Prin. Sociology Chp. 7 Flashcards

Natural Inequality or Physical: Someone is always going to be better than someone else at something.

According to Marx, the bourgeoisie in capitalist societies exploit workers. The owners pay them enough to afford food and a place to live, and the workers, who do not realize they are being exploited, have a false consciousness, or a mistaken sense, that they are well off. They think they can count on their capitalist bosses to do what was best for them.

Weber argued that owning property, such as factories or equipment, is only part of what determines a person’s social class. Social class for Weber included power and prestige, in addition to property or wealth. People who run corporations without owning them still benefit from increased production and greater profits.

Due to the emergence of private property

Freedom arrives when man becomes an atheist, finally recognizing that he and not the supernatural God of “picture-thinking” is the true God.

Equality of condition is the idea that everyone should have an equal starting point from which to pursue his or her goals.

He thought that a more equal distribution of resources would increase the world’s population to unsustainable levels and ultimately bring about mass starvation and conflict.

Establishment of private property- representing a huge improvement in society, because private property leads to higher degrees of social organization and incentives

It means that some people are getting ahead and creating assets.

the notion that everyone is created equal in the eyes of God.

the idea that inequality of condition is acceptable so long as everyone has the same opportunities for advancement and is judged by the same standards.

the idea that everyone should have an equal starting point from which to pursue his or her goals.

the notion that everyone in a society should end up with the same “rewards” regardless of his or her starting point, opportunities, or contributions.

it is not the hard work itself that rescues the boy from his fate, but rather some extraordinary act of bravery or honesty, which brings him into contact with a wealthy elder gentleman, who takes the boy in as a ward. The boy might return a large sum of money that was lost or rescue someone from an overturned carriage, bringing the boy—and his plight—to the attention of some wealthy individual. It has been suggested that this reflects Alger's own patronizing attitude to the boys he tried to help.

Stratification system in which some people own others as their property and control their activities. People become slaves through birth, military defeat, or debt.

Stratification system in which people are assigned to the social group (caste) of their parents. Their affiliation entails specific rights and duties and determines their lifestyle, occupational choices, wealth, and prestige.

Stratification system based on legal and customary distinctions between a group that possesses land and power by virtue of noble birth, and a group that works for the first group in exchange for land and protection.

See Classical Sociological Thinkers > Karl Marx > Class and Elements of Society > Social Structure > Key Concepts: Marxism, Weber, and Conflict Theory > Social Class.

The movement of individuals or groups up and down stratification hierarchies. Mobility depends on type of stratification: It is quite rare under slavery and more common under class systems.

The United States is actually run by a small group representing the most wealthy, powerful, and influential people in business, government, and the military. According to Mills, their decisions dictate the policies of this country more than those of the voting public. Mills also pointed out that the influence of the power elite overlaps into many different areas. For example, a wealthy businessman may make large contributions to a particular political candidate.

The service jobs, service workers in section of working class / middle class

is commonly conceptualized as the social standing or class of an individual or group.

income- money received, esp. on a regular basis, for work or through investments.

Wealth- an abundance of valuable possessions or money.

is shifting from one social status to another, commonly to a status that is either higher or lower.

movement from one position to another within the same social level, as changing jobs without altering occupational status, or moving between social groups having the same social status.

Movement up or down the social hierarchy

the movement of individuals along the social ladder based on changes in the social structure.

based on the idea that inequality results primarily from differences in characteristics such as education, parents’ occupation, academic achievement, mental ability, values, and motivation. From this perspective, race, gender, ethnic, and class inequality result from an individual’s ability to compete successfully for higher status or income.

Such property is transferred via a will, according to the state laws of intestacy or otherwise made as an incident of the death of the owner.

Because the Wealthy have most of the money in the country.