Systems of Social Stratification

 In a U.S. town, a mining company owns all the stores and most of the houses. It sells goods to the workers at inflated prices, offers house rentals for twice what a mortgage would be, and makes sure to always pay the workers less than needed to cover food and rent. Once the workers are in debt, they have no choice but to continue working for the company, since their skills will not transfer to a new position. This situation most closely resembles ________.

Responses

• endogamy

  endogamy
• chattel slavery

  chattel slavery
• child slavery

  child slavery
• debt slavery

  debt slavery

• Correct. This phrase refers to an arrangement where workers are trapped in a cycle of poverty that is reinforced by the dominant company controlling one’s laboring, consuming, and residential conditions.

What factor makes class systems open?

Responses

• They do not have clearly defined layers.

  They do not have clearly defined layers.
• People are encouraged to socialize within their class.

  People are encouraged to socialize within their class.
• They allow for movement between the classes.

  They allow for movement between the classes.
• There are located in rural areas.

  There are located in rural areas.

• Correct. An open system is based on achievement, and is to some degree meritocratic in that it allows for movement and interaction between different class statuses.

What factor makes caste systems closed?

Responses

• They exist only in rural areas.

  They exist only in rural areas.
• People cannot change their social standings.

  People cannot change their social standings.
• Most have been outlawed.

  Most have been outlawed.
• They are run by secretive governments.

  They are run by secretive governments.

• Correct. A closed system is one where no socioeconomic mobility is possible, and meritocratic advancement is not an option.

Slavery in the pre-Civil War U.S. South most closely resembled________.

Responses

• chattel slavery

  chattel slavery
• debt bondage

  debt bondage
• This phrase refers to an arrangement where one person owns another as property in much the same way as cattle or horses might be owned.

  This phrase refers to an arrangement where one person owns another as property in much the same way as cattle or horses might be owned.
• relative poverty

  relative poverty
• extreme poverty

  extreme poverty

Based on meritocracy, a physician’s assistant would

Responses

• receive the same pay as all the other physician’s assistants.

  receive the same pay as all the other physician’s assistants.
• earn a pay raise for doing excellent work.

  earn a pay raise for doing excellent work.
• most likely marry a professional at the same level.

  most likely marry a professional at the same level.
• be discouraged from earning a higher degree to seek a better position.

  be discouraged from earning a higher degree to seek a better position.

• Correct. A meritocracy emphasizes advancement and reward through the demonstration of ability.
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