Exam 8: Class and Stratification in the United States

Sociologist Karl Marx stated that capitalistic societies consist of two classes-the proletariat class that consists of those who own the means of production and the bourgeoisie class that consists of those who must sell their labor to the owners in order to earn enough money to survive.

According to some social analysts,throughout recorded history only five societies have been slave societies-those in which the social and economic impact of slavery was extensive: ancient Greece,the Roman Empire,the United States,the Caribbean,and Brazil.

Define the official poverty line and differentiate between absolute poverty and relative poverty.

A few studies provide insight into the social interactions between people from vastly divergent class locations.Sociologist Judith Rollins's (1985) study of the relationship between household workers and their employers is one example.Based on in-depth interviews and participant observation,Rollins examined rituals of deference that were often demanded by elite white women of their domestic workers,who were frequently women of color.

Educational opportunities and life chances are directly linked.Symbolic interactionists view education as the "elevator" to social mobility.Improvements in the educational achievement levels of the poor,people of color,and white women have been cited as evidence that students' abilities are now more important than their class,race,or gender.

Based on in-depth interviews and participant observation,sociologist Judith Rollins examined rituals of __________ that were often demanded by elite white women of their domestic workers,who were frequently women of color.

According to the social class model developed by sociologist Dennis Gilbert,the __________ is the one that is most shaped by formal education.

For many years,occupational ratings by prestige have been remarkably _________ in the United States.

Describe consequences of inequality in relation to physical and mental health and nutrition.

Describe the concept of global systems of stratification.

From a __________ perspective,people with economic and political power are able to shape and distribute the rewards,resources,privileges,and opportunities in society for their own benefit.

According to functionalist sociologists Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore:

Utilizing sociologists Dennis Gilbert's model of the United States class system,locate where your parents are on the ladder and discuss.

According to Weber,bureaucracies hold social power in modern societies; individual power depends on a person's _________ within the bureaucracy.

__________ is the respect or regard with which a person or status position is regarded by others: it includes fame,respect,honor,and esteem.

Discuss consequences of inequality in relation to housing.

In 2009,more than __________ million people lived below the official government poverty level of $22,050 for a family of four.

Both social scientists Karl Marx and Max Weber identified ___________ as an important determinant of social inequality and social change.

__________ poverty exists when people may be able to afford basic necessities but are still unable to maintain an average standard of living.

According to Forbes magazine's 2010 list of the richest people in the world,Bill Gates (co-founder of Microsoft Corporation) was the second wealthiest with a fortune of nearly $53 billion.According to the sociologist Erik Wright's Marxian model,Bill Gates would be in the __________ class.