Exam 8: Class and Stratification in the United States

Today,great disparities exist in the distribution of educational resources.Because funding for education comes primarily from __________,school districts in wealthy suburban areas generally pay higher teachers' salaries,have newer buildings,and provide state-of-the-art equipment.

Outline sociologist Karl Marx's theory on the relationship to the means of production and apply the theory to contemporary America.

People who are wealthy and well educated and who have high-paying jobs are much more likely to be healthy than are poor people.

Sociologists often use the term socioeconomic status (SES) to refer to a combined measure that attempts to classify individuals,families,or households in terms of factors such as income,occupation,and education to determine class location.

According to the social class model developed by sociologist Dennis Gilbert,members of the __________ have earned most of their money in their own lifetime as entrepreneurs,presidents of major corporations,sports or entertainment celebrities,or top-level professionals.

Native Americans are among the most severely disadvantaged persons in the United States.Some analysts estimate Native American poverty rates to be as high as 33 percent.

__________ theorists stress that schools are agencies for reproducing the capitalist class system and perpetuating inequality in society.Parents with limited income are not able to provide the same educational opportunities for their children as are families with greater financial resources.

Most Americans view themselves as __________ class.

All of the following classes were identified by sociologist Erik Wright in his Marxian model EXCEPT the:

Slavery began in the United States in the 1600s as a form of cheap labor.

The separation of the races refers to:

According to the sociologist Erik Wright's Marxian model,all of the following are criteria for placement in the class structure EXCEPT:

Contemporary Marxian (or conflict) theorists would examine class in Terms of:

Conflict theorists stress that schools are agencies for reproducing the capitalist class system and perpetuating inequality in society.Great disparities exist in the distribution of educational resources because funding for education primarily comes from local property taxes.

The social movement of individuals within their own lifetime is called:

__________ are among the most severely disadvantaged persons in the United States with about one-third living below the poverty line.

Sociologist Dennis Gilbert compares the distribution of income to a National pie that has been sliced into portions.In 2008,the poorest 20 Percent of households received approximately __________ of the Total income pie.

The term ___________ housing refers to facilities that have inadequate heating,air conditioning,plumbing,electricity,or structural durability.

Why is inequality growing in the United States? According to symbolic interactionists,the answer lies in the concept of surplus value-the value produced,or the profit created,when the cost of labor is less than the cost of the goods or services that are produced by the workers.

Approximately __________ of white (non-Latino/a) children under age 18 in female-headed households lived below the poverty line,as sharply contrasted with over __________ of Latino/a and African American (black) children.