Question 1

The __________ involves a sequence of stages that begins with birth into a family with a specific social status and proceeds through childhood, socialization, schooling, job-seeking, occupational achievement, marriage, and the formation and functioning of a new family unit.

Accepted Answer

The socioeconomic life cycle refers to the stages an individual goes through from birth to adulthood, including socialization, education, employment, and family life, all influenced by their initial social status.

Question 2

The Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore view of social stratification supports the idea that

Accepted Answer

Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore argue that social stratification, the division of society into different hierarchically arranged layers, is a necessary feature of any society. They believe it serves a function by ensuring that the most important roles are filled by the most capable individuals, who are rewarded accordingly. This perspective suggests that stratification is not only inevitable but also essential for the smooth operation and efficiency of a society.

Question 3

__________ have long argued that traditional investigations of stratification overlook the key underlying issue of one's relations to the means of production.

Accepted Answer

Marxists focus on the economic structures of society, particularly the relationship between different classes and their connection to the means of production. They argue that this relationship is fundamental to understanding social stratification and inequality.

Question 4

Comparison of an individual's social status over time is known as ________________ mobility.

Accepted Answer

Intragenerational mobility refers to the changes in social status that occur within an individual's lifetime, making it the correct term for comparing an individual's social status over time.

Question 5

__________ refers to an incorrect assessment of how the system works and of workers' subjugation and exploitation by capitalists.

Accepted Answer

False consciousness refers to a situation where the proletariat (workers) misunderstand their position in the capitalist system and the nature of their exploitation by the bourgeoisie (capitalists), often leading them to support systems and policies that are against their own interests.

Question 6

According to the _____________ perspective, workers in a class system may remain exploited and oppressed for a protracted period because they are blinded by a false consciousness.

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective, associated with Karl Marx, posits that workers in a class system remain exploited and oppressed because they are blinded by a false consciousness, which prevents them from seeing the true nature of their exploitation by the ruling class.

Question 7

Martha Ballard, a midwife from 1785 to 1812, began to be supplanted by a young male physician because

Accepted Answer

Martha Ballard began to be supplanted by a young male physician not because of her lack of skill or experience, but because the physician had connections with members of the town's elite class. These social connections were crucial in the early 19th century for building a medical practice, as they could influence patient choices and establish a physician's reputation.

Question 8

The __________ theory of social inequality holds that stratification exists because it benefits individuals and groups who have the power to dominate and exploit others.

Accepted Answer

The conflict theory, most notably associated with Karl Marx, posits that social inequality arises because those in power exploit and oppress others to maintain and enhance their own status and resources. This theory views stratification as a result of conflict between different social groups, rather than as a necessary and beneficial part of society.

Question 9

The __________ theory of stratification contends that an unequal distribution of social rewards is a necessary instrument for getting the essential tasks of society performed.

Accepted Answer

The functionalist theory of stratification argues that inequality is necessary to motivate individuals to fill different and important roles in society, ensuring that essential tasks are completed.

Question 10

__________ is the difference between the value that workers create (as determined by the labor time embodied in a commodity that they produce) and the value that they receive (as determined by the subsistence level of their wages).

Accepted Answer

Surplus value is a concept in Marxist economics that refers to the difference between the value produced by labor and the actual wage paid to the laborer. This concept is central to Marx's critique of capitalism, where he argues that capitalists exploit workers by paying them less than the value of what they produce, thereby generating surplus value.

Question 11

One view of the U.S. class system sees U.S. society as essentially classless, one in which class divisions are blurred by virtue of their continuous and uninterrupted nature. This is called the

Accepted Answer

The distributional model views society in terms of a continuous distribution of economic resources or wealth, rather than in distinct social classes. This perspective suggests that class divisions are less clear because of the gradual and uninterrupted nature of economic differences across the population.

Question 12

Vertical mobility is

Accepted Answer

Vertical mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups up or down the social hierarchy, which results in a change to their social status. This can be either an upward movement (e.g., a promotion) or a downward movement (e.g., losing a job).

Question 13

According to the text, the view of poverty as a __________ of capitalist societies argues that capitalism needs poverty because capitalism requires a "surplus army of labor."

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is "structural feature" because this view posits that poverty is an inherent part of the capitalist system's structure, necessary to maintain a reserve labor force that keeps wages down and ensures a ready supply of workers.

Question 14

The __________ theory of stratification views social inequality as an exploitative mechanism arising out of a struggle for valued goods and services in short supply.

Accepted Answer

The conflict theory of stratification posits that social inequality arises from the ongoing struggle between groups for access to resources and power, viewing it as an exploitative mechanism. This perspective is most closely associated with Karl Marx and his analysis of class conflict.

Question 15

Harold R. Kerbo tried to synthesize the functionalist and conflict perspectives. His analysis is based on the work of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Harold R. Kerbo tried to synthesize the...

Question 16

The text describes the __________, where the primary, or core, sector of the economy offers "good jobs" and the secondary, or periphery, sector offers "bad jobs" that provide poor pay, poor working conditions, and little room for advancement.

Accepted Answer

The dual labor market theory posits that the economy is divided into two segments: the primary sector, which offers stable, well-paying jobs with benefits and opportunities for advancement, and the secondary sector, characterized by low-paying, unstable jobs with poor working conditions and minimal chances for upward mobility.

Question 17

What wages for full-time employment were required in 2010 to allow an average household to rent a two-bedroom apartment and subsist?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What wages for full-time employment were required...

Quiz 6: Social Stratification