Question 1

Many people consider the United States to be a "middle-class society." Based on the material in thisCHAPTER,explain why people think this way.Also,explain how correct you think this claim is.

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

In the United States,an increasing percentage of the poor are

Accepted Answer

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, single women and their children make up a disproportionate number of the poor in the United States. In 2018, 25.1% of households headed by single women were living in poverty, compared to 5.8% of married-couple households and 15.9% of households headed by single men. Additionally, women are more likely to hold low-paying jobs and experience wage discrimination, contributing to their higher rates of poverty.

Question 3

According to Karl Marx,which class forms the core of the industrial proletariat?

Accepted Answer

According to Karl Marx, the industrial proletariat refers to the working class, consisting of wage laborers who sell their labor power in exchange for wages in the capitalist mode of production. Marx believed that this class forms the core of the revolutionary class, as they are alienated from their labor, exploited by capitalists, and have no stake in the existing system of wealth and power.

Question 4

Typically,a family's wealth is greater than the family's income.

Accepted Answer

A family's wealth includes assets such as property, investments, and savings, while income refers to the money earned from work or investments. It is possible for a family's wealth to be greater than their income if they have accumulated significant assets over time.

Question 5

Based on sociological research,explain why social standing reflects not simply the traits of individuals but the operation of society.

Accepted Answer

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Question 6

Individuals in class systems typically exhibit more status inconsistency than people in caste systems.

Accepted Answer

In class systems, individuals have more opportunity for social mobility and can move up or down the social ladder. This can lead to status inconsistency, where their social status in one area (such as occupation) may not match their status in another area (such as education or income). In contrast, caste systems are characterized by little to no social mobility, so individuals are typically more consistent in their social status across different areas.

Question 7

Could a society exist without social stratification? Try to describe such a society.How would people be assigned to their jobs? How would pay and other rewards be set? What do you imagine might be the benefits of such a society? What about the dangers?

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

In general,societies that have caste systems have economies that are

Accepted Answer

Societies that have caste systems tend to be agrarian, as traditional roles and occupations are often assigned based on caste. This can lead to a rigid social and economic structure where people are limited to certain types of jobs based solely on their caste. Industrial and postindustrial economies require more flexibility and mobility in the workforce, which is not conducive to the caste system. Hunting and gathering economies are typically small-scale and do not have the same level of social stratification as agrarian or industrial societies.

Question 9

What were some of the consequences of the 1996 welfare reform in the United States? To what extent would you say that this reform was or was not successful?

Accepted Answer

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Question 10

Briefly describe the main characteristics of caste systems and class systems.How are these systems linked to different systems of economic production (agrarian versus industrial technology)? What part does meritocracy play in each type of stratification? How does each type of stratification justify inequality?

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Question 11

The common ideology of a class system states that success and wealth typically result from

Accepted Answer

The common ideology of a class system is based on the idea that success and wealth are primarily achieved through personal talent, effort, and hard work. This is often referred to as the "American Dream" - the belief that anyone, regardless of their background or social status, can achieve success through their own efforts. While factors such as family background and luck do play a role, the prevailing belief is that individuals can overcome these obstacles through their own hard work and determination.

Question 12

Which of the following factors tends to raise your social standing?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that marriage and staying married tend to raise social standing and improve overall well-being. Divorce and leaving school to get a job may actually lower social standing. Therefore, option C, marrying and staying married, is the best choice.

Question 13

Discuss poverty trends in the United States in recent decades with regard to (a)percentage of the population that is poor,(b)children,(c)the elderly,and (d)women.

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

Summarize the Davis-Moore thesis.Specifically,what are the functional consequences of inequality for society as a whole? Illustrate the thesis by pointing out various jobs and the relative rewards each job commands.Conclude by noting several criticisms of the Davis-Moore thesis.

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Question 15

What is status consistency? Give an example.

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

Which of the following class levels contains the least amount of racial and ethnic diversity?

Accepted Answer

The upper-upper class typically consists of predominantly white, non-Hispanic individuals with high levels of income and education. This demographic tends to have the least amount of racial and ethnic diversity compared to other class levels.

Question 17

Max Weber claimed that agrarian societies give special importance to which dimension of social inequality?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber claimed that agrarian societies prioritize social prestige or honor as the primary dimension of social inequality, rather than economic class or power.

Question 18

What is meritocracy? What small concept of meritocracy do caste systems contain? Why are class systems thought to have embraced a larger concept of meritocracy? Illustrate how class systems combine caste and meritocracy with reference to the United States and also Great Britain or Japan.

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Question 19

Define the concepts "intragenerational mobility" and "intergenerational mobility." Based on research data presented in The CHAPTER,describe patterns of intergenerational mobility for people born to families with various levels of wealth.

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Question 20

Explain the 1996 welfare reform.What were the reasons for the changes? How did assistance programs change? What about limits on eligibility? Is it correct to say that welfare rolls have decreased? What about poverty?

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 8: Social Stratification