Deck 4: Why Are People Unequal in Society: the Origin and Perpetuation of Social Inequality

Question 1

According to Michels, the elite within an organization

A)have more information about the organization.
B)can control what others know about.
C)make the day-to-day decisions.
D)all of these

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The existence of private property in society tends to

A)make the division of labor unnecessary.
B)lead to equality in society.
C)create a permanent state of chaos and war in society.
D)create social inequality.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Division of labor

A)advantages some people over others.
B)divides activities among different people.
C)encourages social inequality.
D)all of these

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Weber described three areas of inequality, these are the ______ orders.

A)social, natural, and supernatural
B)skills, talents, and intelligence
C)attractiveness, intelligence, and natural ability
D)social, economic, and political

Question 5

Division of labor

A)is always economic.
B)is basic to sociological explanations of social inequality.
C)only appears within industrial society.
D)all of these

Question 6

In recent decades, the class differences in the United States have

A)decreased considerably.
B)stayed about the same.
C)increased considerably.
D)almost disappeared.

Question 7

Robert Michels claims that inequality arises wherever

A)there are owners and there are workers.
B)organization creates positions of leadership.
C)private property exists.
D)human beings interact.

Question 8

According to Weber, bureaucracies would dominate modern society because

A)people would enjoy their complexity and mystery.
B)they make more work, ensuring continued employment.
C)people would value on rationality and efficiency.
D)bureaucracies are so unusual.

Question 9

In 2005, the wealthiest 20 percent of the population received 50 percent of the total US income.The poorest 20 percent received

A)3 percent
B)12 percent
C)35 percent
D)40 percent

Question 10

In 2007, the wealthiest 1 percent of the population controlled what percentage of the total wealth in the United States?

A)12 percent
B)25 percent
C)35 percent
D)51 percent

Question 11

Inequality exists in bureaucracies because bureaucracies

A)fail to do what they are supposed to do.
B)are too complex and to be properly organized.
C)are irrationally created.
D)are purposely created as unequal systems.

Question 12

According to Michels, whenever organization exists, an elite with more power over others will develop.He called this the

A)"iron law of oligarchy".
B)iron cage
C)"rule of the bourgoise"
D)division of labor

Question 13

When people win in conflict, they tend to

A)share what they have with others to guarantee peace.
B)create a community that is equal.
C)create a permanent system that protects their position.
D)dissolve as a community.

Question 14

Which of the following is not a central feature of bureaucracy noted by Weber?

A)lines of authority are clearly defined
B)inequality is regarded by the participants as necessary
C)it is set up intentionally for maximum efficiency
D)interpersonal relations are important for the organization's survival

Question 15

When victory is institutionalized, this means that

A)it becomes established as a way of doing things.
B)those who win create systems of inequality.
C)the winners create structures that support their dominance.
D)all of these

Question 16

In addition to division of labor, social inequality arises because

A)cooperation demands it.
B)some people win when there is conflict.
C)human beings have a need to be better than others.
D)people are innately superior to some and inferior to others.

Question 17

Which of the following is not described by the author as a cause of social inequality?

A)division of labor
B)social conflict
C)human nature
D)private property

Question 18

Sociologists believe that ______ is responsible for social inequality.

A)the social structure
B)natural superiority and inferiority
C)human nature
D)supernatural forces

Question 19

According to Max Weber, bureaucratic organization

A)is the tendency within modern society.
B)is more irrational than less complex types of organization.
C)are governed by the majority at the bottom rungs.
D)all of these

Question 20

According to the author, the United States is a society that

A)has equality for all citizens.
B)values equality, but does not practice equal opportunity.
C)is an openly class-based society.
D)guarantees everyone the same opportunities to succeed.

Question 21

How do things work in society, according to Marx and Michels? That is, how do the efforts of the powerful able to maintain the system of inequality? What are they able to do?

Question 22

According to Marx, the purpose of government is to apply force in order to

A)control human impulsiveness.
B)limit the degree of inequality in society.
C)protect the rich and powerful.
D)protect the poor from the wealthy and powerful.

Question 23

Explain why the division of labor is central to the development of social inequality.

Question 24

List and define Weber's three areas of social inequality.How do these translate into our current society?

Question 25

The argument that both the rich and the poor deserve their positions in society is an example of what Peter Berger calls

A)ideology: the attempt to justify inequality.
B)human nature: humans are naturally selfish and unequal.
C)ignorance: even the masses believe they deserve their lot.
D)democracy: all people actually get what they deserve.

Question 26

What is Weber's term for the advantages and benefits that are accumulated due to one's place in society?

A)power
B)life chances
C)social differentiation
D)private property

Question 27

Describe bureaucracy and its central characteristics.Why does Weber believe this is the dominant form in modern society?

Question 28

Explain who American values and beliefs are contradictory when it comes to social inequality.Use statistics to support your answer.

Question 29

Both Karl Marx and Robert Michels agree that the system of inequality is perpetuated through

A)natural forces.
B)the efforts of the powerful.
C)luck and chance.
D)religious belief.

Question 30

Which of the following is Charon's conclusion about social inequality?

A)It is inevitable, and we must learn to accept it.
B)It is avoidable if society is organized properly.
C)The best way to deal with inequality is to succeed as much as one can.
D)Although inequality is inevitable, we can work to diminish it and question whether it is tolerable and just.

Question 31

To Karl Marx, the ruling class

A)are the elected representatives of the society.
B)rules in the interests of the whole society.
C)avoids decision making in society, preferring to make money.
D)rules in its own interests.

Question 32

In general, where social inequality exists, social institutions

A)favor or increase social inequality.
B)work against social inequality.
C)remain neutral.
D)balance inequality, and attempt to create equality.

Question 33

Which of the following is most true?

A)Power and privileges are not generally related.
B)Privilege is held by the lower classes, and power is held by the upper classes.
C)Power brings privileges; privileges bring power.
D)There is not such thing as privilege, but power created inequality.

Question 34

Explain the relationship between social conflict and social inequality.Give examples of how inequality is institutionalized.

Question 35

The author emphasizes that schools generally socialize students

A)to question their positions in society.
B)to question the system of inequality in society.
C)to improve their positions in society.
D)to accept their positions in society.

Question 36

How is private property related to social inequality? Why have many believed that inequality is unavoidable in a system of private property?

Question 37

According to the author, the wealthy are active in politics, law, and law enforcement because,

A)they care the most about society.
B)they are the best society has to offer.
C)they have the most to lose.
D)All of these.

Question 38

Explain what Weber means by "life chances." What is the relationship between power and privilege?

Question 39

Culture

A)is always a force for change.
B)reinforces inequality as new members are socialized into it.
C)criticizes the dominant forces, and works to end inequality.
D)normally works against the wealthy and powerful groups in society.

Question 40

When people act outside the law to gain equality, society

A)thanks them for pointing out inequality.
B)labels them "revolutionaries" and uses force to stop them.
C)labels them "freedom fighters" and provides avenues for equality.
D)None of these.

Question 41

What are the different types of authority and how do they perpetuate inequality?

Question 42

Explain how Marx viewed the role of government in the maintaining social inequality.

Question 43

Name and explain some of the ways whites justified maintaining the inequality of Blacks in America.

Question 44

What is culture? How does culture maintain the system of inequality? Be sure to give specific examples if you can.