Chapter+9+Global+Stratification

High-income countries - The nations with the highest overall standards of living. Middle-income countries - The nations with the standard of living about average for the world as a whole. High mass consumption - Economic development driven by industrial technology raises living standards as mass production stimulates mass consumption. Traditional stage - People's lives are built around families and local communities. Multinational corporation- A large business that operates in many countries Low-income countries - Nations with a low standard of living in which most people are poor Global Stratification- Patterns of social inequality in the world as a whole. Colonialism- The process by which some nations enrich themselves through political and economic control of other nations
 * Modern Family takes place in the United States, which is considered a high-income country. The United States is fully developed and provides great standards of living for its occupants, which is showcased very well in the comfortable lifestyles of the families that make up the Modern Family show.
 * Lily, the adoptive daughter of Mitchell and Cam, is from Vietnam, which is a middle-income country. Although the defintion for middle-income countries is said to be an average standard of living, Lily was fortunate to be brought out of that and living in the United States, which enjoys a high standard of living.
 * This stage of modernization is demonstrated when Claire Dunphy decides to get Facebook. Originally, when it first came out she did not feel that she needed it or wanted it, but as more people came to use it she felt that she "needed" it. Facebook is part of the expanding selection of goods that is produced for consumers that serves as a social networking site to help people connect with each other.
 * Although the United States is not functioning under this stage of modernization, this dynamic is demonstrated in Modern Family. The lives of all the characters revolve around each other. Family is the biggest part of the show.
 * Phil uses a lot of Apple products, which are sold all around the world.
 * Gl oria comes from a country that is made up of very low incomes. Colombia was where she is originally from. She did not have a lot of money available to her.
 * Throughout the show, Gloria talks about the little resources her country had available and how much worse it was for her living in Columbia compared to the United States