Question 1

Describe and analyze Pierre Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital in terms of microsociology and macrosociology. What elements of his theory are more like conflict theory? What elements are more like symbolic interactionism?

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Question 2

How can a person's socioeconomic status affect her chances of succeeding financially and professionally?

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Question 3

Explain status inconsistency and give some examples of it.

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Question 4

The American Dream is the pursuit of material and personal success and the idea that anyone can achieve such success. How does widespread belief in the American Dream and individualism actually serve to reinforce socioeconomic barriers?

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Question 5

What do sociologists mean when they say that the homeless population of the United States is often "invisible"?

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Question 6

Half of all children grow up to have the same socioeconomic class as their parents. Discuss the ways in which Pierre Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital influences this phenomenon.

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Question 7

Studies show that people from relatively higher socioeconomic backgrounds tend to live longer and report feeling healthier than people from the lower classes. What are some explanations for this phenomenon?

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Question 8

Oscar Lewis's concept of a culture of poverty suggests that a fatalistic and resigned attitude exists among the poor, leading them to accept their social status. Discuss some of the major criticisms of this controversial point of view.

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Question 9

When Karl Marx wrote about inequality, the feudal system (a closed social hierarchy) was dissolving and making way for a more open system. Why was Marx so worried about the new capitalist system that was emerging?

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Question 10

What is meant by "polite racism," and how is it evidenced in Brazil?

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Question 11

A social stratification system exists in every society. Discuss the characteristics that all social stratification systems share.

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Question 12

Residential segregation is the geographical isolation of the poor from the rest of a city's population. Explain how residential segregation is able to flourish in the United States and what characterizes a neighborhood that is segregated in this manner.

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Question 13

Homogamy is the practice of choosing a romantic partner based on similarities in background and group membership. Why do so many people choose a life partner with a racial, religious, and class background similar to their own?

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Question 14

Not all systems of slavery were like the one seen in the United States. In some countries, slaves were not kidnapped from a distant country, and slaves and owners had the same racial and ethnic backgrounds. Discuss how this type of slavery worked and how slaves were selected from within a society.

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Question 15

According to Max Weber, the traditional source of wealth-owning the means of production-isn't the only factor in determining social status. How does Weber conceptualize power and prestige? Why does he argue that power and prestige, in addition to material wealth, are important factors in determining a person's social status?

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Question 16

Most people describe themselves as belonging to the middle class, but in reality only about 30 percent of Americans are part of the middle class. Describe the typical occupations, lifestyles, and earnings of people from each of the major social classes of the United States. What do sociologists consider to be problematic about these measures?

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Quiz 7: Social Class: the Structure of Inequality