Sociology 1301 Updated Exam 3 2025

Social class - -based on property, power, prestige Fundamental orientation to life Responsible for different chances and opportunities in life. Ex. People like us Property - -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 - -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 - -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 - -1. Capitalist—owners/employ many bourgeoisie—small business owners Sociology Sociology Sociology 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%) - -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 - -almost all have b.a./b.s.; most have graduate degree Manage corps, own business, professional career. Lower middle (34%) - -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%) - -only have a high school diploma Concentrate on gaining seniority Working poor (15%) - -most are high school dropouts (or did poorly) Unskilled, low paying jobs (temp/seasonal jobs) Underclass (4%) - -concentrated in inner cities Little connection to job market Includes homeless population Consequences of social class - -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 - -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 - -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 Sociology Sociology 4. Education Higher =more; difference in types and outcomes Consequences of social class part 4 - -. Religion Upper & middle—episcopalian Lower—baptist 6. Politics(towards bottom are less likely to be politically active) Higher—republican Lower—democrat *note—working class are more likely liberal on economic issues & more conservative on social issues 7. Crime & criminal justice Ch. 6 Social mobility - -intergenerational—the change that family members make from one generation to the next. 2. Structural—changes in the structure of society leading to large numbers of people moving up or down nge—has little effect on proportions in class because as large numbers move up, large numbers are also moving down. Studies of social mobility - -tend to focus on males 50% of sons pass their fathers 33% stay at same level 17% fall down ladder Female studies in infancy Parenting—stressing importance of education and achievement; encourage postponing marriage. Costs of social mobility - -cross cultural findings Movement up ladder for women may lead to strained parental relationships. Viewed as uppity, or unappreciative of sacrifices made 50% of african american adults have white collar jobs; 22% at the professional & management level. Distancing from neighborhood/family/friends while being treated/perceived differently than caucasian co-workers Race - -a social classification based on physical appearance or biological characterics Sociology Sociology Myths: There are a fixed number of races "pure race" Genocide—the attempt to destroy a group of people because of their presumed race or ethnicity; is a very real danger when this myth is believed. Ethnicity - -— refers to cultural characteristics Ethnic group—refers to people who identify with one another on the basis of ancestry & cultural heritage. Nation/region of origin, religion, distinctive food, clothing, language, music, etc. Latino/hispanic...ethnicity or race? Ethnic work - -activities designed to discover, enhance, maintain, or transmit an ethnic or racial identity. Size Power Appearance Discrimination Minority vs. Dominant groups - -minority groups—people who are singled out for unequal treatment & who regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination. Dominant groups—the group who is discriminating and has the power/privilege. 2 ways a racial/ethnic group becomes a minority: 1. Expansion of political boundaries (by dominant) 2. Migration Voluntary=immigration Involuntary=refugees or slavery Prejudice & discrimination - -are both common throughout the world's societies and nations. Discrimination—an action; unfair treatment directed at someone(s) based on a variety of characteristics Based on the perception of race=racism Prejudice—an attitude; prejudging, usually in a negative way. Positive prejudice Prejudice - -no one is born prejudice! Most individuals become involved in racist groups due to unrelated factor...it is after joining a prejudice group that one learns to be prejudice. Sociology Sociology Frequent interaction with others who are different and of equal status decreases prejudice and negative stereotypes= contact theory Prejudice for one group often leads to prejudice against other grou