Question 1

Mr. Ernesto owns a small workshop that makes fine leather shoes for men. He and his eight employees take great pride in their work, and they often put in long hours together to get orders produced on time. Which of the following terms characterizes Mr. Ernesto?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Ernesto is characterized as petite-bourgeoisie because he owns a small business and works alongside his employees, fitting the definition of a small business owner who is directly involved in the operation and production of his workshop.

Question 2

What name did Weber give to organizations that seek to impose their will on others?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber identified "parties" as organizations that seek to impose their will on others, distinguishing them from other concepts like classes, status groups, and strata, which relate to different aspects of social structure and stratification.

Question 3

In Weber's terms, how do status groups differ from classes?

Accepted Answer

Status groups, according to Weber, differ from classes primarily in that they are based on prestige and way of life, rather than economic position or power. This distinction highlights the social and cultural dimensions that contribute to social stratification beyond mere economic factors.

Question 4

According to Weber, which of the following terms refers to the ability to get one's own way, despite resistance?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber defined power as the ability of an individual or group to achieve their own goals or aims when others are trying to prevent them from realizing them, which directly corresponds to the ability to get one's own way, despite resistance.

Question 5

Mr. Ernesto owns a small workshop that makes fine leather shoes for men. He and his eight employees take great pride in their work, and they often put in long hours together to get orders produced on time. Which of the following terms characterizes Mr. Ernesto's eight workers?

Accepted Answer

The term "proletariat" refers to workers or working-class people, typically in the context of a capitalist society, who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor to survive. Mr. Ernesto's eight workers fit this description as they are employed in his workshop, making them part of the proletariat.

Question 6

According to Davis and Moore, what motivates people to undergo long years of education and training?

Accepted Answer

Davis and Moore argue that the promise of economic rewards or a large paycheck is a primary motivation for people to undertake prolonged periods of education and training. This is part of their theory on social stratification, which suggests that society must offer greater rewards for positions that require more training and responsibility to motivate individuals to fill these roles.

Question 7

According to the textbook, which behaviour by the powerful signals weakness?

Accepted Answer

The use of force by the powerful is often interpreted as a signal of weakness because it suggests an inability to maintain control or influence through more subtle or consensual means.

Question 8

On which issue did Marx and Weber agree?

Accepted Answer

Marx and Weber agreed that classes are fundamentally economic categories, with Marx focusing on the relationship to the means of production and Weber also considering market position.

Question 9

Which of the following terms is used by sociologists today to refer to the class of supervisors and managers who take direction from the owners and give direction to the workers?

Accepted Answer

The term "new middle class" is used by sociologists to refer to the class of supervisors and managers who operate between the owners and the workers, taking directions from the former and giving directions to the latter. This group is distinct from traditional middle-class roles due to their specific function in the hierarchy of workplaces and their role in modern organizational structures.

Question 10

Mr. Bigby owns a large boat sail manufacturing plant and employs 89 people. He very rarely makes an appearance at the plant since his time is spent mountaineering with friends. Which of the following terms characterizes Mr. Bigby?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Bigby is characterized as bourgeoisie because he owns the means of production (a large boat sail manufacturing plant) and does not appear to be involved in the physical labor of the business, aligning with the bourgeoisie's role in Marxist theory as the capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production.

Question 11

Yuri and his co-workers have been feeling increasingly resentful at the long hours they work in dangerous conditions for low pay, while their boss takes more exotic vacations every year. Yuri and others call in a union organizer to talk to all the workers. What Marxist concept do the actions of Yuri and his co-workers illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Class consciousness refers to the awareness and understanding among members of a social class of their shared interests and struggles, especially in the context of the workers recognizing their exploitation by their employer and taking steps to collectively address it, as illustrated by Yuri and his co-workers' actions.

Question 12

According to the textbook, which common effect is produced by both advertising and planned obsolescence?

Accepted Answer

Advertising and planned obsolescence both contribute to the stability of capitalism by encouraging continuous consumption and production, thereby sustaining economic activity and growth.

Question 13

Ms. Collins owns a large boat sail manufacturing plant and employs 89 people. Her employees have never met her since she spends her time mountaineering with friends. Which of the following terms characterizes Ms. Collins's 89 workers?

Accepted Answer

Ms. Collins's 89 workers are characterized as the proletariat because they are employees who do not own the means of production (in this case, the boat sail manufacturing plant) and sell their labor to earn a living.

Question 14

Some politicians present welfare policies as wasteful, unfair, and not worthy of serious consideration. In Weber's terms, what are they trying to achieve by presenting policies of their opponents in this way?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some politicians present welfare policies as wasteful,...

Question 15

According to the textbook, which of the following is the main feature of power?

Accepted Answer

Power is a social relationship that involves the ability of one person or group to influence the behavior of another person or group.

Question 16

According to Weber, which of the following defines a person or a group as powerful?

Accepted Answer

Max Weber defined power as the ability of an individual or group to achieve their own goals or aims despite resistance from others, which aligns with option A.

Question 17

In Weber's terms, which of the following is a status group?

Accepted Answer

Status groups, according to Weber, are communities that can restrict social interaction to their members and have a specific lifestyle or prestige. Officers of the Order of Canada form such a group, distinguished by honor and recognition, which aligns with Weber's concept of a status group.

Question 18

According to Marx, which of the following is the basis of a social class?

Accepted Answer

Marx defined social classes based on their relationship to the means of production, distinguishing between those who own the means of production (the bourgeoisie) and those who sell their labor to the owners (the proletariat).

Question 19

According to Weber, which of the following groupings loses its importance in the stratification system with the change from feudalism to capitalism?

Accepted Answer

Weber argued that in the transition from feudalism to capitalism, the importance of status groups (based on honor, prestige, and lifestyle) diminishes, while class position (based on economic factors) becomes more significant in determining an individual's place in the social stratification system.

Question 20

According to critiques of Davis and Moore, why do pools of talent lay unrealized?

Accepted Answer

Many talented individuals cannot afford to take advantage of all opportunities due to financial constraints, limiting their ability to realize their potential.

Quiz 8: Social Stratification