MA Sociology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'intersectionality' mean in sociological analysis?
- The overlap between urban and rural communities
- The way multiple social identities (race, gender, class) intersect to create overlapping systems of discrimination (Correct answer)
- The connection between micro and macro levels of analysis
- The point where different cultural systems come into conflict
Correct answer: The way multiple social identities (race, gender, class) intersect to create overlapping systems of discrimination
Intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, examines how multiple social identities such as race, gender, and class simultaneously interact to shape individuals' experiences of privilege and oppression.
Question 2: The 'Thomas theorem' in sociology states that:
- Social inequality is reproduced across generations
- If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences (Correct answer)
- Social deviance is labeled by those in power
- Culture determines cognitive development
Correct answer: If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences
The Thomas theorem holds that if individuals define a situation as real, they will act on that definition, making it real in its consequences regardless of objective reality.
Question 3: In sociology, 'social mobility' refers to:
- Migration between geographic regions
- The movement of individuals or groups between different positions in the social hierarchy (Correct answer)
- The spread of cultural values across societies
- The ability of institutions to adapt to social change
Correct answer: The movement of individuals or groups between different positions in the social hierarchy
Social mobility is the movement of individuals, families, or groups up or down the social stratification ladder over time.
Question 4: Which theoretical perspective views society as a system of interrelated parts that work together to maintain stability?
- Conflict theory
- Symbolic interactionism
- Functionalism (Correct answer)
- Critical theory
Correct answer: Functionalism
Functionalism, associated with Durkheim, Parsons, and Merton, views society as a stable system of interrelated institutions that each serve necessary functions for social equilibrium.
Question 5: What is 'cultural capital' as defined by Pierre Bourdieu?
- The monetary value of artistic and cultural goods
- Non-financial social assets (knowledge, skills, credentials) that confer social advantage (Correct answer)
- The geographic concentration of cultural institutions in cities
- The international exchange of cultural products
Correct answer: Non-financial social assets (knowledge, skills, credentials) that confer social advantage
Cultural capital refers to non-financial assets — such as education, taste, language, and credentials — that provide individuals social advantage and mobility.
Question 6: What does the concept of 'master status' mean in sociology?
- The highest social position a person can achieve
- A status that overrides all others and shapes how society perceives a person (Correct answer)
- The inherited status from one's family of origin
- The status associated with advanced educational attainment
Correct answer: A status that overrides all others and shapes how society perceives a person
A master status is a social position that dominates all others and largely determines how an individual is perceived and treated by others.
MA Sociology 2
What does 'intersectionality' mean in sociological analysis?