SOCY 151- Chapter 8

allow little change in social position (caste systems)

permit more social mobility (class systems)

marriage that takes place within a social category

racial caste system that is no longer legal

includes a persons' knowledge, abilities, and efforts; what stratification is also based on

church leaders in France and other European countries, had a great deal of power to shape political events

heredity nobility that made up less than 5% of people in France and other European countries

commoners or serfs in France and other European countries

aristocrats devised a law stating all property was to be passed to the oldest son or other male relation

russian term meaning reconstructing

a system Karl Marx thought would happen, a system that would meet the needs of all rather than the needs of an elite few

economic inequality

social prestige

sometimes called "blue bloods" or simply "society", includes less than 1% of the population. Membership is almost always the result of birth

include richest people of the world; 3 to 4 percent of U.S. population. "working rich" who get their money mostly by earning rather than inheriting

above average income ranging from $116,000 to $205,000. Live in a comfortable home in a fairly expensive neighborhood

center of the U.S. class structure. Typically work less prestigious white-collar jobs or in highly skilled blue collar jobs. Income falls between $48,500 and $116,000

sometimes called the working class. Hold blue-collar jobs and their income is between $27,000 and $48,500 a year. They make up 1/3 of the U.S population

20% of the U.S. population. Work low-prestige jobs that provide little satisfaction and minimal income

changing jobs at the same class level

a lower class subculture that can destroy people's ambitions to improve their lives

Saying that victims are responsible for their own suffering

a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy

a change in position within the social hierarchy

social stratification based on ascription, or birth

social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement

social stratification based on personal merit

the degreed of uniformity in a person's social standing across various dimensions of social inequality

A shift in the social position of large numbers of people due more to changes in society itself than to individual efforts

cultural beliefs that justify particular social arrangements, including patterns of inequality

the functional analysis claiming that social stratification has been beneficial consequences for the operation of society

people who own and operate factories and other businesses in pursuit of profit

people who sell their labor for wages

the experience of isolation and misery resulting from powerlessness

lower-prestige jobs that involve mostly manual labor

higher-prestige jobs that involve mostly mental activity

a composite ranking based on various dimensions of social inequality

buying and using products because of the "statement" they make about social position

earnings from work or investments

the total value of money and other assets, minus outstanding debts

a change in social position occurring during a person's lifetime

upward or downward social mobility of children in relation to their parents

the lack of resources of some people in relation to those who have more

a lack of resources that is life-threatening

the trend of women making up an increasing proportion of the poor