Caste
Monarchy
Endogamy
Class
An individual moves up the class ladder
An individual moves down the class ladder
A large group moves up or down the class ladder due to societal changes
A member of a family belongs to a different class than his or her siblings
A country’s total accumulated wealth
Annual government spending
The average annual income of a country’s citizens
A country’s debt
Are ambitious
Fund social services
Spend money wisely
Get rich while workers stay poor
Class traits
Power
Prestige
Underclass
They allow for movement between the classes.
People are more open-minded.
People are encouraged to socialize within their class.
They do not have clearly defined layers.
Ranks society members into categories
Destroys competition between society members
Allows society members to choose their social standing
Reflects personal choices of society members
Men often earn more than women, even working the same job.
After work, Pat, a janitor, feels more comfortable eating in a truck stop than a French restaurant.
Doctors earn more money because their job is more highly valued.
Teachers continue to struggle to keep benefits such as health insurance.
A suburban family lives in a modest ranch home and enjoys nice vacation each summer.
A single mother receives food stamps and struggles to find adequate employment.
A college dropout launches an online company that earns millions in its first year.
A celebrity actress owns homes in three countries.
Receive the same pay as all the other physician’s assistants
Be encouraged to earn a higher degree to seek a better position
Most likely marry a professional at the same level
Earn a pay raise for doing excellent work
All equal in status
Not equally valued
Assigned to a person for life
Not part of a person’s self-identity
Denied the opportunity to obtain
Encouraged to train for
Often fired from
Forced into
Must labor alone, without companionship
Do not feel connected to their work
Move from one geographical location to another
Have to put forth self-effort to get ahead
A janitor belongs to the same social class as his grandmother did.
An executive belongs to a different class than her parents.
An editor shares the same social class as his cousin.
A lawyer belongs to a different class than her sister.
Is an outdated mode of societal organization
Is an artificial reflection of society
Serves a purpose in society
Cannot be justified
Middle class
Upper class
Lower class
No specific class
First-shift factory worker
First-generation college student
Firstborn son who inherits the family business
First-time interviewee who is hired for a job
They are run by secretive governments.
People cannot change their social standings.
Most have been outlawed.
They exist only in rural areas.
Pie chart
Flag poles
Planetary movement
Pyramid