Economic Inequality
What is social stratification?
The structured ranking of groups based on access to resources like wealth, power, and prestige.
What is gender segregation in the workplace?
The practice of assigning certain jobs as “male” or “female,” limiting opportunities.
What is ethnocentrism?
The belief that one’s own culture is superior to others.
Which theory views inequality as necessary for society’s stability?
Structural functionalism.
How does family influence gender roles?
Through early gender socialization and expectations for behavior.
What is structural mobility?
Mobility caused by changes in society’s institutions, not individual effort.
What is the hidden curriculum in schools related to gender?
Unspoken lessons about gender roles and expectations taught through school culture.
What was redlining?
A discriminatory practice where banks refused loans to people in minority neighborhoods.
How does Marx define false consciousness?
When workers adopt beliefs that go against their own class interests.
How does race affect access to healthcare?
Minority groups often receive lower-quality care and have less insurance coverage.
How does wealth inequality affect education?
Wealthier students have more access to resources, leading to an achievement gap.
What is the maternal wall?
Workplace bias against mothers that limits career advancement and contributes to wage gaps.
What is racism evasiveness?
Avoiding discussions of racism by arguing race doesn’t matter.
What does Weber add to Marx’s view of class?
He includes status and party(power) as part of socioeconomic status.
What role does media play in shaping racial attitudes?
It can reinforce stereotypes or promote empathy through diverse representation.
What is the “culture of poverty” theory?
The idea that poverty creates cultural traits that hinder upward mobility.
How does media contribute to hypermasculinity?
It promotes aggressive, emotionless male stereotypes and discourages vulnerability.
How does racial gerrymandering affect political representation?
It concentrates minority voters into few districts, limiting their political power.
How do feminist theorists apply conflict theory?
They examine how male dominance leads to unequal resource distribution.
3 ways schools contribute to racial inequality?
Through unequal funding, biased curricula, and tracking systems.
How did COVID-19 impact economic inequality?
It worsened inequality by disproportionately affecting poor and working-class families.
What is “undoing gender”?
Challenging traditional gender norms through new social structures and interactions.
What is a microaggression?
A subtle, often unintentional comment or action that marginalizes minority groups.
What is symbolic interactionism’s view on race?
Race is socially constructed through everyday interactions and meanings.
How do government policies influence social mobility?
Policies like tax cuts or welfare programs can either widen or reduce inequality.