SOC 1200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Kuznets Curve, Conspicuous Consumption, Social Stratification

• School: University of Manitoba
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1200
• Professor: Susan Miller

Document Summary

People socialize with others of same social standing . Conspicuous consumption = buying and using products because of the statements they make about social position. Simple technology, produce only what is necessary day-to-day. No categories of people are better than others. Technological advances = surplus: social inequality increases, small elite controls most of surplus. Need to develop individual talent meritocracy weakens power of traditional elites. Raises standard of living of the poor majority. Technological advances first increase, then moderate the extent of social stratification . High income nations that have passed through an industrial era have less economic inequality than nations in which a larger share of the labour force remains in farming . Income inequality reflects not only technological development but also political and economic priorities . Of all high-income nations, usa has greatest income inequality . Gender: the personal traits and social positions that members of a society attach to being female or male.