SOC 220 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
How has globalization and increasing automation made earning a college degree so
critical to getting a high paying job in today's economy? - Answer -Simple jobs like
answering phones are now automated and jobs that require skills and a degree, like
designing the automated systems that answer phones, increased
Over the course of the 20th century what has happened to the average wage of those
with a HS degree? In addition, what has happened to the wage of those with a college
degree? - Answer -The income of with high school diplomas stayed the same or
decreased, and the income of those with college degrees increased
Why are college educated adults more likely to form two-parent households than those
who have not earned a college degree? (Hint: Please discuss divorce, non-marital
childbearing, and single-parenthood). - Answer -College-educated adults are more
likely to marry (although they take longer to do it), more likely to wait until after marriage
to have children, and are less likely to divorce
Overall, what has happened to the income gap between families headed by college-
educated adults vs. HS educated adults? - Answer -Due to the decrease or stability of
wages of workers with high school diploma and the increase of college educated
workers wages, this has caused the wage gap between the adults has grown
exponentially
What is "catch-up marriage" and among what group is this most common? - Answer -
Marriage after 25. Very few are married before then and by late 20s and early 30s, there
is an increase marriages. This is more common among those with college degrees than
those who don't have one.
What is the marriage market? - Answer -a process in which prospective spouses
compare the assets and liabilities of eligible partners and choose the best available
mate
What is assortative mating? - Answer -The tendency of people to marry others similar
to themselves
Have college-educated adults become more or less isolated in the marriage market?
Why? - Answer -The entire marriage market has become stratified based on education
level, so all education levels have become more isolated
Why do poor women put motherhood before marriage? - Answer -Studies show that
women think it is unlikely that they would find a man who could or would support them
and be a suitable partner, and also believe that waiting until marriage or finding a
suitable partner means that it would be unlikely they would ever have a child
How has globalization and increasing automation made earning a college degree so
critical to getting a high paying job in today's economy? - Answer -Simple jobs like
answering phones are now automated and jobs that require skills and a degree, like
designing the automated systems that answer phones, increased
Over the course of the 20th century what has happened to the average wage of those
with a HS degree? In addition, what has happened to the wage of those with a college
degree? - Answer -The income of with high school diplomas stayed the same or
decreased, and the income of those with college degrees increased
Why are college educated adults more likely to form two-parent households than those
who have not earned a college degree? (Hint: Please discuss divorce, non-marital
childbearing, and single-parenthood). - Answer -College-educated adults are more
likely to marry (although they take longer to do it), more likely to wait until after marriage
to have children, and are less likely to divorce
Overall, what has happened to the income gap between families headed by college-
educated adults vs. HS educated adults? - Answer -Due to the decrease or stability of
wages of workers with high school diploma and the increase of college educated
workers wages, this has caused the wage gap between the adults has grown
exponentially
What is "catch-up marriage" and among what group is this most common? - Answer -
Marriage after 25. Very few are married before then and by late 20s and early 30s, there
is an increase marriages. This is more common among those with college degrees than
those who don't have one.
What is the marriage market? - Answer -a process in which prospective spouses
compare the assets and liabilities of eligible partners and choose the best available
mate
What is assortative mating? - Answer -The tendency of people to marry others similar
to themselves
Have college-educated adults become more or less isolated in the marriage market?
Why? - Answer -The entire marriage market has become stratified based on education
level, so all education levels have become more isolated
Why do poor women put motherhood before marriage? - Answer -Studies show that
women think it is unlikely that they would find a man who could or would support them
and be a suitable partner, and also believe that waiting until marriage or finding a
suitable partner means that it would be unlikely they would ever have a child
