Student Resources

Learning Objectives

Chapter 1

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Define the terms social inequality, social stratification, and ideology.
2. Outline the development of the modern global economy.
3. Write an overview of the impact of the modern global economy.
4. Understand the concepts of social reproduction.
5. Recall the four types of capital.

Chapter 2

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Understand Marx’s and Wright’s theories about class position.
2. Define the term class.
3. Explain the link between Marx and social reproduction.
4. Describe what makes a power elite theory.
5. Evaluate whether Marx’s assertions hold true today.

Chapter 3

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Identify the four conditions that form a modern world system.
2. Compare the class systems in core and developing nations.
3. Discuss the variety of working conditions found around the world.
4. Explain how unions impact working conditions.
5. Analyze the conditions that lead to squatter communities.

Chapter 4

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Identify the three principles of social inequality.
2. Recall the four types of wealthy and powerful groups in the elite policy-making process.
3. Understand the role of social reproduction.
4. Define the term superclass.
5. Distinguish among financial, social, cultural, and human capital.

Chapter 5

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Describe how upper class mothers facilitate their children’s socialization.
2. Recall the three kinds of empowerment that wealthy children experience.
3. Define the term hypergamy.
4. Evaluate the pros and cons of superclass contributions to the political system.
5. Analyze the relationship between corporations and the superclass.

Chapter 6

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Contrast the preindustrial and the industrial middle class.
2. Explain how industrialization changed the family.
3. Discuss the markers of a middle class childhood, schooling, and networking.
4. Describe the qualities necessary for success in the middle class workplace.
5. Analyze the growing economic problems of the middle class.

Chapter 7

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Recall the characteristics of working class employment.
2. Discuss how World War II affected the working class.
3. Explain how cultural capital has changed for the working class.
4. Describe the continuing nature of many working class jobs.
5. Analyze how economic conditions have affected working class employment.

Chapter 8

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Analyze the ideas of “deserving” and “undeserving” in the context of poverty.
2. Discuss the history and expansion of welfare.
3. Identify the fundamental challenges of the poor.
4. Explain how the poor are disadvantaged in childhood.
5. Evaluate the cyclical nature of poverty.

Chapter 9

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Distinguish between individual and institutional forms of racism.
2. Understand the historical roots of American racism.
3. Explain how race correlates with educational opportunity.
4. Discuss the prevalence of racism in the media.
5. Compare the circumstances of the American poor with the poor in the rest of the world.

Chapter 10

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Discuss how industrialization changed women’s roles.
2. Explain how sexism persists in modern society.
3. Define the term intersectionality.
4. Describe the differences in the division of labor for men and women.
5. Analyze how governments influence women’s work lives.

Chapter 11

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Explain the significance of effective leadership to spearheading change.
2. Discuss why goals must be defensible in order to address social inequality.
3. Understand the importance of cost-effectiveness in addressing social inequality.
4. Evaluate whether grassroots initiatives effectively mobilize marginalized people.
5. Analyze whether it is possible to launch an effective campaign against social inequality.