Deck 7: B: Social Inequality

Question 1

What is the central assumption of a "meritocracy"?

Answer 1

A meritocracy is based on the principle that people ultimately achieve what they deserve.People believe that they can achieve wealth and status through individual attributes.

Question 2

Identify one of the key arguments against the Davis-Moore thesis on stratification.

Answer 2

The comparatively low salaries of such socially important (but female dominated)occupations such as daycare workers,public school teachers,and social workers demonstrate the extent to which gender bias,and not social value,may influence salary levels.

Question 3

According to Olin Wright,what is the difference between the bourgeoisie and the petite bourgeoisie? Provide an example of a job that would fit into each category.

Answer 3

The bourgeoisie are the managers who work in firms owned by capitalists and who have direct authority over large numbers of workers.The petite bourgeoisie are entrepreneurs who own capital,but employ few people and exercise very little authority.Examples will vary.

Question 4

What is "deindustrialization" and how is it related to poverty in Canada?

Question 5

Briefly compare and contrast the responses of functionalism and conflict theory to stratification.

Question 6

Describe two of the key factors influencing social inequality in Canada,and provide examples of each.

Question 7

How is Kuznets curve used to measure global inequality? According to this measure,what trend generally occurs as a society develops?

Question 8

Weber argued that class,status groups,and party are all sources of social influence and power in society.Explain what he meant by each of these three factors,and provide an example of each.

Question 9

Describe the difference between conspicuous waste and conspicuous consumption.Give an example of both.

Question 10

Provide a sociological definition of the term power.According to Weber,how can workers in a bureaucracy exert power,despite not necessarily having wealth or economic status?

Question 11

What is meant by "the culture of poverty"? Does it support "blaming the victim"? Explain your answer.

Question 12

Identify the cornerstone of "classist" thinking and,by implication,capitalist ideology.

Question 13

What is meant by the statement "some Canadians are more equal than others"?

Question 14

What is the difference between intergenerational and intragenerational mobility? Give an example of each.

Question 15

Describe the three indicators of socioeconomic status.Give an example of why is it important to analyze each of these indicators in coordination with the other two.