Question 1

When determining inequality, people consider what might justify an inequality such as salary differentials. Who or what do they look to?&#10;A) national ideologies (capitalism, communism, socialism, etc.) and institutions (government, academia, unions, certification boards, etc.)&#10;B) the golden rule, national myths (e.g. rags-to-riches stories), common sense, etc.&#10;C) the adage of resignation that &#34;some are more equal than others&#34;&#10;D) education, entrepreneurship, and expertise

Accepted Answer

People tend to look to national ideologies and institutions when considering what justifies inequality such as salary differentials. This includes considering the economic system of the country, government policies, and professional certifications. They also look to unions, academic institutions, and other organizations that enforce standards and regulations related to pay and employment.

Question 2

American perceptions of the extent of inequality are skewed in what way?&#10;A) Americans tend to focus not on poor people getting enough but rather on the wealthy getting too much.&#10;B) Americans believe in a kind of trickle-down model, such that the poor will get theirs when the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes.&#10;C) Americans are split over how the government should redistribute the wealth.&#10;D) Americans cultivate the dream, or a subconscious impulse, that they will be rich one day; thus they do not want to &#34;ruin&#34; that experience.

Accepted Answer

Studies show that Americans tend to perceive inequality as primarily stemming from the wealthy getting too much, rather than poor people not having enough. This is likely due to a cultural focus on individualism and meritocracy, leading to a belief that the wealthy have earned their success and therefore deserve their wealth.

Question 3

As much as Americans tend to understate existing inequalities, they also do not perceive that inequality is often accompanied by what related social issue?&#10;A) Corruption in business and government.&#10;B) The poor are getting poorer.&#10;C) There should be a maximum wage as much as there should be a minimum wage.&#10;D) The rich control the world with shadow governments.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that inequality is often accompanied by corruption in both businesses and governments. This is because those in power are more likely to abuse their positions for personal gain when there is a large disparity between the wealthy and the rest of society.

Question 4

The justification of higher salary for some on the basis of greater talents would be considered:&#10;A) the principle of differentiation.&#10;B) the principle of equality.&#10;C) a structural argument for inequality.&#10;D) cultural legitimation.

Accepted Answer

The principle of differentiation justifies higher salaries for individuals with greater talents or abilities as they are seen as contributing more to the organization. This principle recognizes that not all employees have the same skills, knowledge, and experience, and therefore, it is justifiable to reward those who have more to offer. Choices B, C, and D do not accurately describe the justification of higher salaries based on talent or abilities.

Question 5

What is intractable about the perceptions of the causal attributions for inequality based on one's status position?&#10;A) the basic divergence in how high-status and low-status groups see the responsibility for inequality&#10;B) the way wealthy Americans refuse to compromise on hard work when many did not work hard but rather inherited their wealth&#10;C) the way the disadvantaged refuse to take personal responsibility in any meaningful, transformative way&#10;D) that working-class younger people see a meritocracy where their parents see corruption as the means of getting ahead

Accepted Answer

The basic divergence in how high-status and low-status groups see the responsibility for inequality is what makes it intractable. This is because it is difficult to reconcile the opposing views and come to a consensus on how to address and overcome inequalities.

Question 6

More Blacks and Hispanics see poverty and racial inequality as stemming from a lack of motivation and willpower. Where does this &#34;dual consciousness&#34; come from?&#10;A) The internalization of the American attribution of wealth to individualistic causes.&#10;B) Blacks and Hispanics are becoming increasingly conservative in outlook.&#10;C) This is a major urban and youth phenomenon, where an entrepreneurial spirit is more pronounced.&#10;D) This is related to &#34;gangster&#34; work ethic and is a marker of a society in duress, not a parallel of the classic Protestant work ethic.

Accepted Answer

This "dual consciousness" can be traced back to the internalization of the American attribution of wealth and success to individualistic causes such as hard work, determination, and personal responsibility. This idea is deeply ingrained in American culture and is often a part of the discourse around poverty and inequality. However, the reality is that systemic racism and inequality also play a significant role in perpetuating these issues.

Question 7

How do people self-legitimize themselves, that is, define themselves vis-&#224;-vis an idealized and generalized other?&#10;A) They are positively reinforced by seeing themselves as this generalized other.&#10;B) They reimagine themselves according to Mead.&#10;C) When they find like role models; that is, when they develop a belief in the greater competence of those with more resources.&#10;D) When they learn to mirror or mimic the self-efficacy of the wealthy individual.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do people self-legitimize themselves, that is,...

Question 8

According to Della Fave, the legitimation process bears directly on the extent to which the system of inequality is legitimated. How does it become as persuasive as it is the U.S.?&#10;A) The more people identify with the image of self-efficacy and its rewards, the more inequality becomes legitimized, socialized, and institutionalized.&#10;B) There is no countervailing process of delegitimation.&#10;C) By recognizing that the generalized other is better, inequality becomes part of the American grain.&#10;D) In encourages those who are successful to develop feelings of self-efficacy. Their own actions can bring about successful rewards.

Accepted Answer

According to Della Fave, the legitimation process becomes as persuasive as it is in the U.S. because of the extent to which people identify with the image of self-efficacy and its rewards. As more individuals believe that their own actions can bring about successful rewards, inequality becomes legitimized, socialized, and institutionalized. This process reinforces the idea that success is attainable through individual effort, rather than being dependent on social structures or systemic advantages.

Question 9

In addition to the legitimation process, what is another reason for the working and lower classes to accept inequality and avoid a radical ideology?&#10;A) By limiting themselves to everyday circumstances and limited opportunities, they can accommodate, accept, and even increase their inequality.&#10;B) They compare themselves to their friends and see that they have acclimated themselves to inequality, thereby seeing that it is socially acceptable to do so.&#10;C) That human response to simply &#34;go along, get along&#34; sublimated into an ideology of accommodation.&#10;D) They are, to put it simply, too busy to notice their inequality long enough to radicalize. This is actually a structural imposition.

Accepted Answer

By limiting themselves to what they already know and accept, people in the working and lower classes can avoid the discomfort of questioning the system and potentially facing negative consequences. This is a form of accommodation and is a common reason why people may choose not to adopt radical ideologies. Option B is partially correct in that social comparison is a factor, but it is not the only or even the primary reason for accepting inequality. Option C is a variant of accommodation and does not provide new information. Option D may be true for some individuals, but it is not a universal or all-encompassing reason for accepting inequality.

Question 10

How do stereotypes influence the unequal treatment of women in the workplace?&#10;A) They impose images of what is appropriate and inappropriate for a woman to do and thus influences how she is employed and who with.&#10;B) Women with a masculine appearance are considered more qualified to lead; a feminine appearance means unqualified.&#10;C) A pretty woman, for example, is not taken seriously and so does not get a decision-making position.&#10;D) Women are expected to adopt a their proper roles vis-&#224;-vis their gender and appearance (e.g. a maternal role in place of a paternal role and so on).

Accepted Answer

Stereotypes create expectations about what is appropriate for a woman to do or how she should behave in the workplace, based on her gender. This can lead to unequal treatment in hiring, promotions, and pay. For example, if it is believed that women are not suited for leadership roles or certain professions, they may not be considered for these positions. Likewise, if it is assumed that women will prioritize family over work, they may be denied opportunities for advancement.

Question 11

How do institutions, such as the workplace, places of worship, schools, family, and the like maintain the hierarchy of social inequality?&#10;A) Institutions consist of rules and structures that define what is permissible and what is not, and what is a legitimate issue or problem and what is not.&#10;B) Institutions consist of bureaucracies that control the message and so are the center of power. Increasingly, social inequality is a bureaucratic construct.&#10;C) They do so via professionals who create a hierarchy of information, its interpretation, its application in power relationships, and, so legitimate the social structure.&#10;D) Institutions do so by hiring individuals with biases that increase inequality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do institutions, such as the workplace,...

Question 12

How might a simple change to the Tax Code, such as calling earnings a &#34;personal subsidy,&#34; make taxation to redistribute wealth less onerous in the public debate?&#10;A) Such a change would redefine a wage into money for expenses and encourage the acceptance of taxation as a contribution for government services.&#10;B) It would prove that an institution, the government, controlled the language.&#10;C) It would be a mischaracterization, similar to the word &#34;welfare.&#34;&#10;D) It would be a term that both legitimates and properly defines an established economic reality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might a simple change to the...

Question 13

Assortative mating refers to:&#10;A) the likelihood of people to marry people like themselves&#10;B) the sorting of families based on social class&#10;C) the propensity for people to mate outside their class&#10;D) the role that family plays in continuing class-based stereotypes

Accepted Answer

The answer of Assortative mating refers to:&#10;A) the likelihood of...

Question 14

A founder of the Italian Communist Party, Antonio Gramsci coined the phrase "managers of legitimation" to describe how teachers and like professionals determine who is and who is not legitimate. What is meant by this phrase?

A) That students are taught (i.e. "managed" into) the prevailing social reality, their place in it, and the status quo.
B) Teachers should act as psychiatrists and determine who can adjust to social inequality and who cannot.
C) Intellectuals should be gatekeepers and determine who should succeed and who should fail-the failures being a threat to social harmony.
D) Students should be seen as products, the same as those made in a factory, and thereby serve capitalism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A founder of the Italian Communist Party,...

Question 15

According to Durkheim, what legitimizing agency do the religious enact in their rituals?&#10;A) the moral authority of society&#10;B) supernatural forces that obviate human responsibility for society's inequality&#10;C) a replica of society, where God is the generalized other&#10;D) a theocracy that makes inequality a constant reminder of our fallen nature

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Durkheim, what legitimizing agency do...

Deck 15: Justice and Legitimacy