SOCIOLOGY 1000-FINAL EXAM MIZZOU
CORRECT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
According to Gans "The Functions of Poverty" how is poverty beneficial and to whom is
it beneficial for? Provide an example of an economic benefit of poverty. - ANSWER
Benefits:
-Provides some middle class jobs (social workers, pawn shops) with profit margins
-Allows us to get some of the dirty work done cheaply (Reserve Labor Pools)
Who does it benefit:
-Non-Poor but hurts Poor
-Good for some but not all
Example: Trash man, need them but they don't get paid enough to live a nice life
How does the movie Stand and Deliver relate to the article on East St. Louis and
educational inequalities by Kozol? - ANSWER Fewer/Less diverse resources that are
less desirable for teaching/learning = East STL
Focused on how education is a potential equalizer if you have the right person= Movie
Faculty, funding was inadequate in multiple ways that put students at a disadvantage
How does the movie Stand and Deliver demonstrate ways that education can be an
equalizer? How does it demonstrate obstacles to education as an equalizer? -
ANSWER Shows it can be an equalizer by: If you get an education you can overcome
race, social class, and can be upwardly mobile
Obstacles: Have to succeed twice because the first time the scores were challenged
In what ways does our education system reinforce rather than reduce inequality? What
is tracking? - ANSWER Reinforces inequality: Resources are distributed unevenly to
educate with (Poorer districts get less resources while rich districts get more)
Tracking: Tracked (Watched over time) for certain outcomes, tracks are self fulfilling so
those placed on the "honors track" will do well over time even if they don't fit in
What is the Davis Moore thesis? What are some critiques of this thesis? - ANSWER
Thesis: Stratification is good and so is inequality in jobs. So for example a trash man
should get paid less than a lawyer
Critique: What jobs pay aren't always tied to societal benefits (Garbage man gets paid
less for a more valuable job to society than a celebrity)
Needs to make distinction between professions only looking for top talent and those not
CORRECT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
According to Gans "The Functions of Poverty" how is poverty beneficial and to whom is
it beneficial for? Provide an example of an economic benefit of poverty. - ANSWER
Benefits:
-Provides some middle class jobs (social workers, pawn shops) with profit margins
-Allows us to get some of the dirty work done cheaply (Reserve Labor Pools)
Who does it benefit:
-Non-Poor but hurts Poor
-Good for some but not all
Example: Trash man, need them but they don't get paid enough to live a nice life
How does the movie Stand and Deliver relate to the article on East St. Louis and
educational inequalities by Kozol? - ANSWER Fewer/Less diverse resources that are
less desirable for teaching/learning = East STL
Focused on how education is a potential equalizer if you have the right person= Movie
Faculty, funding was inadequate in multiple ways that put students at a disadvantage
How does the movie Stand and Deliver demonstrate ways that education can be an
equalizer? How does it demonstrate obstacles to education as an equalizer? -
ANSWER Shows it can be an equalizer by: If you get an education you can overcome
race, social class, and can be upwardly mobile
Obstacles: Have to succeed twice because the first time the scores were challenged
In what ways does our education system reinforce rather than reduce inequality? What
is tracking? - ANSWER Reinforces inequality: Resources are distributed unevenly to
educate with (Poorer districts get less resources while rich districts get more)
Tracking: Tracked (Watched over time) for certain outcomes, tracks are self fulfilling so
those placed on the "honors track" will do well over time even if they don't fit in
What is the Davis Moore thesis? What are some critiques of this thesis? - ANSWER
Thesis: Stratification is good and so is inequality in jobs. So for example a trash man
should get paid less than a lawyer
Critique: What jobs pay aren't always tied to societal benefits (Garbage man gets paid
less for a more valuable job to society than a celebrity)
Needs to make distinction between professions only looking for top talent and those not
