Exam 6: Social Stratification

Despite the fact that Canada needs more physical therapists, major schools around the country are restricting enrolment and have now made masters-level programs the basic credential for entering the profession, even though previously a bachelor-level program was sufficient. What term best describes this process?

Relative poverty is when someone barely has enough to stay alive.

James never went to high school and works as a janitor. His son, Fred, is going to university and will be a lawyer by the end of next year. Fred is an example of what kind of occupational mobility?

According to Gerhard Lenski, how was the evolutionary trend toward ever-increasing inequality reversed?

At a high school in the country "X," the A+ student receives the highest honours at school. In country "Y," the fastest runner receives the highest honours at school. What sociological explanation can be given to explain the difference in what designates an honours status?

Describe the basic differences between Davis and Moore's functionalist approach to stratification and the other conflict approaches discussed in the text.

What contributed to Margaret Thatcher's ability to become the prime minister of England even though she was a grocer's daughter?

Prince William was born into the British Royal family and was assigned a higher status that could not be taken away. Prince William's status can be best described as which of the following?

What are the key criticisms of Davis and Moore's functionalist theory of stratification?

When a child complains, "It's not fair! My parents make me go to bed early just because I'm younger than them!" According to the text, to what type of status is this child referring?

How does the text describe relative poverty?

A poor young man born in a coastal outport in Newfoundland grows up and gets a law degree from a prestigious law school while waiting on tables in the cafeteria where his classmates eat. Eventually he becomes a top-notch lawyer and then premier of the province. Which of the following descriptions would sociologists use to describe his upward career path?

Chris, a dentist, furthered his education to become an orthodontist and has an annual take-home pay of around $200,000. What term best defines the type of status Chris has used to achieve his success?

The combined income of a construction labourer, and his wife, a waitress, is $40,000. They have two young children. After buying food, clothes, and medicine, and paying rent, utilities, car payments, car insurance, gas, and taxes, there is little left over. They have less than 10 percent of their income remaining. Which of the following statements categorizes these people, according to Canada's estimated poverty line?

Give examples of why it is important to take into account the time and place in which social theory is developed.

Joe is of Aboriginal descent. According to a sociological analysis, he believes he did not get the job he wanted because of his ascribed status in Canadian society. Using more common terms, what did Joe declare was the reason he didn't get the job?

People within different cultures and societies around the world struggle every day to meet basic requirements of life in order to survive. They constantly live in a state of poverty and have little to no income. How are these terrible living conditions defined?

Marx discussed the role of conflict in his analysis of capitalism and the evolution of previous societies. What is a theme running through his work with respect to conflict?

Sandra, a single mother, held a job that paid an hourly wage, but had no guaranteed hours. She could earn anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per month. She needed $1,500 to pay her rent and take care of her child. Which of the following does Sandra's situation illustrate?

According to the text, what determines a person's social location in a caste system?