Introduction to Sociology Study Guide Exam 2 Fall 2012 This study guide is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible items on the test It is helpful in identifying key points and terms from the lectures and readings assigned for this exam What is social class What are some significant differences between classes in the U S a persons income education and occupation correlates to status and social class Define status prestige social position status A status is simply a rank or position that one holds in a group One occupies the status of son or daughter playmate pupil radical militant and so on Eventually one occupies the statuses of husband mother bread winner cricket fan and so on one has as many statuses as there are groups of which one is a member prestige Social respect accorded to an individual or group because of the status of their position social position is the position of an individual in a given society and culture A given position for example the occupation of priest may belong to many individuals Social position influences social status One can have several social positions but only one social status What is social stratification How is it functional How is it dysfunctional for society social stratification the condition of being arranged in social strata or classes within a group it is a factor that guides peoples interactions in everyday life people tend to interact with others in the same social standing functional On this basis Functionalists argue that owners of capitalist firms and managers administrators and other professionals in both the private and public sectors are well rewarded financially because their work is functionally important that is because it contributes to the stability of their societies in various ways and because they have scarce skills dysfunctional Conflict theorists have argued that Functionalists have in general overstated the extent to which societies are organized in the interests of all of societies members and overstated also the useful contributions which existing social institutions make to the stability of societies and understated both the extent to which societies are organized primarily in the interests of privileged minorities and against the interests of the majority and the possible dysfunctions of exiting social institutions What is the Davis Moore Thesis claims that stratification has beneficial consequences for society as a whole inequality creates incentives functional importance determines rewards such a system promotes productivity What is meritocracy What is a meritocratic society meritocracy a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement meritocratic society A meritocratic society or social system gives people status or rewards because of what they achieve rather than because of their wealth or social position myth you get what your merti performance is wrong because while privilege and other factors apply What is cultural capital How is cultural capital related to social class cultural capital refers to non financial social assets that promote social mobility beyond economic means Examples can include education intellect style of speech dress and even physical appearance et cetera cultural capital related to social class resources based on group membership relationships networks of influence and support Bourdieu described social capital as the aggregate of the actual or potential resources which are linked to possession of a durable network of more or less institutionalized relationships of mutual acquaintance and recognition In White Privilege Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack McIntosh discusses the myth of meritocracy and your text describes meritocracy and cultural capital What is the myth of meritocracy How are rewards earned differently through cultural capital than a meritocratic system What is conspicuous consumption The acquisition and display of expensive items to attract attention to one s wealth or to suggest that one is wealthy What is social mobility Intergenerational and Intragenerational the movement of an individual social group or class to a position by increased or decreased status or power intergenerational not within generation going between generations intragenerational within generation being mobile within Who are the poor in the US Which families are mostly likely to live in poverty age at greatest risk are children race African Americans and Hispanics gender women family patterns single mothers What is the feminization of poverty How many households are headed by single women describes a phenomenon in which women represent disproportionate percentages of the world s poor This concept is not only a consequence of lack of income but is also the result of the deprivation of capabilities and gender biases present in both societies and governments this includes the poverty of choices and opportunities such as the ability to lead a long healthy and creative life and enjoy basic rights like freedom respect and dignity Women s increasing share of poverty is related to the rising incidence of lone mother households households headed by single women half Which age group is most likely to live in poverty children under age 18 Know the differences between absolute and relative poverty absolute poverty a lack of resources that is life threatening present in the U S but more so in low income countries where one third or more of the population relative poverty exists in every society some people lack resources that are taken for granted by others Risk factors associated with being in the underclass threat against the family institution and its functions lack of education is an important reason for poverty no social security no protected by a social security institution under the state against social risks like sickness disability maternity accident retirement etc no regular income bad nutrition poor housing shelter causing poor health conditions and sickness to happen often infant mortality rate higher inferior schools fewer resources to provide educational experiences for their children incarceration What is the relationship between social class and health the higher up in social class the better the health with having the money to have the best doctors and health care included insurance the lower the social class the worse health conditions get from their living situation and environment due to not having the money or insurance to even go to the
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