This document provides an overview of key concepts from Chapter 12 on social stratification systems. It discusses ascribed and achieved statuses, and examples of caste and estate systems that are determined by birth. Marx's concept of class is defined by one's relationship to the means of production. Weber expanded on this to include lifestyle and life chances. The document also defines social mobility, open and closed systems, and legitimizing rationales used to justify stratification.

1. Introduction to Sociology

2. Week 8: Chapter 12 Review

3. CHAPTER 12
Stratification-
• 1. systems persist for a long time. 2. systems are
resistant to change. 3. each system is bolstered by
legitimating rationales.
Legitimizing rationale-
• Generally accepted beliefs that something is fair and just.

4. CHAPTER 12
Caste system-
• One's rank is determined at birth and fixed for life, and
based on ascribed characteristics. it determines one
person's prestige, occupation, and residence as well as
the nature of his/her relationships.
Example: in India-
• Transmigration, karma, dharma, varna, jatis,
scheduled castes (brahmans, kshatriyas, vaishyas,
shudras, dalits.
Estate system
• One’s place in the social hierarchy is also determined at
birth. Contacts between different estates are permitted,
but marriage between estates is forbidden
Example: in medieval Europe:
• Feudal, estates (first, second, third), villeins, fourth
estate.

5. CHAPTER 12
Marx’s concept of class-
• The most important thing about any society was its
economic system, especially the means by which it
produced the items that people needed to survive.
Bourgeoisie-
 Capitalist class, comprising the owners of the means of
production.
Proletariat-
 Marx's term for the exploited class, the mass of
workers who do not own the means of production.

6. CHAPTER 12
Weber’s conception of class-
• Refers to a group of people who have the same typical
chance for supply of goods, external living conditions,
and the personal life experiences, insofar as this change
is determined by the power to dispose of goods and skills
for the sake of income in a given economic order.
Lifestyle verses life chances-
• Distinctive ways in which people consume goods and
services; the social customs associated with each
class.

7. CHAPTER 12
Kuznet’s curve-
• The observation that the intensity of social inequality
varies with the economic structure of society.
Chattel slavery-
• “Movable property" as opposed to "real property" this is
the type of slavery that existed in the southern states
before the civil war.
Manumission-
• Transfer of class.

8. CHAPTER 12
Power-
• probability that one actor within a social relationship will be
in a position to carry out his own will despite resistance. the
ability to impose one's will or to get one's way even when
faced with opposition from others.
Authority-
• Power that is seen as justified.
Status-
• Status describes the position a person occupies in a particular
setting.
Prestige-
• The reputation or esteem associated with one's position in
society, which is closely tied to their social class.
Socioeconomic status-
• Income, education, occupational prestige, and wealth.
Provides some
overall assessment of peoples place in the social
stratification system.

9. CHAPTER 12
Social mobility-
• The movement of individuals, families, households, or
other categories of people within or between social strata
in a society.
Horizontal-
• Position changes, but social status stays the same.
Vertical-
• Social Status moving up or down.
Intergenerational-
• Change in social position that occurs during a person's
lifetime.
Intragenerational-
• Change in social position that occurs over multiple
generations.

10. CHAPTER 12
Open system verses closed system-
• In an open class system, people are ranked by their
achieved status (a title someone achieves), whereas in a
closed class system, people are ranked by their ascribed
status (a status born into or adapted).
Exogamy-
• Norm that requires an individual to marry someone from
outside of his or her own kinship, religious or social class
group.
Endogamy-
• Norm that requires an individual to marry someone from
within his or her own kinship, religious or social group.