Glossary

Question 1

Life Chances

Answer 1

The likelihood that people born into a certain background will experience a certain event.

Question 2

Blue Collar Jobs

Answer 2

Manual jobs that have lower pay and less security.

Question 3

White Collar Jobs

Answer 3

Non manual jobs that have higher levels of pay, status and security. They also require more skill and education to access.

Question 4

Instrumental Attitude

Answer 4

Work is a means to an end and there is little job satisfaction, you’re just working to get by rather than progress.

Question 5

Zero Hours Contracts

Answer 5

A job contract with no set hours so if you don’t work, you don’t get paid, very insecure.

Question 6

Reserve Army of Labour

Answer 6

A collection of workers that companies call on in times of boom but dismiss afterwards. Very insecure.

Question 7

Equal Pay Act

Answer 7

Government legislation ensuring that men and women get paid equally for the same work.

Question 8

Sex Discrimination Act

Answer 8

Government legislation making blatant sexism in places like the workplace illegal.

Question 9

Glass Ceiling

Answer 9

When a woman can see the top jobs but is unable to access them due to her sex.

Question 10

Part Time Penalty

Answer 10

When people in part time positions are exploited by not getting paid for breaks, paying for equipment needed for their job etc.

Question 11

Industrialisation

Answer 11

When large industries employ vast numbers of people.

Question 12

Role Allocation

Answer 12

When the right jobs are allocated to the right people as not everyone has the same abilities.

Question 13

Functional Uniqueness

Answer 13

When a person’s job has taken them lots of training to get to such as a doctor and therefore, not everyone can do it.

Question 14

Meritocracy

Answer 14

When your skill and effort allows you to access better jobs.

Question 15

Instrumental Role

Answer 15

Roles that involve protection and providing.

Question 16

Expressive Roles

Answer 16

Roles more focused on thoughts and feelings (women).

Question 17

Means of Production

Answer 17

Where the goods are produced such as a factory.

Question 18

Surplus Value

Answer 18

The profits from the work done by the proletariat.

Question 19

False Class Consciousness

Answer 19

We have become aware of inequality and oppression, they blame themselves for less wealth and power but really is the capitalist system.

Question 20

Hegemony

Answer 20

When one group has dominance over another through the media and education.

Question 21

Divide & Rule

Answer 21

Turning the working class against each other so that they won’t unite and rebel. Eg. Programmes on ‘benefits scrounges’ make tax payers angry.

Question 22

Patriarchy

Answer 22

The idea that men are dominant in terms of power in society.

Question 23

Secondary Workers

Answer 23

Jobs that are given to people with low skill, they’re often low paid such as retail and fast food sectors.