Midterm Study Questions

Midterm Study Questions: 1.Why does racism persist in countries like the United States? Thesis : Due to its extensive history of racism and cognitively embedded ideology, racism persists in countries like the United States, creating stigmas that last for generations. - Ideology persists throughout generations - Skin color can be used as a stigma → negative thoughts, discrimination, or stereotypes against a certain group of people based on perceived characteristics to distinguish them from the rest of a social group. ● Our brains simplify things through stereotypes ● Stereotype persistence and power is cognitively embedded → our brain wants to simplify information which is typically helpful, but can also lead to stereotype - Institutional Racism - Some groups use race to promote power over others who feel threatened (ex: KKK) - The sensitivity of race makes it difficult to talk about 2. What are some of the most important factors behind the rise of “high-end” inequality? What do you think is the single most important consequence of high-end inequality (as opposed to other kinds of inequalities we have discussed). Thesis: The most important factors behind the rise of high-end inequality is the limited social mobility and access to resources limited for the rich, while the single most important consequence of high end inequality is opportunity hoarding. - High end inequality → environment where the highest earners are driving inequality; rich get richer ● Donald Trump: real estate empire for the upper class 1% which contributes to the rich getting richer *the single most important consequence of high end inequality is opportunity hoarding* 1. Another factor: limited social mobility → how your background relates to your adult outcomes, low in the US; ability to move through the social heirarchies ● Origins and destinations

2. Access to resources and opportunities are limited for the rich ● Ability to afford education (test prep centers, sending kids to college) ● Higher education → a college degree will increase total income - Consequences: ● Opportunity hoarding → ex: college acceptance, odds of getting into college is closely tied with family income ● Large wage gap between rich and poor: rich get wealthier while the poor remain immobile which continue to push the cycle of the wage gap and poverty 3.What is questionable about defining a family’s social class using their household income? In your answer, describe what the concept of class is measuring, and why many sociologists favor other ways of measuring it than family income. - Social class is a concept used to distinguish groups of people based on their social and economic position in their society. Thesis: Defining a family’s social class using solely household income does not account for intergenerational wealth and socioeconomic status. - Definition of class → combination of income, occupation, and socioeconomic status in society to measure someone's position in society 1. Income is not representative of one’s entire social class because it doesn't account for education, occupation, and overall wealth ● Class takes into account all of these factors because just income 2. Defining social class using household income does not account for social mobility and the way that one’s origins can influence their destinations - Household income does not display intergenerational wealth - Income is the amount of money over a particular period whereas wealth is the net value of all assets therefore, income is not representative of someone's wealth ● A person can have a lot of assets, but no income and still be super wealthy so measuring someone's social class by income doesnt show their actual wealth and social class - An alternative way of measuring social class is by socioeconomic status which is a broad definition of someone's social class based on factors such as income,