Layers of Social Class

fehiepsi (Vietnam)
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words only definitions & notes
  1. income
    the amount of money one makes over a period of time
    Taken together, income, occupation, and education are good measures of people’s social standing.
  2. occupation
    the principal activity in one's life to earn money
    Taken together, income, occupation, and education are good measures of people’s social standing.
  3. education
    activities that impart knowledge or skill
    Taken together, income, occupation, and education are good measures of people’s social standing.
  4. measure
    determine the dimensions of something or somebody
    Taken together, income, occupation, and education are good measures of people’s social standing.
  5. social
    living together or enjoying life in communities
    Taken together, income, occupation, and education are good measures of people’s social standing.
  6. layered
    with one thin piece on top of another
    Using a layered model of stratification, most sociologists describe the class system in the United States as divided into several classes: upper, upper middle, middle, lower middle, and lower class.
  7. model
    a representation of something, often on a smaller scale
    Using a layered model of stratification, most sociologists describe the class system in the United States as divided into several classes: upper, upper middle, middle, lower middle, and lower class.
  8. describe
    give a statement representing something
    Using a layered model of stratification, most sociologists describe the class system in the United States as divided into several classes: upper, upper middle, middle, lower middle, and lower class.
  9. divide
    a serious disagreement between two groups of people
    Using a layered model of stratification, most sociologists describe the class system in the United States as divided into several classes: upper, upper middle, middle, lower middle, and lower class.
  10. define
    show the form or outline of
    Each class is defined by characteristics such as income, occupational prestige, and educational attainment.
  11. characteristic
    typical or distinctive
    Each class is defined by characteristics such as income, occupational prestige, and educational attainment.
  12. occupational
    relating to an activity or job for which you are trained
    Each class is defined by characteristics such as income, occupational prestige, and educational attainment.
  13. prestige
    a high standing achieved through success or influence
    Each class is defined by characteristics such as income, occupational prestige, and educational attainment.
  14. attainment
    the act of achieving an aim
    Each class is defined by characteristics such as income, occupational prestige, and educational attainment.
  15. array
    an impressive display or assortment
    The different groups are arrayed along a continuum with those with the most money, education, and prestige at the top and those with the least at the bottom.
  16. continuum
    an extent in which no part is distinct from adjacent parts
    The different groups are arrayed along a continuum with those with the most money, education, and prestige at the top and those with the least at the bottom.
  17. major
    greater in scope or effect
    In the United States, the upper class owns the major share of corporate and personal wealth; it includes those who have held wealth for generations as well as those who have recently become rich.
  18. corporate
    of or belonging to a business firm
    In the United States, the upper class owns the major share of corporate and personal wealth; it includes those who have held wealth for generations as well as those who have recently become rich.
  19. personal
    concerning an individual or his or her private life
    In the United States, the upper class owns the major share of corporate and personal wealth; it includes those who have held wealth for generations as well as those who have recently become rich.
  20. include
    have as a part; be made up out of
    In the United States, the upper class owns the major share of corporate and personal wealth; it includes those who have held wealth for generations as well as those who have recently become rich.
  21. generation
    group of genetically related organisms in a line of descent
    In the United States, the upper class owns the major share of corporate and personal wealth; it includes those who have held wealth for generations as well as those who have recently become rich.
  22. proportion
    relation with respect to comparative quantity or magnitude
    Only a very small proportion of people actually constitute the upper class, but they control vast amounts of wealth and power in the United States.
  23. actually
    in fact
    Only a very small proportion of people actually constitute the upper class, but they control vast amounts of wealth and power in the United States.
  24. constitute
    form or compose
    Only a very small proportion of people actually constitute the upper class, but they control vast amounts of wealth and power in the United States.
  25. control
    power to direct or determine
    Only a very small proportion of people actually constitute the upper class, but they control vast amounts of wealth and power in the United States.
  26. vast
    unusually great in size or amount or extent or scope
    Only a very small proportion of people actually constitute the upper class, but they control vast amounts of wealth and power in the United States.
  27. exercise
    the activity of exerting muscles to keep fit
    They exercise enormous control throughout society.
  28. enormous
    extraordinarily large in size or extent or degree
    They exercise enormous control throughout society.
  29. throughout
    from first to last
    They exercise enormous control throughout society.
  30. society
    an extended group having a distinctive cultural organization
    They exercise enormous control throughout society.
  31. inherited
    occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
    Most of their wealth is inherited.
  32. myth
    a traditional story serving to explain a world view
    Despite social myths to the contrary, the best predictor of future wealth is the family into which you are born.
  33. contrary
    exact opposition
    Despite social myths to the contrary, the best predictor of future wealth is the family into which you are born.
  34. future
    the time yet to come
    Despite social myths to the contrary, the best predictor of future wealth is the family into which you are born.
  35. publish
    prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
    Each year, the business magazine Forbes publishes a list of the “Forbes 400”—the four hundred wealthiest families and individuals in the country.
  36. list
    a database containing an ordered array of items
    Each year, the business magazine Forbes publishes a list of the “Forbes 400”—the four hundred wealthiest families and individuals in the country.
  37. wealthy
    having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
    Each year, the business magazine Forbes publishes a list of the “Forbes 400”—the four hundred wealthiest families and individuals in the country.
  38. individual
    being or characteristic of a single thing or person
    Each year, the business magazine Forbes publishes a list of the “Forbes 400”—the four hundred wealthiest families and individuals in the country.
  39. represent
    be a delegate or spokesperson for
    Of all the wealth represented on the Forbes 400 list, more than half is inherited.
  40. modest
    marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
    Those on the list who could be called “self-made” were not typically of modest origins; most inherited significant assets (Forbes, 1997; Sklar and Collins, 1997).
  41. origin
    the place where something begins
    Those on the list who could be called “self-made” were not typically of modest origins; most inherited significant assets (Forbes, 1997; Sklar and Collins, 1997).
  42. significant
    rich in implication
    Those on the list who could be called “self-made” were not typically of modest origins; most inherited significant assets (Forbes, 1997; Sklar and Collins, 1997).
  43. assets
    anything of material value owned by a person or company
    Those on the list who could be called “self-made” were not typically of modest origins; most inherited significant assets (Forbes, 1997; Sklar and Collins, 1997).
  44. acquired
    gotten through environmental forces
    Those in the upper class with newly acquired wealth are known as the nouveau riche.
  45. educate
    give knowledge acquired by learning and instruction
    They tend to be well-educated professionals or business executives.
  46. professional
    of or relating to or suitable as an occupation
    They tend to be well-educated professionals or business executives.
  47. executive
    a person responsible for the administration of a business
    They tend to be well-educated professionals or business executives.
  48. successful
    having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
    Their earnings can be quite high indeed—successful business executives can earn millions of dollars a year.
  49. earn
    acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions
    Their earnings can be quite high indeed—successful business executives can earn millions of dollars a year.
  50. difficult
    requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish
    It is difficult to estimate exactly how many people fall into this group because of the difficulty of drawing lines between the upper, upper middle, and middle class.
  51. estimate
    judge tentatively
    It is difficult to estimate exactly how many people fall into this group because of the difficulty of drawing lines between the upper, upper middle, and middle class.
  52. difficulty
    an effort that is inconvenient
    It is difficult to estimate exactly how many people fall into this group because of the difficulty of drawing lines between the upper, upper middle, and middle class.
  53. lifestyle
    a manner of living that reflects the person's values and attitudes
    Indeed, the upper middle class is often thought of as “middle class” because their lifestyle sets the standard to which many aspire, but this lifestyle is simply beyond the means of a majority of people in the United States.
  54. standard
    a basis for comparison
    Indeed, the upper middle class is often thought of as “middle class” because their lifestyle sets the standard to which many aspire, but this lifestyle is simply beyond the means of a majority of people in the United States.
  55. aspire
    have an ambitious plan or a lofty goal
    Indeed, the upper middle class is often thought of as “middle class” because their lifestyle sets the standard to which many aspire, but this lifestyle is simply beyond the means of a majority of people in the United States.
  56. majority
    the main part
    Indeed, the upper middle class is often thought of as “middle class” because their lifestyle sets the standard to which many aspire, but this lifestyle is simply beyond the means of a majority of people in the United States.
  57. economic
    of or relating to production and management of wealth
    The middle class is hard to define; in part, being “middle class” is more than just economic position.
  58. identify
    recognize as being
    By far the majority of Americans identify themselves as middle class even though they vary widely in lifestyle and in resources at their disposal.
  59. vary
    become different in some particular way
    By far the majority of Americans identify themselves as middle class even though they vary widely in lifestyle and in resources at their disposal.
  60. resource
    aid or support that may be drawn upon when needed
    By far the majority of Americans identify themselves as middle class even though they vary widely in lifestyle and in resources at their disposal.
  61. disposal
    the act or means of getting rid of something
    By far the majority of Americans identify themselves as middle class even though they vary widely in lifestyle and in resources at their disposal.
  62. recognize
    perceive to be something or something you can identify
    But the idea that the United States is an open-class system leads many to think that the majority have a middle-class lifestyle because, in general, people tend not to want to recognize class distinctions in the United States.
  63. distinction
    a discrimination between things as different
    But the idea that the United States is an open-class system leads many to think that the majority have a middle-class lifestyle because, in general, people tend not to want to recognize class distinctions in the United States.
  64. ubiquitous
    being present everywhere at once
    Thus, the middle class becomes the ubiquitous norm even though many who call themselves middle class have a tenuous hold on this class position.
  65. norm
    a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical
    Thus, the middle class becomes the ubiquitous norm even though many who call themselves middle class have a tenuous hold on this class position.
  66. tenuous
    lacking substance or significance
    Thus, the middle class becomes the ubiquitous norm even though many who call themselves middle class have a tenuous hold on this class position.
  67. hierarchy
    a series of ordered groupings within a system
    In the hierarchy of social class, the lower middle class includes workers in the skilled trades and low-income bureaucratic workers, many of whom may actually define themselves as middle class.
  68. trade
    the commercial exchange of goods and services
    In the hierarchy of social class, the lower middle class includes workers in the skilled trades and low-income bureaucratic workers, many of whom may actually define themselves as middle class.
  69. low
    less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
    In the hierarchy of social class, the lower middle class includes workers in the skilled trades and low-income bureaucratic workers, many of whom may actually define themselves as middle class.
  70. bureaucratic
    of or relating to unnecessary procedures and red tape
    In the hierarchy of social class, the lower middle class includes workers in the skilled trades and low-income bureaucratic workers, many of whom may actually define themselves as middle class.
  71. example
    an item of information that is typical of a class or group
    Examples are blue-collar workers (those in skilled trades who do manual labor) and many service workers, such as secretaries, hairdressers, waitresses, police, and firefighters.
  72. manual
    of or relating to the hands
    Examples are blue-collar workers (those in skilled trades who do manual labor) and many service workers, such as secretaries, hairdressers, waitresses, police, and firefighters.
  73. labor
    any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
    Examples are blue-collar workers (those in skilled trades who do manual labor) and many service workers, such as secretaries, hairdressers, waitresses, police, and firefighters.
  74. service
    an act of help or assistance
    Examples are blue-collar workers (those in skilled trades who do manual labor) and many service workers, such as secretaries, hairdressers, waitresses, police, and firefighters.
  75. secretary
    an assistant who handles correspondence and clerical work
    Examples are blue-collar workers (those in skilled trades who do manual labor) and many service workers, such as secretaries, hairdressers, waitresses, police, and firefighters.
  76. medium
    the surrounding environment
    Medium to low income, education, and occupational prestige define the lower middle class relative to the class groups above it.
  77. relative
    not absolute or complete
    Medium to low income, education, and occupational prestige define the lower middle class relative to the class groups above it.
  78. designation
    the act of identifying something
    The term “lower” in this class designation refers to the relative position of the group in the stratification system, but it has a pejorative sound to many people, especially to people who are members of this class.
  79. pejorative
    expressing disapproval
    The term “lower” in this class designation refers to the relative position of the group in the stratification system, but it has a pejorative sound to many people, especially to people who are members of this class.
  80. composed
    serenely self-possessed and free from agitation
    The lower class is composed primarily of the displaced and poor.
  81. primarily
    for the most part
    The lower class is composed primarily of the displaced and poor.
  82. displace
    cause to move, usually with force or pressure
    The lower class is composed primarily of the displaced and poor.
  83. formal
    in accord with established conventions and requirements
    People in this class have little formal education and are often unemployed or working in minimum-wage jobs.
  84. minimum
    the smallest possible quantity
    People in this class have little formal education and are often unemployed or working in minimum-wage jobs.
  85. percent
    a proportion in relation to a whole
    Forty percent of the poor work; 10 percent work year-round and full time—a proportion that has generally increased over time.
  86. increase
    a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous
    Forty percent of the poor work; 10 percent work year-round and full time—a proportion that has generally increased over time.
  87. concept
    an abstract or general idea inferred from specific instances
    Recently, the concept of the underclass has been added to the lower class.
  88. contemporary
    occurring in the same period of time
    The underclass includes those who have been left behind by contemporary economic developments.
  89. development
    a process in which something passes to a different stage
    The underclass includes those who have been left behind by contemporary economic developments.
  90. reject
    refuse to accept or acknowledge
    Rejected from the economic system, those in the underclass may become dependent on public assistance or illegal activities.
  91. assistance
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
    Rejected from the economic system, those in the underclass may become dependent on public assistance or illegal activities.
  92. illegal
    prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules
    Rejected from the economic system, those in the underclass may become dependent on public assistance or illegal activities.
Created on Fri Jan 04 07:54:24 EST 2013 (updated Fri Jan 04 08:11:12 EST 2013)

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