3. Social structures [incomplete]

Question 1

What is social stratification?

Answer 1

Society’s categorisation into groups based on socio-economic factors e.g. wealth, income, education & occupation

Human society has always shown evidence of enduring hierarchy.

Stratification is multi-dimensional.

Question 2

What are the different ways of conceptualising social stratification?

Answer 2

• Karl Marx
• Max Weber
• NS-SEC
• A contemporary perspective

Question 3

How did Karl Marx conceptualise social hierarchy?

Answer 3

Said two classes exist:

• Bourgeoisie- owners of capital
• Proletariat- wage labourers

Marx theorised that this class antagonism would lead to revolution

Question 4

How did Max Weber conceptualise social hierarchy?

Answer 4

Emphasised the importance of class-based life-chances

Emphasised other dimensions:

• Honour
• Party (political organisation for change)

Question 5

What is the NS-SEC?

Answer 5

National Statistics Socioeconomic classification

• Formulated in 1980;s- somewhat outdated
• Measures employment relations
• Used in research domain as a proxy for social class
• Differentiates occupations in terms of reward mechanism, promotion prospects, autonomy & job security

Classes:

1. Higher managerial & professional e.g. doctors, lawyers, architects
2. Lower managerial & professional e.g. nurses, teachers, journalists
3. Intermediate- armed forces, bank staff, paramedics
4. Small employers e.g. shop keepers, farmers, driving instructors
5. Lower supervisory & technical e.g. electricians, plumbers, chefs
6. Semi-routine e.g. receptionists, care workers
7. Routine e.g. labourers, lorry drivers

Question 6

What is the contemporary social pyramid?

Answer 6

Newer model- 2019

At the top of pyramid:

1. The 1 % class- multimillion business owners
2. The salaried elite- having luxuries of salary- pensions, sick-pay
3. The precariat- people who have good level of education- self employed, free-lancers, 0 hour contracts
4. The working poor- people who have salaried employment, but no opportunity to advance

Question 7

What social factors affect people’s health?

Answer 7

Access to free healthcare
Remoteness/ availability of transport. 
Language barrier 
Gender
Race 
Education level 
Access to healthy food 
Immigration status
Financial stability
Mental Health
Employment status

Question 8

How are social inequalities & health inequalities linked?

Answer 8

The lower an Individual’s socio-economic position, the higher their risk of poor health.

Question 9

What are the models for health inequality?

Answer 9

Behavioural model

Materialist model

Psychosocial model

life-course model

*the models interact & work together

Question 10

What is the behavioural model?

Answer 10

Involves class differences in behaviours that are health damaging or health promoting, and which, at least in principle, are subject to individual choice.

Sometimes called ‘behavioural/cultural’ because cultures differ quite widely in the types of behaviours they encourage or forbid (e.g. eating meat, drinking alcohol).

Dietary choices, consumption of drugs, active leisure-time pursuits & use of preventive medical services e.g. immunization, contraception & antenatal surveillance are examples of behaviours that vary w/ social class & could partly explain class differences in health.

Question 11

What is the psychosocial model?

Answer 11

Focuses on the way social inequality makes people feel, & how these feelings may themselves alter body chemistry.

Feelings relating to inequality may directly affect behaviours e.g. HIV

Risk factors:

1. social support
2. control & autonomy at work
3. balance btw home and work
4. balance btw efforts & rewards

Question 12

What is the materialist model?

Answer 12

1Involves hazards that are inherent in the present form of social organisation and which some people have no choice to be exposed to.

i.e. lack of choice e.g. being exposed to chemicals at work.

The Black report, 1980 judged this was the most important in accounting for social-class differences in health

Question 13

What is the life-course model?

Answer 13

Disadvantages in their various forms are likely to accumulate through childhood & adulthood & into old age.

Those who experienced poor home conditions are more likely to go on & experience occupational disadvantage.
- Lower paid jobs mean that these are likely to be the same people who have worse housing in more polluted and unfriendly areas.