Question 1

A poor young man born in a coastal outpost in Newfoundland grows up and gets a law degree from a prestigious law school while waiting on tables in the cafeteria where his classmates eat. Eventually he becomes a top-notch lawyer and then premier of the province. Which of the following descriptions would sociologists use to describe his upward career path?

Accepted Answer

The poor young man's upward career path from waiting tables to becoming a top-notch lawyer and the premier of the province is an example of social mobility. Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups within the social hierarchy from one social status to another. It can be intergenerational (between generations) or intragenerational (within a generation) and can occur through various means such as education, occupation, or economic factors.

Question 2

According to the text, what are the specific measures of a person's socioeconomic status?

Accepted Answer

The text states that a person's socioeconomic status is measured by their income, education, and occupation specifically.

Question 3

What is the trend called in which women are disproportionately represented among individuals living in poverty?

Accepted Answer

The trend is called the feminization of poverty. This is because women are more likely to experience poverty than men, and the proportion of women living in poverty is increasing relative to men.

Question 4

Which of the following statements best reflects the relationship between Karl Marx and Max Weber on class and stratification?

Accepted Answer

Weber was influenced by Marx's ideas on class and stratification, but he added to them by introducing the concept of social status and power, which are separate from economic class. Weber's multidimensional approach provided a more comprehensive view of social stratification than Marx's focus solely on economic class. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Question 5

What can we conclude about the impact of caste and stratification systems?

Accepted Answer

Both caste and stratification systems can affect social mobility, either by limiting it or providing opportunities for upward mobility. However, the degree of impact and the nature of opportunities for mobility may vary between different systems. It is not accurate to say that both limit life chances equally, as some systems may be more rigid than others. Gender may also be impacted by caste and stratification systems differently, so option D is incorrect.

Question 6

According to the text, which of the following was the wealthiest Canadian family in 2009?

Accepted Answer

The text states that the Thomson family was the wealthiest Canadian family in 2009 with a net worth of $20.3 billion. The Weston family was listed as the second wealthiest with a net worth of $7.2 billion. The Pattison and Laliberte families are not mentioned in relation to their wealth in 2009.

Question 7

What term is used to refer to movement up or down the stratification system?

Accepted Answer

Social mobility refers to the movement up or down the stratification system. Option A, exchange mobility, refers to individuals changing positions within a social class. Option B, circulatory mobility, refers to individuals moving between different but equivalent positions in the stratification system. Option C, horizontal mobility, refers to individuals changing positions within the same social class.

Question 8

Which term refers to socially sanctioned patterns of social inequality that exist in society and are based on distinguishable attributes such as race, age, gender, income, or occupation?

Accepted Answer

Social stratification refers to socially sanctioned patterns of social inequality that exist in society and are based on distinguishable attributes such as race, age, gender, income, or occupation. Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups from one social class to another. Social striation and social position are related concepts that refer to the hierarchical division of society based on different attributes such as wealth, occupation, and education.

Question 9

According to Karl Marx's ideas, which of the following is likely to happen to Carrie when she moves from designing, producing, and selling her own women's fashions to working as a seamstress for a large design company?

Accepted Answer

According to Marx's ideas, when workers become separated from the products they create and the production process, they experience alienation. This is likely to happen to Carrie if she moves from designing, producing, and selling her own women's fashions to working as a seamstress for a large design company where she is only responsible for one small part of the production process. The other choices - class conflict, wealth, and anomie - are not directly related to the situation described in the question.

Question 10

According to the text, which of the following has occurred over the past two decades?

Accepted Answer

The text states that "the gap between rich and poor families has grown wider over the past two decades."

Question 11

Unlike Britain, Canada does not have an aristocracy. According to the text, what statement most accurately reflects Canada's social stratification picture?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Unlike Britain, Canada does not have an...

Question 12

Chris, a dentist, furthered his education to become an orthodontist and has an annual take-home pay of around $200,000. Evaluated together, these three factors are a measure of what type of status?

Accepted Answer

The combination of income, education level, and occupation are three key components used to measure an individual's socioeconomic status.

Question 13

Mother Teresa and other people whose life work is primarily to help the less fortunate rank highly on which of the following dimensions?

Accepted Answer

Mother Teresa and other people whose life work is primarily to help the less fortunate rank highly on the dimension of prestige as they are highly respected and admired for their selfless dedication and service to humanity. The other dimensions such as wealth, power, and income may not be as relevant or important to them.

Question 14

According to the text, what is the term used to describe a person's economic assets, including income from employment?

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe a person's economic assets, including income from employment, is financial wealth. Option A may be a close contender, but it is not as specific as C. Option B is incorrect as prestige resources refer to non-economic forms of capital such as social status and reputation. Option D is also incorrect as economic power refers to an individual's ability to control resources and influence economic decisions, which is not necessarily related to their actual financial wealth.

Question 15

According to Karl Marx, what do workers experience when they manufacture goods that embody their creative talents but do not belong to them?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx believed that workers experience alienation when they manufacture goods that embody their creative talents but do not belong to them. This means that workers feel disconnected and disassociated from their own work and the products they create, since they do not own or control them. This can lead to a lack of fulfillment and meaning in their jobs, as well as feelings of powerlessness and exploitation.

Question 16

According to the text, what does the term "class system" refer to?

Accepted Answer

The text states that the term "class system" refers to a "relatively persistent economic ranking of people." This suggests that it is based on factors such as wealth, income, and occupation, rather than physical or social characteristics. The text does not suggest that the class system is a definition of living standards or expectations, a justification for inequality, prejudice, or discrimination or an assessment of physical capabilities.

Question 17

In which of the following systems of stratification would Dave, a Christian, and Marta, a Muslim, not be permitted to marry?

Accepted Answer

In a caste system, individuals are born into a particular caste and are not able to move up or down the social hierarchy. Marriage is often restricted within one's own caste, meaning that Dave, a Christian, and Marta, a Muslim, would not be permitted to marry if they were born into different castes.

Question 18

Jason now owns his home, a vacation property, and a downtown retail space. As a result, what has he increased?

Accepted Answer

By owning multiple properties, Jason has increased his net worth, which is the difference between his assets (the value of his properties) and his liabilities (such as mortgages or loans). His income may or may not have increased depending on rental income or profits from his retail space, but ownership of multiple properties primarily increases his net worth. Wealth and equality are not relevant to the context of property ownership.

Question 19

In which of the following systems of stratification would a couple have the easiest time moving within social structure?

Accepted Answer

Class systems of stratification allow for greater social mobility and movement within the social structure compared to caste or slavery systems. While socioeconomic status does play a role in determining one's social class, it is not a fixed characteristic as in caste or slavery systems. Therefore, a couple would have the easiest time moving within the social structure in a class system of stratification.

Question 20

What have some critics argued about Canada's low income cut-off line?

Accepted Answer

Some critics have argued that Canada's low income cut-off line does not reflect all "typical" household expenditures, such as rent, food, transportation, and childcare costs, which can vary greatly depending on the region and family composition.

Quiz 5: Social Inequality in Canadian Society