Question 1

What did Max Weber mean by describing inequality in terms of a socioeconomic status ranking? Provide a description of a person with different standing on Weber's three dimensions of social inequality.

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Question 2

In recent years, we have heard more and more talk about "class warfare" in the United States.To what specific facts do people point in support of the claim of "class warfare?" To what extent do you think class warfare really exists? Explain.

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Question 3

Summarize the Davis-Moore thesis.Specifically, what are the functional consequences of inequality for society as a whole? Illustrate the thesis by pointing out various jobs and the relative rewards each job commands.Conclude by noting several criticisms of the Davis-Moore thesis.

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Question 4

Provide several examples of the operation of caste in U.S.society today.Provide several examples of the operation of meritocracy.

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Question 5

Explain how social stratification shapes patterns of social interaction.

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Question 6

Explain the differences in the approach to social stratification of Karl Marx and Max Weber.How did each envision stratification? Why is Weber's approach more complex? Which approach do you think better represents social inequality in the United States? Why?

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Question 7

Comparing societies in history and around the world, we see that social stratification may involve differences in

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Social stratification involves differences in what is unequal (such as wealth or power), how unequal people are (such as the extent of the gap between the rich and the poor or the degree of social mobility), and why people are unequal (such as factors like race or gender). Therefore, all three options are correct.

Question 8

The common ideology of a class system states that success and wealth typically result from

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The ideology of a class system is based on the belief that success and wealth are attained through personal talent and effort rather than family background or luck. This is the meritocratic view of society, where individuals can improve their social status based on their abilities and achievements. Flaws in society may affect the opportunities available to individuals, but ultimately, the success or failure of an individual is determined by their personal talent and effort.

Question 9

What is meritocracy? Why do caste systems have little of it? Why do class systems have more? Illustrate how class systems combine caste and meritocracy with reference to the United States and also Great Britain or Japan.

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Question 10

At the lowest level of social stratification in ancient Japan were the

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The burakumin were considered outcasts and occupied the lowest level of social stratification in ancient Japan. The shogun were military leaders, the samurai were warriors, and the Shudra were a social class in ancient India.

Question 11

In the United States, social inequality is a matter of only people's talents and abilities.

Accepted Answer

Social inequality in the United States is not simply a matter of individual talents and abilities. Factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and access to education and opportunities all play a significant role in shaping societal inequality.

Question 12

Today, half of all the people in Great Britain consider themselves to be in the

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working class.

Question 13

According to Karl Marx, social stratification in a capitalist society always involves

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Karl Marx believed that the fundamental feature of capitalist societies is the exploitation of the working class by the capitalist class, which creates a structural conflict between the two classes. This conflict is rooted in the unequal distribution of power, resources, and wealth between the two classes, and it cannot be resolved through negotiation and compromise. Marx believed that the ultimate goal of social stratification in a capitalist society is the overthrow of the ruling class by the working class, leading to the establishment of a socialist or communist society. Therefore, social stratification in a capitalist society always involves class conflict, making option A the best choice.

Question 14

Could a society exist without social stratification? Try to describe such a society.How would people be assigned to their jobs? How would pay and other rewards be set? What do you imagine might be the benefits of such a society? What about the dangers?

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Question 15

What are the basic arguments of the "bell curve" thesis? To the extent that this thesis is true, what should we conclude about social inequality in the United States? What are several criticisms of the thesis?

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Question 16

Max Weber claimed that agrarian societies give special importance to which dimension of social inequality?

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Max Weber argued that in agrarian societies, social prestige or honor is given special importance, often based on factors such as lineage, family background, and traditional occupations. Economic class and power may also be significant, but they are often intertwined with social status and prestige. Control of information may also be a factor, but it is not specifically emphasized by Weber in discussing social inequality in agrarian societies.

Question 17

Briefly describe the main characteristics of caste systems and class systems.How are these types linked to different systems of economic production

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Question 18

In general, societies that have caste systems have economies that area.based on hunting and gathering.

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Caste systems are most commonly found in societies that have agrarian economies. These societies rely on farming and agriculture as the main source of livelihood, and caste systems serve to rigidly divide and regulate society based on one's occupation or birth. Hunting and gathering societies are typically small and egalitarian, while industrial and postindustrial societies have complex social structures that are not necessarily based on caste.

Question 19

According to Karl Marx, what are the two major classes in industrial-capitalist societies? How did Marx describe the relationship between the two classes?

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Question 20

What is the Kuznets curve? What does it tell us about how social stratification has varied over the course of human history as well as in the world today?

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Quiz 10: Social Stratification