Exam 12: Social Class and Lifestyles

The average American's standard of living continues to improve. This shift in income has been linked to two key factors. What are these factors? Provide explanatory comments on each factor.

If a social researcher wanted to investigate social status in a small city, her best choice for a questionnaire would be one that included questions or observations on education, area of residence, total family income per year, and ________.

A biography of a famous American woman indicated that she never married the man she loved the most because his family status and income didn't meet her goals. This is evidence of the strength of hierogamy in some people's lives.

Vance comes from the lower-upper class, while Jeff comes from the lower-middle class. They are both madly in love with Julia, who is beautiful enough to do part-time modeling. According to the principle of ________, Julia is most likely to be attracted to Vance.

A contemporary view of the American social class structure is presented in the text. Identify each of the major categories and supply a brief comment that characterizes each one.

________ defines a pattern of consumption reflecting a person's choices on how he or she spends their time and money.

Why is wearing a baseball cap backward (with the brim toward the back) a type of parody display?

Although there are many differences between social classes, almost all these differences can be summarized by the differences that income makes in a person's life.

Which of the following theorists is best known for arguing that an individual's relationship to the means of production determines his position in society?

Discretionary income is the money available to a household over and above that required for a comfortable standard of living.

Rachel doesn't work, has a rich and successful husband, and loves to wear high-heeled shoes, tight clothes, and flamboyant hairstyles. According to Veblen's ideas, Rachel's role is decorative.

With respect to codes that are used by separate social classes, middle and upper classes tend to use restricted codes.

Education is one determining factor in who gets a bigger piece of the economic pie.

Many 20-somethings have rebelled against their more affluent parents by mocking wealth, wearing clothing such as shredded jeans and driving boxy cars. These are examples of what is called a modern potlatch.

Evan was an aggressive, rich, and determined businessman originally from a working class family. He had become wealthier than he had ever imagined by buying and selling other businesses. Evan seemingly could do anything until he tried a hostile takeover of an established bank owned by several prestigious families. When his bid failed, Evan said, "I always knew there was an elite, but up to now I thought I was a part of it." What type of capital was Evan lacking?

A co-branding strategy was being utilized when the Taco Bell Chihuahua showed up in a commercial for Geico insurance.

Product ________ occurs when the symbolic meanings of different products are related to one another.

Fred has been a farmer all his life. He inherited the family farm when he was 35, but that was twenty years ago. It looks like he is going to lose the farm and have to take a manual labor job in the city to support his family. What form of mobility best describes Fred's position?

American spendthrifts outnumber American tightwads.

Sharon noticed that many of her high-end, outdoor spa customers drive Volvos, a luxury car known for its safety record and high performance. Which of the following terms best illustrates what Sharon has observed in her customers?