Topic #1: Social Stratification

This refers to a society’s categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power.

• Social Stratification

• Social Status

_____ accommodates little change in social position. They do not allow people to shift levels and do not permit social relationships between levels.  

• Closed System

• Open System

_____ which are based on achievement, allow movement and interaction between layers and classes.

• Closed Systems

• Open Systems

______  is one in which people are born into their social standing and will remain in it their whole lives. People are assigned occupations regardless of their talents, interests, or potential. There are virtually no opportunities to improve a person’s social position.

• Caste System

• Class System

• Meritocracy

______  is based on both social factors and individual achievement.

• Caste System

• Class System

• Meritocracy

______  is an ideal system based on the belief that social stratification is the result of personal effort—or merit—that determines social standing. High levels of effort will lead to a high social position and vice versa. 

• Caste System

• Class System

• Meritocracy

_____maintains that stratification is the result of the struggle among people for scarce rewards and that it persists in society because the haves is determined and equipped to preserve their advantage by dominating and exploiting the have-nots.

• Conflict Theory

• Functionalist Theory

• Social Mobility

_____holds the idea that stratification serves an important function in society. Societies must motivate people to seek socially important positions to entice people into jobs that are essential and difficult to fill with special rewards. It is viewed to be necessary and constructive.

• Conflict Theory

• Functionalist Theory

• Social Mobility

_____the movement of an individual or a group within a stratification system that changes the individual's group's status in society. It focuses on people's movement within stratification systems.

• Conflict Theory

• Functionalist Theory

• Social Mobility

The social status of a person is given from birth or assumed involuntarily later in life.

• Ascribed

• Achieved