Exam 10: Class and Inequality

Young Bobby opened a lemonade stand in his front yard. He used $4 worth of lemons, sugar, and cups, and paid his little sister $1 to operate the stand while he played. She sold 7 cups of lemonade for $1 each. What was the surplus value?

Which of these is stratified in a ranked society?

What common result occurs when patterns of social stratification emerge?

What is significant about the Amish and Hutterite communities in contrast to today's highly stratified social structures?

Pierre Bourdieu argued that in addition to a family's economic circumstances, two additional key factors affect an individual's social mobility. What did he call them? Give two examples that illustrate each factors. How can they limit or improve one's social mobility? How do you think they affect your own social mobility? Are there individuals who are not affected in any way by either factor?

According to Karl Marx, the bourgeoisie consisted of a capitalist class of individuals who owned what part of society?

In the nineteenth century, Karl Marx argued that capitalist societies consisted of two distinct classes of people: those who own the means of production and those who must sell their labor in return for wages. What did he call these classes? What other resources or factors distinguished these two classes, according to Marx? Give an example of a way Marx's theory could be applied to understanding societies living in a global economy today? Do you find Marx's theory helpful in understanding class and social inequality today? Why or why not?

The Ju/Hoansi of the Kalihari are:

Although the United States is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, poverty continues to be a societal issue. What are two key theories that developed in the social sciences to identify the roots of poverty in the United States? How do these theories differ and what do they have in common?

Economic relations in many societies today are organized around the exchange of money for services rather than around patterns of reciprocity; however, patterns of reciprocity still exist, even within highly stratified societies. Give three examples of reciprocity that are likely to occur in your society. What purpose do they serve within or between social groups? How does gift giving fit into these patterns of reciprocity? What may be some underlying motivations in gift giving that are related to group survival or benefit? Do you think members of your society will continue to practice these forms of reciprocity and gift-giving in the future? Why or why not?

How is the prestige and status of a chief in a ranked society reinforced?

Which of the following is a criticism of the "culture of poverty" approach?

In a populous market town, a small number of merchants and landholders have accumulated wealth and extreme stratification arises. Which is the best explanation for this?