Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

Many social characteristics contribute to an individual’s class membership. Political behavior is correlated with higher classes; the higher the strata, the more likely to be interested in politics. Divorce is more likely in the lowest strata. Religious affiliation correlates with class membership as well; the lower classes prefer evangelical and exciting services, whereas the upper classes prefer more reserved services. In higher statuses, children do better in school. The higher statuses also hold the claim to better health and longer living. Child-rearing practices are different throughout the classes as well; the higher statuses tend to guide children to adopt practices that help them shape their conduct. Lower classes tend to encourage staying out of trouble. Poverty Concerns Poverty can be defined in terms of relative deprivation --is a person’s standard of living below that of others? In other words, is there an inability to maintain a standard of living that compares to the customary level of society? In this manner, poor is a relative terms based on a comparison with those who are not poor. Poverty can also be defined in terms of absolute deprivation . In this definition, there is an inability to provide basic sustenance. Government social welfare programs provide benefits to the poor to help them afford the basic necessities. The benefit is determined using and annually calculated “poverty index level.” In 1966, the responsibility for welfare programs shifted from the federal government to state government. Foodstamp benefits were reduced, a welfare-to-work programwas instituted, and child care services werepromoted. The poor is a diverse group, consisting of people who work fulltime at unskilled jobs, those who are chronically unemployed, those who live in depressed areas, and those who are underemployed. Some people are fortunate enough to climb out of poverty each year. Poverty is often considered negatively; often the poor are thought to be lazy individuals who live off of other people’s taxes. These attitudes have little bearing in reality. Sociologists argue that poverty is the result of factors outside the control of the victim. Explanations of Poverty Oscar Lewis discovered a culture of poverty, a set of values and norms common to a subculture, the poor. This culture is prevalent through urban poor regions worldwide. The telling characteristics of this culture include: • Inability to resist impulsive gratification • suspicious of all authority • Lacking in a plan for the future • Having a sense of resignation Sociologists looked for a structural reason behind poverty in the 1970s. They sought to figure out if the unequal distribution of power, wealth, and resources caused poverty. Factors that may result in a

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