Ssci 316 Ch. 1 – Flashcards

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question
Which is more problematic: acknowledging differences in groups or assigning a hierarchy to different groups?
answer
Implied status hierarchy; differences in how goods, services, power are distributed; unequal causes inequalities
question
Are race and ethnicity the only types of inequality in the US today?
answer
No. social class (SES or socio-economic status), education, size of group, religion, language, sexual orientation, differences in physical abilities
question
As defined in this class what do the terms 'majority' and 'minority' refer to?
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NOT referring to the number of individuals in a group; rather according to the group's access to power, resources and authority; minority (reduced) wealth income prestige; majority(greater) dominate group
question
What are the 5 characteristics 'markers' of minority groups?
answer
(1) experience a patter of disadvantages & inequality (ex. genocide, slavery, no left-hand desks) (2) group members share a trait / characteristic that is visible; that differentiates them as unique (language, dress, grooming, physical characteristics, religion, etc.) inferiority traits (3) group members identify as a group; are a self-conscious social unit (ex. we are all in this together) (4) ascribed membership (a person's status is given at birth); ascribed= permanent - not changeable & achieved= gained through effort (5) tendency to marry within group (endogamous); voluntary by minority enforces by majority(sometimes)
question
What is meant by the statement that inequality emerges from (and then contributes to) patterns of inequality in society? Do members of a majority group and members of a minority group have the same perspective of inequalities in a society?
answer
- patterns emerge due to majority (dominant) group's actions - frequently the inequalities are not recognized by members of majority, dominant group (they simply don't 'see' it - because they haven't experienced it)
question
What is the distinction between racial minorities and ethnic minorities? Are these mutually exclusive?
answer
ethnic minority groups - defined as minority according to perceived cultural characteristicsracial minority groups - defined as minority according to perceived physical characteristics *can overlap-mutually exclusive historical, social, economic, political processes)
question
How have we defined race in this class? - ethnicity?
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race-physical traits that are inherited ethnicity refers to culture - learned through the process of socialization
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What does the statement "racial and ethnic groups are social constructions" mean?
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pattern of inequality - part of daily life - not really acknowledged as existing by those in majority, dominant groups because they do not experience the negative effects;(society determines what the groups are, where the boundaries are, what the hierarchies are) - therefore the consequences are social
question
What does 'markers' of group membership refer to? How are they important?
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these visible signs allow quick and easy identification - and differential treatment;set boundaries of who is or who is not part of which groups
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What is stratification?
answer
unequal distribution of valued goods, services, power; strata: horizontal layers - social classes - differ: resources, education, age, gender, talent - degree of access to resources, power, authority subsistence technology - how a society provides needed 'stuff' - food, shelter. water
question
What did Marx mean by 'means of production?' How did Marx feel about the economy? What were the 2 classes that Marx described?
answer
materials, tools, resources, organizations a society uses to produce, distribute (usually unequally) goods & services);creates inequality, which leads to competition, which leads to conflict; agriculture period land is important - industrial period factories, machines - post-industrial - knowledge, ability to use knowledge -inequality due a society's system of economic production - proletariat (working class) - sold their labor for subsistence wages - bourgeoisie (elite) - owned the means of production
question
Did Weber agree totally with Marx? What did Weber add to our understanding of stratification?
answer
-felt that Marx's view of inequality (primarily economics) was too narrow -need to also consider economic position (socio-economic status - SES), prestige, power (ability to influence others - INCLUDING DECISION MAKING - example political power through voting) 1. ownership, control of property, wealth, income (similar to Marx concept of class) 2. prestige: honor, esteem, respect 3. power (including decision making) - ability to influence others, pursue own interests, goals *often overlap; go together, but does not mean equal op.
question
What concept did Lenski add to our understanding of stratification?
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accepts Weber's premise of importance of class (property), prestige, power - includes that to understand stratification, we need to consider societal evolution (level of development) -related to subsistence technology — subsistence technology impacts degree of inequality & criteria of inequality)
question
What does Patricia Hill Collins add to our understanding of stratification?
answer
intersectionality (female, black) - intersection of race, class, gender (not look at them separately but recognize they are): — interlocked — mutually reinforcing -consider where that person fits into society by also examining that person's class, gender - within the current social context
question
Are power relationships static? Why? What does this mean?
answer
power is not static; differences in power leads to competition, conflict - to control goods, services — can result in emergence of exploitation institutions such as slavery
question
What does 'matrix of domination' refer to?
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many cross systems of domination and subordination - cross over each other - overlap with each other - impact an individual person's experiences, opportunities - the concept 'matrix of domination' does not end with race, class gender -other factors: disability, sexual preference, religion, age, national origin, being homeless
question
How does stratification impact a person's life chances and life choices?
answer
stratification due to differential access to wealth, income — (wealth - accrued over time - has greater impact) — (income - amount earned within a set period of time, often a year) - a person's status (minority, majority) impact that person's life chances, health, wealth opportunities, potential success
question
Why is it important to understand that race is a social construct and therefore, the consequences are social?
answer
-where to live, type of employment, educational attainment, access to appropriate nutrition, neighborhood safety -way of differentiating among people -visible traits used to define boundaries across groups - if traits are more easily noted, the identification is more certain (increases ability to itemize people into groups) - boundary - race, religion, language, occupation - important: these categories are not perceived as simple 'different- - hierarchy is imbedded
question
Is there any scientific proof that humans should be categorized into distinct races?
answer
no.
question
What do the following terms refer to: prejudice, discrimination, stereotypes, ideological racism, institutionalized discrimination mean?
answer
prejudice- negative attitudes (cognition, thoughts) applied to an entire category of people; attached to groups that are defined as being inferior; stereotypes discrimination-treating individuals unequally based on their perceived group membership (and a persons thoughts about that group) stereotypes-generalizations that are applied to all members of a group;competition between groups likely leads to prejudice (rather than prejudice leading to competition); rationalizing inequities in societies ideological racism- a belief system or a set of ideas - asserts that a particular group is inferior - used to legitimize or rationalize the inferior status of the group - Incorporated into the culture of society and can be passed on from generation to generation. institutionalized discrimination- Patterns of unequal treatment based on group membership and built into the institutions and daily operations of society. - Can be obvious and overt, but usually operate in more hidden and unintended ways. - Individual level prejudice and discrimination, and group level racism and institutional discrimination reinforce each other. *thinking& feeling: prejudice & ideological racism doing: discrimination & institutional discrimination
question
Which is more likely: 1) competition leads to prejudice or 2) prejudice leads to competition?
answer
competition leads to prejudice;between groups can lead to prejudice — more likely that prejudice is a result of competition
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