge one gets

Front 42

Besides ascription, which category of social inequality in the USA is easier for people in the higher classes to acquire?

Back 42

formal education

Front 43

What is the best way to work one's self up the social ladder into higher classes?

Back 43

getting a college degree

Front 44

synonym for ascription

Back 44

ascribed status

Front 45

What is currently the most prestigious combination of 5 (mostly) ascribed statuses in the USA?

Back 45

racially white, ancestrally Anglo-Saxon, religiously Protestant Christian, anatomically male, man

(WASP male man -- Note how anatomical sex is separate from gender.)

Front 46

define status inconsistency

Back 46

when the factors that determine one's social position are not consistent with one another

Front 47

What is the term for when the factors that determine one's social position are not consistent with one another?

Back 47

status inconsistency

Front 48

How do OTHERS usually label a status-inconsistent person?

Back 48

Using the person's lower factors (that determine one's social position)

Front 49

How does a status-inconsistent person usually label THEMSELVES?

Back 49

Using their higher or more important factors (that determine their social position)

Front 50

What two concepts make it very difficult to classify people in the USA?

Back 50

social mobility and status inconsistency