Question 1

In the country's early years, worker worked

Accepted Answer

In the early years of many countries, workers often worked most of their waking hours due to the demands of agricultural and industrial labor, without the modern regulations that later established more standardized working hours.

Question 2

During the mid-nineteenth century, the working class consisted of all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The bourgeoisie were not part of the working class; they were considered the capitalist class who owned the means of production, unlike artisans, unskilled laborers, and factory workers who were part of the working class.

Question 3

At the start of the twentieth century Henry Ford was so worried about attracting a stable workforce for his automobile plants that he offered

Accepted Answer

Henry Ford famously introduced a $5-per-day wage for his workers in 1914, which was revolutionary at the time. This move was aimed at reducing high employee turnover by improving wages, thereby attracting a more stable and loyal workforce.

Question 4

One reason U.S. unions differ from many unions in Europe, is that the latter have

Accepted Answer

European unions have often taken a broader approach to advocacy, focusing on the interests of all working-class citizens, not just their members. This contrasts with the more member-focused approach of many U.S. unions.

Question 5

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan, in response to an air traffic controllers strike did the following

Accepted Answer

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan responded to the air traffic controllers strike by firing 11,500 air traffic controllers who had refused to return to work, and also jailed leaders of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) who were involved in organizing the strike. This action was a significant moment in U.S. labor history, demonstrating the government's willingness to take drastic measures against labor unions.

Question 6

Women and minority unionized workers have experienced

Accepted Answer

Unionized workers, including women and minorities, typically earn higher weekly wages compared to their nonunion counterparts due to collective bargaining agreements that secure better pay and benefits.

Question 7

Media images of the working class depict them as all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Media representations of the working class often include stereotypes such as "white trash," portrayals of men as lowlife and inept while women are depicted as socially adept, and the depiction of husbands and fathers as incompetent in contrast to intelligent wives and mothers. Therefore, all the options listed are common stereotypes, making "all of the above" the correct answer.

Question 8

Parents of working-class children

Accepted Answer

Working-class parents often employ a more authoritative or directive style of communication with their children, which can include giving commands with few words, similar to a military style. This approach contrasts with the more conversational and negotiation-based styles often found in middle-class families.

Question 9

A skilled-labor job includes individuals who

Accepted Answer

Roofers are considered skilled labor because their job requires specialized training and expertise in roofing techniques and safety measures.

Question 10

Blue-collar temp work involves which three steps?

Accepted Answer

Blue-collar temp work typically involves a cycle of waiting for work, being on a ticket (assigned to a temporary job), and experiencing the "revolving door" effect of moving between jobs without long-term security. This reflects the precarious nature of such employment, where workers often face uncertainty and lack of permanence in their positions.

Question 11

Most outworkers were young children.

Accepted Answer

Most outworkers, or home-based workers, were typically adults, often women, who worked from home to supplement family income, rather than young children.

Question 12

The earliest efforts at union organizing in the U.S. was among women workers.

Accepted Answer

The earliest efforts at union organizing in the U.S. indeed involved women workers, notably during the early 19th century among mill girls in Lowell, Massachusetts, who organized to protest working conditions and wages.

Question 13

The Taft-Hartley Act passed by Congress in 1947 eliminated the closed shop and the sympathy strike.

Accepted Answer

The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 restricted labor unions' power by banning closed shops (where only union members can be hired) and outlawing sympathy strikes (strikes in support of other striking workers).

Question 14

Unions in some European countries have had more substantially more support than their counterparts in the United States.

Accepted Answer

European countries often have stronger labor laws and a history of unionization, leading to greater support and influence for unions compared to the United States.

Question 15

While advancement among the union ranks have not always provided equal opportunities, union membership has generally offered increased wages for gender and racial equality.

Accepted Answer

Union membership has historically helped to narrow wage gaps by setting standardized wages for jobs, which reduces the opportunity for discriminatory pay practices, thus promoting gender and racial pay equality.

Question 16

Skilled-labor jobs are working class positions that require specific knowledge and sometimes specialized training.

Accepted Answer

Skilled-labor jobs indeed require specific knowledge and sometimes specialized training, distinguishing them from unskilled labor positions that do not require such qualifications.

Question 17

Advancing technology has resulted in increasing and stabilizing working-class jobs

Accepted Answer

Advancing technology has often led to automation, which can displace workers from their jobs, especially in manufacturing and routine-based sectors, rather than stabilizing working-class employment.

Question 18

An apprenticeship for the skilled trades can be difficult to obtain.

Accepted Answer

Apprenticeships in skilled trades are often competitive, requiring applicants to meet specific qualifications and sometimes to pass entrance exams or interviews, making them difficult to obtain for some individuals.

Question 19

Apprentices agree to work for free while teaching themselves online the skills they will need in the workplace.

Accepted Answer

Apprentices typically receive wages while they learn on the job under the guidance of more experienced workers, combining work with study or training.

Question 20

Describe the child-rearing traits of children in working class families and compare them to those of children in middle-class families.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the child-rearing traits of children in...

Quiz 7: Working Class: Estranged From Entitlement