Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Weber gave the name "parties" to organizations that seek to impose their will on others. Classes refer to groups of people who share a similar economic position, while status groups refer to groups that share a similar social status or prestige.

Question 2

Mr.Ernesto owns a small shoe manufacturing company,which 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 Marxist terms characterizes Mr.Ernesto?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Ernesto can be characterized as petite-bourgeoisie because he owns a small manufacturing company and employs eight workers. The petite-bourgeoisie is the middle class that owns small businesses and employs a few workers.

Question 3

What did Weber refer to as the ability to get one's own way,despite resistance?

Accepted Answer

Weber referred to the ability to get one's own way despite resistance as "power".

Question 4

Which of the following were the most compelling forces undermining feudalism in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries?

Accepted Answer

The expansion of exploration and trade in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries led to increased demand for goods and services, which in turn undermined the rigid social hierarchy of feudalism. As the economy became more complex and individuals began to amass wealth through trade and commerce, they were able to challenge the traditional power structures of feudalism. This was particularly apparent in urban centers, where merchant classes began to gain influence and power.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Neo-Marxists today use the term "new middle class" to refer to the class of supervisors and managers who take direction from the owners and give direction to the workers. The term "petite bourgeoisie" traditionally referred to small business owners, and "nouveau riche" refers to a newly rich class, while "lumpen-proletariat" refers to a marginalized, often criminalized class.

Question 6

Yuri has been feeling increasingly resentful at the long hours he is forced to work in dangerous conditions without being paid adequately,while his boss is taking more exotic vacations every year.In the lunchroom at work,the other workers are beginning to echo Yuri's discontent,and a union organizer is finally called to come to talk to the workers. What Marxist concept do the actions of Yuri and his co-workers represent?

Accepted Answer

Yuri and his co-workers are displaying class consciousness by recognizing their shared experiences of being exploited by their boss and the need to take collective action to improve their working conditions and wages. They are becoming aware that they belong to a particular social class that shares common economic interests and that they need to organize and advocate for their rights as workers.

Question 7

Why are some taxes termed "regressive"?

Accepted Answer

Regressive taxes are those that take a larger percentage of income from low-income earners than from high-income earners. This is because taxes like sales taxes, which are paid on goods and services regardless of income level, take a larger proportion of the disposable income of those with lower incomes.

Question 8

June has lived on a reserve all her life.She tried leaving once in her 20s,but was unable to get a job because people stereotyped her and refused to hire her.Which level of explanation of poverty does discrimination against June due to racism and sexism reflect?

Accepted Answer

Discrimination against June is a structural level explanation of poverty because it reflects the systemic barriers and inequalities that exist for marginalized groups within society. This is not an individual-level issue, as it goes beyond June's personal characteristics and choices. It is also not a small group level issue, as it is not just a result of one or a few individuals' discriminatory behavior towards June. Finally, it is not a policy-level issue, as discrimination is not a specific policy or program.

Question 9

Mr.Ernesto owns a small shoe manufacturing company,which 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 Marxist terms characterizes Mr.Ernesto's eight workers?

Accepted Answer

According to Marxist theory, the proletariat refers to the working class who sell their labor to the bourgeoisie (the owners of means of production) in exchange for wages. In this scenario, Mr. Ernesto's eight workers are likely the proletariat as they work for his shoe manufacturing company and earn wages for their labor.

Question 10

On which issue did Marx and Weber agree?

Accepted Answer

Both Marx and Weber agreed that classes are economic categories. However, they had different theories about the specific factors that determined class position. Marx believed it was ownership of property, while Weber believed it was a combination of property, prestige, and power.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Davis and Moore's theory of social stratification suggests that people are motivated to undergo long years of education and training by the promise of a large paycheque, as it is a reward for the skills and responsibilities associated with more complex and important jobs.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to critiques of Davis and Moore,why...

Question 13

Mr.Bigby owns a large boat sail manufacturing plant and employees 89 people to make his company's products,while he spends time mountaineering with friends.Which of the following Marxist terms characterizes Mr.Bigby?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Bigby is the owner of the sail manufacturing plant and thus falls under the category of bourgeoisie, which refers to the class that owns the means of production in a capitalist society.

Question 14

What do we call the system whereby some people are required to protect other people who then give a portion of their agricultural labours in return?

Accepted Answer

Feudalism is a system in which the landowners or nobles provide protection to serfs or peasants who in turn give a portion of their agricultural labours in return. This system was prevalent in medieval Europe.

Question 15

Ms.Collins owns a large boat sail manufacturing plant and employees 89 people to make her company's products,while she spends time mountaineering with friends.Which of the following Marxist terms characterizes Ms.Collins' 89 workers?

Accepted Answer

The proletariat is a Marxist term used to describe the working class who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor to survive. Ms. Collins' 89 workers fit this description as they are employed by her and do not own the sail manufacturing plant.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

According to Marx, the basis of a social class is its relationship to the means of production. In capitalist societies, those who own the means of production (the bourgeoisie) exploit those who do not (the proletariat). This relationship of ownership or lack thereof is the defining factor in determining one's social class. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Question 17

What term did Marx use to refer to the growth in workers' awareness of their exploitation under capitalism?

Accepted Answer

Marx used the term "class consciousness" to refer to the growth in workers' awareness of their exploitation under capitalism. Class consciousness involves an understanding of the social and economic forces that shape one's position in society and a recognition of the shared interests and common struggles of those in the same social class. This awareness is crucial for workers to organize and fight for their rights and interests.

Question 18

What happens when lower-income Canadians spend more of their income on consumption?

Accepted Answer

Lower-income Canadians tend to spend a higher proportion of their income on consumption, which means they are paying a larger share of their income in regressive taxes. Regressive taxes, such as sales tax or excise taxes, disproportionally affect those with lower incomes as they take up a higher proportion of their income compared to those with higher incomes. Thus, option A is the correct answer. Option B is not correct as progressive taxes, such as income tax or wealth tax, are designed to have a higher tax rate for those with higher incomes to reduce income inequality. Option C and D are not correct as tax credits or tax breaks are not designed to directly address the issue of regressive or progressive taxation.

Question 19

What does the textbook conclude about the Canadian tax system?

Accepted Answer

The textbook concludes that the Canadian tax system is ineffective at alleviating poverty through a redistribution of income. It states that "Despite some progress in reducing poverty through tax and transfer policies, poverty rates remained relatively constant over the past few decades." This suggests that while the tax system may be effective at redistributing income, it is not effectively reducing poverty rates in Canada.

Question 20

According to the textbook,why do Canadians have twice the rate of poverty of most Western European nations?

Accepted Answer

The textbook suggests that the higher rate of poverty in Canada compared to most Western European nations is due to a lack of political will within the Canadian government to address and reduce poverty.

Quiz 8: Social Stratification