The concept “meritocracy” refers to social stratification ________.

How are race and ethnicity dimensions of social stratification in the United States? Provide evidence that many racial and ethnic categories of people are minorities-socially disadvantaged due to their racial or ethnic identity. Consider ways in which disadvantages linked to race and ethnicity combine with those rooted in gender and class.

According to Janet Lever’s observations of children at play, ________.

“Race” refers to ________ considered important by a society; “ethnicity” refers to ________.

In which of the following occupations are 99 percent of all workers women?

Briefly describe the main characteristics of caste systems and class systems. How are these types linked to different types of economic production (agrarian versus industrial technology)? What part does meritocracy play in each type of stratification? How does each type of stratification justify inequality?

While prejudice is a matter of ________, discrimination is a matter of ________.

Social stratification is a matter of not only inequality, but also cultural beliefs about fairness.

Using the sociological perspective, we see that social stratification ________.

Explain the differences in the approach to social stratification of Karl Marx and Max Weber. How did each envision stratification? Why is Weber’s approach more complex? Which approach do you think better represents social inequality in the United States? Why?