Exam 7: Class and Stratification in the United States.

Based on sociologist Max Weber's system of stratification, __________ is the respect or regard with which a person or status position is regarded by others. It includes fame, respect, honor, and esteem.

According to sociologist Max Weber's system of stratification, __________ is the ability of people or groups to achieve their goals despite opposition from others.

According to sociologist Karl Marx, the capitalist class maintains its position at the top of the class structure by control of the society's superstructure, which is composed of the government, schools, churches, and other social institutions that produce and disseminate ideas perpetuating the existing system of exploitation.

Discuss the steps to revitalize the American Dream and to reverse the compassion gap Discuss the major aspects of the functional, conflict, and symbolic interactionist perspectives as they relate to social stratification. What do you think are each of its merits? What criticisms of each would you make?

According to the social class model developed by sociologists Dennis Gilbert and Joseph Kahl, two-year or four-year college degrees have replaced the high school diploma as an entry-level requirement for employment in many __________ occupations, including medical technicians and nurses. This social class represents an estimated 30 percent of the U. S. population.

Today, great disparities exist in the distribution of educational resources. Because funding for education comes primarily from __________, school districts in wealthy suburban areas generally pay higher teachers' salaries, have newer buildings, and provide state-of-the-art equipment.

Sociologist __________ developed a multidimensional approach to social stratification that reflects the interplay among wealth, prestige, and power.

Sociologist Karl Marx stated that capitalistic societies consist of two classes-the proletariat class that consists of those who own the means of production and the bourgeoisie class that consists of those who must sell their labor to the owners in order to earn enough money to survive.

__________ is the movement of individuals or groups from one level in a stratification system to another. This movement can be either upward or downward.

__________ is/are anything valued in a society, ranging from money and property to medical care and education. It is considered to be scarce because of unequal distribution among social categories.

Asian Americans are among the most severely disadvantaged persons in the United States. About one-third are below the poverty line, and some of these individuals live in extreme poverty.

In relation to consequences of inequality in education, compare functionalist and conflict perspectives.

According to sociologist Erik Wright's Marxian model, the __________ is composed of individuals who have inherited fortunes, own major corporations, or are top corporate executives with extensive stock holdings or control of company investments.

Sociologist Erik Wright, in his Marxian model, identified four classes. Which of the following classes was not included in Wright's model?

Sociologist Dennis Gilbert compares the distribution of income to a national pie that has been sliced into portions. In 2004, the poorest 20 percent of households received approximately __________ of the total income pie.

According to the social class model developed by sociologists Dennis Gilbert and Joseph Kahl, the core of the __________ (an estimated 30 percent of the U. S. population) is made up of semiskilled machine operators who work in factories. Members may also include people in the service sector, as well as clerks and salespeople.

For many of the working poor, medical insurance is out of the question. Approximately __________ million people in the United States were without health insurance coverage in 2006.

__________ theorists view education as the "elevator" to social mobility. Improvements in the educational achievement levels (measured in number of years of schooling completed) of the poor, people of color, and white women have been cited as evidence that students' abilities are now more important than their class, race, or gender.

According to sociologist Karl Marx, the __________ (capitalist class) consists of those who own the means of production-the land and capital necessary for factories and mines.

One of the most important characteristics of systems of stratification is their degree of flexibility. In a closed system of stratification __________.