SOCIOLOGY 1301 EXAM 3 STUDY GUIDE
Social Class - Answers -Based on property, power, prestige
Fundamental orientation to life
Responsible for different chances and opportunities in life.
ex. people like us
Property - Answers -Anything you own; actual items/monetary gains
Wealth = property value - debt
Highly concentrated
Upper class/Super class
Income—flow of money
Highly concentrated
Avg. per capita income = $42,000
(avg. per person for every person 15yrs and older in U.S.)
Power - Answers -I have no power vs. I participate in decisions through voting
(democratic facade) .
C.W. Mills—Power Elite (military, business, politics)
Most U.S. Presidents came/come from this group.
William Domhoff (2006/2010) analysis of this groups working behind the scenes (Think
Super PAC)
"No major decision is made in U.S. government without their approval."
prestige - Answers -Respect or Regard
Job/Occupation is most common source.
Pg. 227 tbl 8.2 Jobs at top share 4 features:
1. Pay=high
2. Education=need more
3. Involve more abstract thought
4. Offer greater autonomy
Rankings are consistent across the country and over time.
For Prestige to become valuable, people must acknowledge it.
Sociological Models of Social Class - Answers -1. Capitalist—owners/employ many
2.Petty Bourgeoisie—small business owners
, 3. Managers—sell labor & exercise power
4. Workers—sell labor
Can be a member of more than one class at same time
*Can lead to contradictory class location
Capitalist Class (1%) - Answers -Old Money—bluebloods; longer wealth=more prestige
New Money—"Nouveau Riche"; outsiders
Children of nouveau riche can become blueblood if....
Upper Middle (15%) *Most shaped by education - Answers -Almost all have B.A./B.S.;
most have graduate degree
Manage corps, own business, professional career.
Lower Middle (34%) - Answers -Have at least HS diploma; most have B.A./B.S.
Can afford lifestyle, but struggle to maintain
Technical & lower level management
Working Class (30%) - Answers -Only have a high school diploma
Concentrate on gaining seniority
Working Poor (15%) - Answers -Most are high school dropouts (or did poorly)
Unskilled, low paying jobs (temp/seasonal jobs)
Underclass (4%) - Answers -Concentrated in inner cities
Little connection to job market
Includes homeless population
Consequences of Social Class - Answers -Physical Health
The lower the social class, the more likely you are to dies at earlier age than other
classes.
Consequences of social class part 2 - Answers -Medical Care—higher classes have
more access and better quality.
2. Lifestyle—lower class is more likely to engage in less healthy behavior.
3. Stress—weakens immune system; body wears out quicker.
Consequences of social class part 3 - Answers -2. Mental Health
Lower class has higher levels of stress and less resources to deal with it.
3. Family Life
Choice of Spouse—higher class have less say in choice ("small field" and parental
involvement)
Divorce—Lower class more likely (stress=marital friction)
Child Rearing—Ch. 3
Social Class - Answers -Based on property, power, prestige
Fundamental orientation to life
Responsible for different chances and opportunities in life.
ex. people like us
Property - Answers -Anything you own; actual items/monetary gains
Wealth = property value - debt
Highly concentrated
Upper class/Super class
Income—flow of money
Highly concentrated
Avg. per capita income = $42,000
(avg. per person for every person 15yrs and older in U.S.)
Power - Answers -I have no power vs. I participate in decisions through voting
(democratic facade) .
C.W. Mills—Power Elite (military, business, politics)
Most U.S. Presidents came/come from this group.
William Domhoff (2006/2010) analysis of this groups working behind the scenes (Think
Super PAC)
"No major decision is made in U.S. government without their approval."
prestige - Answers -Respect or Regard
Job/Occupation is most common source.
Pg. 227 tbl 8.2 Jobs at top share 4 features:
1. Pay=high
2. Education=need more
3. Involve more abstract thought
4. Offer greater autonomy
Rankings are consistent across the country and over time.
For Prestige to become valuable, people must acknowledge it.
Sociological Models of Social Class - Answers -1. Capitalist—owners/employ many
2.Petty Bourgeoisie—small business owners
, 3. Managers—sell labor & exercise power
4. Workers—sell labor
Can be a member of more than one class at same time
*Can lead to contradictory class location
Capitalist Class (1%) - Answers -Old Money—bluebloods; longer wealth=more prestige
New Money—"Nouveau Riche"; outsiders
Children of nouveau riche can become blueblood if....
Upper Middle (15%) *Most shaped by education - Answers -Almost all have B.A./B.S.;
most have graduate degree
Manage corps, own business, professional career.
Lower Middle (34%) - Answers -Have at least HS diploma; most have B.A./B.S.
Can afford lifestyle, but struggle to maintain
Technical & lower level management
Working Class (30%) - Answers -Only have a high school diploma
Concentrate on gaining seniority
Working Poor (15%) - Answers -Most are high school dropouts (or did poorly)
Unskilled, low paying jobs (temp/seasonal jobs)
Underclass (4%) - Answers -Concentrated in inner cities
Little connection to job market
Includes homeless population
Consequences of Social Class - Answers -Physical Health
The lower the social class, the more likely you are to dies at earlier age than other
classes.
Consequences of social class part 2 - Answers -Medical Care—higher classes have
more access and better quality.
2. Lifestyle—lower class is more likely to engage in less healthy behavior.
3. Stress—weakens immune system; body wears out quicker.
Consequences of social class part 3 - Answers -2. Mental Health
Lower class has higher levels of stress and less resources to deal with it.
3. Family Life
Choice of Spouse—higher class have less say in choice ("small field" and parental
involvement)
Divorce—Lower class more likely (stress=marital friction)
Child Rearing—Ch. 3
