Question 1

Among the people in this study, for the women who had full-time paying jobs, which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

The passage states that the women's husbands took on more household duties, but women were still expected to do traditional female chores, such as grocery shopping, scrubbing floors, and cleaning toilets. Therefore, option B is the best choice. Option A is incorrect because it states that the husbands did "the kind of housework that traditionally was called "women's work," and there is no mention of this in the passage. Option C is incorrect because it states that the women were expected to do the same amount of housework, which contradicts the information given in the passage. Option D is also incorrect because there is no indication that the couples in the study represent the trend toward more egalitarian division of labor in household work.

Question 2

In many ways, the gardeners described in this study are examples of people living the American dream. Explain the stages by which a person can move from an ayudante to one who owns his own business and can establish himself as an independent entrepreneur with his own steady income.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In many ways, the gardeners described in...

Question 3

The people in this study can best be described as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The description of the people as "steelworkers who were mostly recently laid off from their jobs" suggests they are part of a specific workforce affected by economic downturns, unlike the other options which describe broader or different demographic groups.

Question 4

According to these authors, which of the following is true concerning how men and women divide housework in contemporary American society?

Accepted Answer

All of the statements reflect findings in contemporary research on the division of housework in American society. Despite some progress towards more egalitarian divisions of labor, women often still do more housework than men, even when they earn more. Additionally, the trend shows that while there has been an increase in dual-earning couples, this does not always translate to an equal division of household labor.

Question 5

One way that gardeners found that they could make extra money, without growing their routes too large, was to

Accepted Answer

Taking on extra duties for their current clients allows gardeners to have a diversified income stream without growing their routes too large or taking on too many additional clients. It also allows them to offer a wider range of services to their existing customers. Taking more money "under the table" or hiring undocumented immigrants can lead to legal and financial troubles, and is not a sustainable or ethical way to make extra money.

Question 6

Which of the following events was a turning point that allowed many Mexican gardeners to establish their own businesses in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) in 1986, which offered amnesty/legalization to any formerly undocumented immigrant, allowed many Mexican gardeners to establish their own businesses in the United States because they could work legally. This opened up opportunities and allowed them to establish themselves as entrepreneurs. None of the other options presented in the question specifically relate to the establishment of Mexican gardening businesses in the United States.

Question 7

For some of the women in this study, such as Julie, the division of household work did not change when her husband was laid off and she was in the work force. What was the explanation for this?

Accepted Answer

The explanation for the division of household work not changing is that it was a pattern established based on traditional roles observed and continued from previous generations, as indicated by the reference to Julie's mother doing the major housework.

Question 8

Which of the following was commonly needed for gardeners to start their own route and to open up their own independent operations?

Accepted Answer

According to the passage, one common way for gardeners to start their own route and open up their own independent operations was by receiving clients from relatives or friends who wanted to downsize their businesses or get rid of low-paying customers.

Question 9

Although maximizing route size was a way to grow business and make more money, why was this not a preferred strategy for many Mexican gardeners working in Los Angeles?

Accepted Answer

Over time, gardeners found that customers were getting cheaper in how much they would pay and their employees were becoming less reliable, making it more difficult to run a profitable business. As a result, maximizing their route size was not a preferred strategy for many Mexican gardeners working in Los Angeles.

Question 10

Many people who look at the careers of Mexican gardeners in Los Angeles see them as dirty workers, people who blow leaves around, work in the dirt, and do exploited, unskilled, subordinated work. Yet, Ramirez and Handagneu-Sotelo paint a possibly more optimistic view of these people. Which of the following most accurately represents this idea?

Accepted Answer

Ramirez and Handagneu-Sotelo paint a more optimistic view of Mexican gardeners in Los Angeles by highlighting their independence as operators of their own businesses, owning their own tools and trucks, and the possibility of upward mobility through their labor.

Question 11

Explain the differences in experiences for lower-income students who attend Little Ivy and for students in general at State College. What do these differences signify about social class in America? What are the disparities inherent in social class and how do the experiences of the lower-income students at Little Ivy inform us about the stability or flexibility of class in the American socio-economic structure?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the differences in experiences for lower-income...

Question 12

The authors of this article note that many Latino immigrants end up being exploited by the American economic system. Which of the following is NOT a reason they mention as a reason for this exploitation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The authors of this article note that...

Question 13

Some believe that America is facing a crisis in higher education since tuitions and costs have gone up so much that even the middle-class can no longer afford a college education. Based on this reading and your own experiences, do you think this is a problem? If so, how can it be fixed? If not, why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some believe that America is facing a...

Question 14

Among the gardeners interviewed for this study, the authors found that these new immigrants

Accepted Answer

The passage states that the new immigrants who were gardeners had come from ranchos in Mexico, worked on small farms there, had relatives who were gardeners, and enjoyed working outdoors. This aligns with option C. Option A is incorrect because the passage does not explicitly state that the immigrants had cash to start their own businesses immediately. Option B is incorrect because the passage does not make it clear that it was easy for them to find work without knowing English. Option D is incorrect because the passage does not mention that they were indigent for many years before turning to gardening.

Question 15

Many sociologists of labor have written about new immigrants that they are exploited labor. Explain what they mean by this. Do you believe that the gardeners in this study have been exploited or do you see their lives as successful? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many sociologists of labor have written about...

Question 16

Socioeconomic mobility is key to success in America. Explain this concept and how the Mexican gardeners in this study illustrate upward mobility. Despite the fact that some of these gardeners firmly established themselves as entrepreneurs, explain how their work can still be seen as exploitative, how they are taken advantage of by the American economic system, and why we should not be so optimistic about the plight of many new immigrants who come to the United States with limited job skills.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Socioeconomic mobility is key to success in...

Question 17

The authors of this article outline how Mexican gardeners get into the business. Which of the following is the most common career path for entry into gardening as an occupation?

Accepted Answer

The most common career path for entry into gardening as an occupation among Mexican gardeners is starting their jobs by working for male family members or for people from their home towns in Mexico. This approach leverages existing social and familial networks for initial employment opportunities.

Question 18

One of the best ways to upward mobility for the Mexican gardeners studied by these authors was to

Accepted Answer

The authors of the study found that one of the best ways for Mexican gardeners to achieve upward mobility was to become landscape contractors. This involved passing a written California Board test and obtaining a license to do more rigorous and skilled work. By doing so, they were able to earn more money and take on more challenging projects. Going back to school or working in a completely different field like public relations would not necessarily lead to upward mobility in the gardening industry. Similarly, returning to Mexico may not have been a viable option for all gardeners, as job opportunities and economic conditions in Mexico may not have been as favorable as they were in the United States.

Question 19

Among the gardeners studied by Ramirez and Hondagneu-Sotelo, what was their most common legal status in the United States?

Accepted Answer

According to the study by Ramirez and Hondagneu-Sotelo, most of the gardeners were legal residents or naturalized citizens, with valid drivers' licenses and auto insurance for their trucks.

Question 20

The authors describe the women in this study as engaging in "pragmatic egalitarianism." What does this term mean?

Accepted Answer

Pragmatic egalitarianism refers to the practical approach where women join the workforce full-time but still continue to handle traditional domestic responsibilities, reflecting a compromise between equality and practicality.

Quiz 1: Sociological Odyssey: Contemporary Readings in Introductory Sociology