Deck 7: Stratification, Class, and Inequality

Question 1

According to the textbook, what is one of the reasons that slavery does not exist in most societies around the world today?

A) It is an inefficient economic system.
B) Slaves are too expensive to buy.
C) The Civil War outlawed it.
D) Around the world, slavery has always been considered immoral.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Karl Marx called those who own the means of production ________ and those who make their living by selling their own labor power for a wage ________.

A) capitalists; the working class
B) producers; consumers
C) merchants; consumers
D) the working class; capitalists

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Dr. Smith is an open-heart surgeon who was trained at a top-tier medical school. Which of the following theorists would be most likely to argue that Dr. Smith achieved the position solely based on her own talent and efforts?

A) Kingsley Davis and Wilbert E. Moore
B) Max Weber
C) Karl Marx
D) Charles Murray

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty and raised by a single mother, yet today she is one of the richest women in America. According to the textbook, the social position we are born into affects our life chances, but our class position is also:

A) based on caste.
B) based on looks.
C) in some part achieved.
D) determined by affirmative action.

Question 5

A stratification system in which certain people are owned as property is known as:

A) capitalism.
B) caste.
C) estate.
D) slavery.

Question 6

In systems of stratification, people are typically ranked by:

A) personality.
B) social categories.
C) intelligence.
D) social capital.

Question 7

Andrew is a twenty-something, currently unemployed Jewish male from a wealthy background. Louis is a thirty-year-old Puerto Rican man who currently works in retail. Which difference might Max Weber point to in attempting to understand their respective social statuses?

A) status distinctions
B) class distinctions
C) ethnic distinctions
D) age distinctions

Question 8

The social honor or prestige that other members of society accord to individuals is referred to as:

A) status.
B) reputation.
C) social class.
D) fame.

Question 9

Income inequality has increased dramatically since the 1970s, as the richest 20 percent saw its incomes rise ________, while the poorest 20 percent saw its incomes rise by ________.

A) 54 percent; 1 percent
B) 15 percent; 60 percent
C) 100 percent; 0 percent
D) 75 percent; 95 percent

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of a caste system?

A) forcing rural women in Thailand into sex work
B) the racial wealth gap in the United States
C) forcing children to accept their parents' status as their own in India
D) high rates of child poverty in Slovenia

Question 11

Today people are taken against their will and forced to work as bricklayers in Pakistan or as sex workers in Thailand. According to the textbook, these examples are best described as:

A) modern-day slavery.
B) a caste system based on occupation.
C) cheap labor in a capitalist system.
D) the worst occupations in a class system.

Question 12

We can conclude that one of the main differences between a society based on caste versus one based on class is that:

A) boundaries between groups are not prevalent in systems based on class.
B) caste societies are spreading to countries around the world.
C) social mobility is more prevalent in class-based societies.
D) globalization will eventually do away with class positions.

Question 13

Scholars believe that ________ has encouraged a shift to class-based systems in countries such as India that have been traditionally caste-based systems.

A) morality
B) globalization
C) the Internet
D) a high divorce rate

Question 14

Wealth and income are both important determinants of social class. Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between wealth and income in the United States?

A) Income disparities between rich and poor have increased in the past three decades, whereas wealth disparities have decreased during the same time.
B) Wealthy people almost always inherited their money; thus there is no relationship between wealth and income.
C) The same factors that limit people's incomes also limit their ability to accumulate wealth.
D) Whereas race, education, and age influence income, wealth is independent of these variables.

Question 15

Workers picking strawberries can pick 100 baskets an hour, but the value of 20 baskets is all it costs the employer to pay them their hourly wages. According to Karl Marx, the income the employer collects from the extra baskets is:

A) extra wages.
B) surplus value.
C) wage theft.
D) extra income.

Question 16

According to Karl Marx, the working class in industrialized countries would remain poor and live near subsistence level. Marx was right about the persistence of poverty in industrialized countries, but he was wrong in thinking that:

A) there would be very few poor people in most industrialized countries.
B) most people would own the means of production collectively in capitalist countries.
C) the income of most of the population would remain extremely low.
D) industrial capitalism would decrease the wealth and income gap.

Question 17

Caste systems like the one in India require that individuals marry within their social group. This is referred to as:

A) caste marriage.
B) endogamy.
C) social marriage.
D) endomarriage.

Question 18

Studies in which people are asked to rate jobs in terms of "prestige" show some differences in ratings by age. Which person would a millennial be most likely to categorize as having the highest occupational prestige?

A) Mary Dolan, a doctor
B) June Brewer, a sociologist
C) Colin Kaepernick, a professional athlete
D) Jerry Valdez, a police officer

Question 19

One of the main differences between Marx's and Weber's understanding of social class is that:

A) Marx emphasized one's life chances in his understanding of social class.
B) Weber recognized that social classes also differ with respect to their power.
C) Marx put more emphasis on how race and gender intersected with class.
D) Weber argued that social discrimination can lead to class inequality.

Question 20

Davis and Moore's explanation of class stratification differs from that of Marx and Weber because:

A) they tend to focus more on the role of inheritance in attaining social status.
B) they argue that blue-collar occupations deserve more prestige in our society.
C) they argue that one's social position is based on skills, talents, and hard work.
D) they pay more attention to the need for the redistribution of resources to make society more equal and stable.

Question 21

Which of the following best explains why Latino household income has stagnated and fallen far behind that of white households?

A) A culture of poverty among Latinos discourages achievement and saving money.
B) A large number of immigrants from Mexico and Latin America are in low-wage jobs.
C) The unemployment rate among Latinos is high.
D) The divorce rate among Latinos is high.

Question 22

The money a person gets from a wage, salary, or investments is ________; the assets an individual owns are ________.

A) wealth; property
B) income; wealth
C) wealth; income
D) income; inherited

Question 23

Working-class children are most likely to do which of the following after graduating from high school?

A) travel around Europe
B) attend a four-year college
C) attend a two-year college
D) immediately start working

Question 24

Which of the following individuals is most likely to identify as a member of the lower middle class?

A) professor
B) doctor
C) school teacher
D) upper-level manager

Question 25

According to the textbook, members of the lower middle class today:

A) work at primarily blue-collar jobs.
B) make up about 90 percent of American households.
C) are racially and ethnically diverse.
D) make over $200,000 annually.

Question 26

Eddie is a factory worker who makes about $32,000 a year. Eddie's husband, Dustin, works part time as a dental assistant and makes about $15,000. Their combined income is just enough to pay their mortgage and make ends meet. Eddie and Dustin are considered:

A) lower middle class.
B) upper middle class.
C) old middle class.
D) working class.

Question 27

People in blue-collar occupations, such as plumbers and hotel workers, make up the:

A) professional class.
B) working class.
C) old middle class.
D) new middle class.

Question 28

Which of the following is an example of social mobility?

A) Jasper, who grew up in a middle-class neighborhood and became a wealthy doctor
B) Antonio, who moved from New York City to a suburb
C) Smita, who does not identify with her Brahmin caste background
D) Tia, who was raised as a man but identifies as a woman

Question 29

In the U.S. class system, the poorest of the poor, who are structurally disadvantaged and are least likely to move out of their class position, are called the:

A) poor class.
B) lower class.
C) left-behind class.
D) Underclass.

Question 30

Intergenerational mobility is best described as when:

A) a person achieves a different class position than the one he or she thought they would have.
B) a person maintains the same class position as his or her parents or grandparents.
C) a person has a different class position from that of his or her parents or grandparents.
D) a person achieves a different class position from his or her siblings.

Question 31

Dr. Ramirez is a sociology professor, and while he makes much less money than doctors and lawyers, he is viewed as having relatively high prestige because of:

A) his professional clothing.
B) his work hours.
C) his education.
D) his publications.

Question 32

The super-rich in the United States were able to accumulate vast amounts of wealth partly because globalization enabled them to:

A) use low-wage labor in other countries.
B) sell products to consumers in the United States.
C) make investments locally.
D) produce their products in one place.

Question 33

According to the textbook, what is one conclusion we can draw about how social class is defined in the United States?

A) Racial disparities in wealth can be explained solely by family advantages.
B) Most American sociologists can agree on the boundaries between social classes.
C) Famous people have higher the highest occupational prestige.
D) One's educational attainment is the strongest predictor of one's occupation, income, and wealth later in life.

Question 34

Who among the following is most likely to experience intergenerational mobility?

A) the child of a high school teacher
B) the child of unemployed, struggling parents
C) the child of the CEO of a large corporation
D) the child of a school janitor

Question 35

According to the textbook, what factor accounts for racial disparities in wealth and income?

A) ambition
B) education
C) genetics
D) luck

Question 36

Suheir Shedd is a university professor. Which of the following would constitute her wealth?

A) the value of her home
B) all the assets she owns
C) the money she makes in a year
D) the estimated earnings over her life

Question 37

According to the textbook, one conclusion we can draw about the upper class in the United States is that:

A) it is made up of the wealthiest 20 percent of the population.
B) it has a distinctive lifestyle and is politically influential.
C) it does not include people who get their wealth from investments.
D) it is accessible to all Americans with a college education.

Question 38

Though there used to be a widespread belief that "we are all middle class," that adage has eroded. In recent years, many Americans have experienced downward mobility. What is the best explanation for this shift?

A) changing definitions of social class
B) shifts in the country's racial composition
C) a declining work ethic
D) the 2008 economic recession

Question 39

According to the textbook, what has been the relationship between higher education and social stratification in recent years?

A) College education has become much more difficult, causing students to drop out.
B) College education has become more accessible, causing more students to enroll.
C) The importance and value of a college education in the job market have increased.
D) Colleges have become less selective.

Question 40

Today, the gap between rich and poor in the United States is the largest it has been since:

A) 1929, after the stock market crash.
B) 1970, when the United States started to outsource jobs.
C) 1947, when the United States started to measure the gap.
D) None of the above; the gap has been getting smaller.

Question 41

According to the textbook, what three main characteristics do social systems of stratification share? Provide an example of each.

Question 42

At the beginning of her sophomore year of high school, Janis's family cannot afford to buy her new clothes and shoes or enough supplies for school. Janis feels poor compared to her classmates who can afford these things. Janis is experiencing:

A) absolute poverty.
B) relative poverty.
C) downward mobility.
D) exchange mobility.

Question 43

What is meant by the phrase feminization of poverty?

A) the fact that women are more likely not to marry until they find a rich man
B) the fact that a majority of the poor are women
C) the notion that women are not as likely to pursue education or other skill development and end up in lower-paying jobs
D) the idea that women do not work as hard as men and are therefore more likely to be poor

Question 44

Those who believe that the culture of poverty theory explains why most people are in poverty would most likely favor which of the following antipoverty programs?

A) subsidized housing
B) universal health care
C) welfare-to-work programs
D) food stamps

Question 45

Those who believe that poverty results from structural factors beyond the control of individuals would see which of the following as a source of poverty?

A) unequal distribution of educational resources
B) universal health care
C) decreasing income inequality
D) immorality of the poor

Question 46

How does the government determine the poverty line?

A) It calculates a strict, no-frills budget based on cost estimates for different family sizes.
B) It multiplies the cost of an average household's rent by three.
C) It calculates the average cost of living in each of four regions of the United States and divides that number by the average cost of rent in those places.
D) Because the cost of living varies across the country, it calculates the cost of living in each region and determines a poverty line for each U.S. region.

Question 47

When a person does not have adequate resources to maintain his or her health, such as enough food to eat, the person is said to be in:

A) absolute poverty.
B) relative poverty.
C) downward mobility.
D) exchange mobility.

Question 48

According to Pierre Bourdieu, working-class parents are just as interested in their children's education as middle- and upper-class parents, but they lack the ________ to help their children experience social mobility.

A) dependency culture
B) cultural capital
C) tuition capital
D) educational capital

Question 49

Sarah believes her neighbors are poor because they have been socialized into a set of values, beliefs, and norms that result in behavior that leads to poverty. Sarah supports which of the following theories of poverty?

A) culture of poverty
B) structural poverty
C) value poverty
D) dependency poverty

Question 50

When a person moves from one position in a class structure to a nearly identical position, the person is said to experience:

A) short-range downward mobility.
B) long-range downward mobility.
C) declining mobility.
D) across-position mobility.

Question 51

In two or three sentences, compare and contrast caste and class as systems of stratification.

Question 52

Which of the following is an example of downward mobility?

A) Danisha, who was just fired from his job at Wells Fargo bank.
B) George, who stopped receiving welfare payments after getting hired at a shoe store.
C) Harel, who took a leave of absence to care for his ill parents.
D) Jane, who was raised in a middle-class household and now works at a grocery store full time.

Question 53

Which of the following is an example of what Pierre Bourdieu refers to as cultural capital?

A) the ability to pay for cultural events and resources such as art museums, opera companies, and symphony orchestras
B) parents paying for school tutoring
C) parents reading to their children and encouraging them to do well in school
D) having an uncle who works for Goldman Sachs

Question 54

Although official estimates show that relatively few elderly people live in poverty, these statistics may be misleading because:

A) they do not consider the large number of elderly people who go hungry.
B) they do not consider the large number of elderly people who live alone.
C) they do not consider the vast gender, race, and marital status differences of older adults.
D) they do not consider the high cost of rent.

Question 55

When sociologists examine how far an individual moves up or down the socioeconomic scale in his or her lifetime, they are studying:

A) absolute poverty.
B) social reproduction.
C) life change.
D) intragenerational mobility.

Question 56

Riley Vidal is a seventy-five-year-old who lives in a nursing home. Like many elderly people in the United States, Vidal likely relies on ________ for his income.

A) a part-time job
B) money from children
C) savings
D) Social Security

Question 57

Individuals living in rural communities cut off from resources and opportunities, like individuals living in inner cities with high crime rates, are likely to experience what sociologists call:

A) social exclusion.
B) social deprivation.
C) unequal education.
D) absolute poverty.

Question 58

According to the textbook, which phenomenon erased many of the gains in child well-being made in the past twenty years?

A) the 2008 economic recession
B) the war in Afghanistan
C) student debt
D) increases in welfare benefits

Question 59

One of the most distressing signs of the growing stratification in the United States is the growth in the number of:

A) substance abusers.
B) mentally ill individuals.
C) women with college degrees.
D) homeless people.

Question 60

Whose explanation of social stratification do you think best describes the United States today: Karl Marx's, Max Weber's, or Kingsley Davis and Wilbert E. Moore's? Justify your answer in a short paragraph.

Question 61

Answer the following questions in a few sentences. What is the difference between income and wealth? How are income and wealth related?

Question 62

Answer the following question in three to five sentences. How has the distribution of income in the United States changed over the past thirty years? Apply one of the stratification theories discussed in the Chapter to explain the reason for this change.

Question 63

In three to four sentences, consider why sociologists say we are seeing the feminization of poverty?

Question 64

In two to three sentences, describe the working poor. What is one explanation for why those who are working are still in poverty?

Question 65

Do you think you will experience intragenerational mobility in your lifetime? In two to four sentences, consider why or why not. Be sure to mention at least one sociological explanation of mobility in your answer.

Question 66

In one to two sentences, explain how the official definition of poverty is calculated. Based on what you read in the text, how do sociologists distinguish some of the problems with this way of calculating poverty today?