Ethnic Inequality

Question 1

What is the perspective of Weberianism on ethnic inequalities?

Answer 1

Focuses on status, party, and power dynamics.

Question 2

What does the study by Wood et al (2009) suggest about ethnic inequalities in employment?

Answer 2

Discrimination leads to relatively low levels of skill among ethnic minorities
Found discrimination in favour of white names over equivalent applications from number of EM candidates (names) were 29%.

Question 3

What concept does David (1997) describe with the term ‘concrete ceiling’?

Answer 3

Faced by EM women, describes the embedded discrimination preventing EM being promoted.
White women ‘glass ceiling’. Seen to have more opportunities to break through and reach higher levels of professions.

Question 4

What is the Dual Labour Market theory proposed by Barron & Norris? (Weberianism)

Answer 4

How racial prejudice and discrimination affect job distribution and wages of EM in labour force.
Primary labour sector: high wage, secure, formal education, e.g. teacher, doctor, dom by white men.
Secondary labour sector: low wage/pay, e.g. truck driver, dom by EM bc of racist beliefs about unsuitability

Question 5

According to Marxism, what role do immigrants play in the labor market?

Answer 5

They serve the needs of the capitalist class and form a reserve army of labor.

Question 6

What does the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2007) report about ethnic inequalities in poverty?

Answer 6

General household survey (GHS) -> older people in poverty: white elderly lowest levels income poverty, Pakistani + Bangladeshi: 60% in income poverty.
Highlights the disproportionate levels of poverty among ethnic minorities.

Question 7

What does Black Feminism, as discussed by Brewer (1993), emphasize?

Answer 7

The simultaneous impact of race, class, and gender on inequalities. EM suffer because black, women, WC etc. Each inequality reinforces + multiply’s the others. (Intersectionality)

Question 8

What is the argument of the New Right perspective regarding the underclass?

Answer 8

It suggests that certain demographics are unable to hold jobs, leading to dependency on benefits.

Question 9

Sewell (1997) (New Right)

Answer 9

Argues high proportion of African Caribbean boys raise in loan parents families (usually matriarchal) in Uk. Research 2001, 57% AC fam, lone parent, 25% white. As result many black boys lacked role model + discipline from father. Results in boys more vulnerable to peer pressure + gangs
High levels of school dropout among African Caribbean boys contribute to delinquency.

Question 10

Fill in the blank: The theory that explains ethnic inequalities in social mobility is based on _______ dynamics.

Answer 10

[capitalist]

Question 11

What is the significance of intersectionality in understanding ethnic inequalities, according to Connell?

Answer 11

It links the dynamics of race, class, and gender established during colonial times.

Question 12

True or False: The New Right perspective views lone-parent families as beneficial for society.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

What does the term ‘racialised class fractions’ refer to in Miles’ Marxism perspective?

Answer 13

When ethnic minority groups emphasize their cultural uniqueness separate from the white majority.

Question 14

How do Castles & Kosack (Marxism) describe the employment situation of most immigrants?

Answer 14

Concentrated in low-skilled, low-paid jobs with poor working conditions.

Question 15

What does the term ‘culture of dependency’ refer to in the context of the New Right perspective?

Answer 15

A belief that certain groups rely on welfare benefits rather than seeking employment.

Question 16

What impact does the intersection of capitalism and exploitation have on ethnic minorities, according to Connell?

Answer 16

It emphasizes the compounded inequalities faced by black women.

Question 17

What is the focus of the functionalist perspective on ethnic inequalities?

Answer 17

It examines how societal structures contribute to or mitigate ethnic disparities.

Question 18

Reserve army of labour (Marxism)

Answer 18

Immigrants working for lower wages in poor working conditions. Benefits employers (B) because pay immigrants lower wages than should, more profit etc

Question 19

English defence league (Marxism)

Answer 19

A ‘defender of British values’. Prioritises protecting + promoting human rights which it believes are threatened by a Muslim extremists. Far right beliefs. Tories encouraging increase WC votes. Benefits Marxisms reasons WC believe struggle is due to immigrants

Question 20

Castles + Kosack (Marxism)

Answer 20

Most immigrants concentrated in low, skilled, low paid jobs with poor working conditions. Treatment denied from need for RAL. Necessary to have a surplus of labour power -> keep wage costs down. Capitalist economies unstable -> RAL needed to be available to be hired and fired.

Question 21

Cox (Marxism)

Answer 21

Racism developed by exploiters against the exploited. Racism developed by capitalism, hand in hand with colonialism. Racism developed to justify capitalism and exploitation.

Question 22

Miles (Marxism)

Answer 22

Rationalised class fractions: when EM groups set themselves apart from white majority by stressing and celebrating their own cultural uniqueness

Question 23

Functionalist view

Answer 23

EI by immigrants a product of their cultural difference and relatively low levels of skill.
Meritocratic society-> earn success due to abilities
EI would decline, immigrants would adopt N+Vs of society, disappear

Question 24

Patterson (Functionalist) Host-Immigrant Model

Answer 24

Suggests immigrants adapt to the new country while maintaining their cultural identity. Hosts not racist but unsure how to act towards newcomers. Three causes for EI: 1) host fear of cultural differences of immigrants and social change they bring, 2) resentment because have to compete with immigrant for scarce resources e.g. jobs, housing, 3) failure of immigrants to assimilate (become British)

Question 25

Rex + Tomlinson (Weberianism)

Answer 25

Study, West Midlands. Found material disadvantage EM experienced so great, cut off from white working class. Formed black underclass -> experience disadvantage in labour market, housing
+ education. BU exp of status inequality further through thought of socially excluded from standards of living most take for granted. Feelings sometimes result in riots e.g. London 2011. Conc that in capitalist society, under class ultimate victims + EM mainly in underclass

Question 26

Murray (1984) (New Right)

Answer 26

Underclass (man of family unable hold job, children grew up ill schooled, become juvenile delinquent). Where government policies were encouraging increased number of people to be dependent on benefits (culture of dependency). Lead to increase in never married, black, single mothers + and many black youths not having interest in getting a job.

Question 27

Mirza (1997) (Black Feminism)

Answer 27

Believes BFs can make important contribution to development of feminist theory. Can challenge the distorted assumption of dominant groups but drawing from own experience.

Question 28

Black Feminism

Answer 28

Social and political movement, studied oppression of black women, empathises intersectionality

Question 29

Connell (2009) (Black Feminism)

Answer 29

Stressed link between BF + post colonial feminism. Gender inequalities established in colonial times + often embedded in current attitudes. Stress importance of developing feminist perspectives that challenge dominance of western feminism

Question 30

Rowlington + McKay (2012) (Income and Wealth)

Answer 30

White people in managerial roles/ occupations had greater wealth than any other ethnic group in same position.

Question 31

ONS (Income and Wealth)

Answer 31

2022, average Black, African employees earned 8% less than + Pakistani heritage earned 16% less than white employees

Question 32

Sedghi (2014) (Social Mobility)

Answer 32

Centre on dynamics of ethnicity report: EM still face barriers in terms of SM and job opportunities despite levels of education significantly improving.

Question 33

Social Mobility statistic

Answer 33

Black African + Black Carribean women experienced 15-20% fall in full time employment rates, white women stable

Question 34

Childbirth statistic

Answer 34

Black mothers 5X more likely to die during pregnancy than white mothers