inequality Flashcards
What is social stratification?
A society’s categorisation of people into socioeconomic strata based upon their occupation and income, wealth and social status, or derived power.
What is the gender pay gap?
The average difference between men’s and women’s aggregate hourly earnings.
Fill in the blank: Women comprise ___% of the population but only ___% of the wealth.
50%, 1%
What percentage of women have a persistent low income?
22% (compared to 14% of men)
True or False: Men with children are less likely to work than those without children.
False
What are the two types of segregation identified by Hakim in the workplace?
- Horizontal segregation
- Vertical segregation
What are the two types of labour markets according to Barron and Norris?
- Primary labour - secure, well-paid jobs
- Secondary labour - jobs with low pay, poor security
What is the primary cause of the gender pay gap according to various studies?
Differences in education choices, job types, work experience, and negotiation.
What did Mac an Ghail refer to as the crisis of masculinity?
Women taking traditionally male jobs.
What did Seager find about time spent on domestic work?
Men did more paid work, women did more domestic work, and men had more leisure time.
According to the Equal Opportunities Commission (2007), who is more likely to work longer hours?
Fathers compared to men without dependent children.
What does Preference Theory suggest about women’s choices in the workforce?
Women might choose part-time work or parent-friendly careers.
What is the main focus of the New Right perspective on gender roles?
Returning to the nuclear family and traditional gender roles.
Fill in the blank: The Gini Coefficient measures inequality between ___ and ___.
0, 1
What did Marmot study and find regarding workplace control?
Low control in the workplace led to stress and illness.
What are the three classifications of women according to Preference Theory?
- Home-centred
- Work-centred
- Adaptive
What is the primary argument of Marxist feminists regarding gender inequality?
Social class affects women’s life chances and their relationship with men.
Who argues that the family is a patriarchal institution?
Marxist feminists.
According to Weber, what do women suffer from in terms of social status?
Social closure, leading to exclusion from certain status groups.
What is the function of the family according to Parsons?
To socialise the young, including gender socialisation.
What did Engels argue about women’s roles in relation to capitalism?
Women support capitalism through unpaid domestic labor.
What is the stance of liberal feminists on gender inequality?
It is caused by socialization and unfair laws, advocating for changes in norms and values.
What is the focus of the third wave of feminism?
Diversity and individual identity, rather than laws and policies.
What is the main critique of radical feminists according to postmodern feminists?
They do not acknowledge changes in women’s roles over time.
Fill in the blank: The average income of retired women is ___% less than that of men.
40%
What did Sutherland find regarding crime and socioeconomic class?
Crime has a high incidence in the lower socioeconomic class.
What does the Hope-Goldthorpe Classification illustrate?
Class at birth often determines occupation in adulthood.
What did Roberts find regarding pay and labor shortages?
Pay rarely corresponds with labor shortages; upper-middle class often fix their own salaries.
What is the dual labour market theory according to Barron and Norris?
There are primary and secondary labor markets, with women more likely in secondary.
What did the High Pay Centre report about executive pay?
Chief executives’ pay rose by 49% while average employee pay increased less than 3%.
What is social stratification?
The hierarchical arrangement of individuals in a society based on wealth, power, and social status.
According to Davis and Moore, what is the function of social stratification?
It allocates the right people to the most important roles.
What does ‘Functional Uniqueness’ refer to in social stratification?
The degree of dependency on others.
What criticism does Tumin offer regarding the functionalist perspective on social stratification?
High pay may reflect power rather than deservedness.
True or False: Tumin argues that money and power are the only rewards people seek in a career.
False.
What is a proletarian revolution according to Marx?
A social revolution where the working class attempts to overthrow the bourgeoisie.
What does Neo/Hegemonic Marxism focus on?
The rise of the middle classes and the ideological control of the masses.
According to Miliband, how does the ruling class manipulate society?
By using the media to create a false picture of reality.
What is the concept of ‘scapegoating’ in Hall’s theory?
Attributing society’s problems to black people and ethnic minorities.
Fill in the blank: Feminists believe that social mobility is lower for ______ because they have less chance of achieving top jobs.
women.
What role do women play in sustaining capitalism according to some Feminists?
Providing free domestic labor and the next generation of workers.
What does the ‘glass ceiling’ refer to?
The invisible barrier preventing women from reaching top jobs.
What is the New Right’s view on class inequality?
It is necessary to motivate individuals and reward the most talented.
According to Saunders, what would be necessary for an equal society?
Considerable force to ensure motivation by economic incentives.
What does Murray argue about welfare benefits?
They create a dependency culture and lead to an underclass.
What is Weber’s definition of social class?
Groups who share a similar market situation and receive similar economic rewards.
What is ‘cultural capital’ as described by Bourdieu?
Knowledge and skills passed down generations that influence one’s social status.
What trend regarding age inequality was found by MORI in 2006?
38% of discrimination cases cited age as the reason.
What is the significance of the state pension age increasing to 67 by 2028?
It reflects changing demographics and economic pressures on the pension system.
True or False: There is a compulsory retirement age in the UK.
False.
What does the term ‘disengagement theory’ refer to in the context of aging?
The idea that older individuals become less able and should be relieved of responsibilities.
According to Cummings and Henry, what is beneficial about age inequality?
It allows younger people to fulfill roles vacated by the elderly.
What did Itzin argue about women’s status in relation to age?
It is linked to their reproductive cycle and diminishes after childbearing age.
What is the gender pay gap?
The average difference between men’s and women’s aggregate hourly earnings.
Fill in the blank: Older women face ______ that older men do not.
inequalities.
What does Phillipson’s political economy theory suggest about the elderly?
They are institutionally marginalized to make room for younger, more productive workers.
What is the role of ‘false consciousness’ in Gramsci’s theory?
It explains why people do not realize their exploitation due to certain concessions.
What is the ‘reserve army of labor’ concept in Marxism?
Groups that are easily hired and fired, such as the young and elderly.
What does the term ‘negatively privileged status groups’ mean as per Parkin?
Groups that are segregated and prevented from gaining status.
According to the New Right, what should happen to benefits?
They should be reduced or eliminated to encourage self-reliance.
Fill in the blank: The young are often portrayed as ______ by the media.
folk devils.
What does the term ‘focal concerns’ refer to in Miller’s theory?
Values that drive the behavior of working-class youths, leading to crime.
What is the main argument of Eisenstadt regarding age groups?
Different age groups learn new roles that foster social cohesion.
What was the unemployment rate for men aged 16 to 64 in the Other Black group?
17 per cent
This statistic highlights the disparity in unemployment rates among different ethnic groups.
Which ethnic group had the highest unemployment rate for women?
Black African (12 per cent)
This indicates that Black African women face significant employment challenges.
What is the economic inactivity rate for women in the Arab ethnic group?
64 per cent
Economic inactivity refers to individuals who are not working and not actively seeking work.
Which ethnic groups have the highest likelihood of men working in low-skilled jobs?
- Pakistani (57 per cent)
- Black African (54 per cent)
- Bangladeshi (53 per cent)
This reflects the job market disparities faced by these groups.
What percentage of Bangladeshi women work part-time (fewer than 30 hours a week)?
56 per cent
This statistic indicates the employment patterns among Bangladeshi women.
What proportion of people from ethnic minorities live in low-income households?
Around two-fifths
This is double the rate for White people, indicating significant economic disparities.
What percentage of White people live in low-income households?
20%
This serves as a baseline for comparing economic status across ethnic groups.
According to the 2011 Census, what proportion of Bangladeshis and Pakistanis in England and Wales lived in deprived neighbourhoods?
One in three
This contrasts with only one in twelve White British individuals living in deprived neighbourhoods.
What was the average total net wealth of White British households in 2006/8?
£221,000
This figure shows the wealth disparity compared to other ethnic groups.
What was the average total net wealth of Bangladeshi households?
£15,000
This stark difference highlights the economic challenges faced by Bangladeshi households.
Who found that Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Caribbean people are most likely to experience ethnic penalty?
Heath and Yi Cheung
Their statistical analysis focused on labor market disadvantages faced by ethnic minorities.
What term describes the barrier faced by women from ethnic minority groups, as identified by Davidson?
Concrete ceiling
This term refers to the additional obstacles faced compared to white women.
What percentage of income for Pakistani and Bangladeshi households comes from social security benefits?
A relatively large share
This indicates their higher likelihood of being in poverty.
What did Rowlingson and McKay find about wealth levels in managerial occupations?
White British people had greater wealth than other ethnic groups in the same positions
This underscores the economic advantages held by White British individuals in managerial roles.
Which ethnic group had the lowest levels of income poverty among the elderly according to Evandrou?
White elderly
This highlights the economic disparities faced by elderly populations of different ethnicities.
Which ethnic groups generally perform worse than white students in education?
Ethnic minorities
However, Indian and Chinese students often outperform white students.
What stereotype do boys of African-Caribbean origin face according to Gillborn?
‘Unruly’, ‘disrespectful’, ‘difficult to control’
This label contributes to negative perceptions and treatment in educational settings.
What did Bowling find regarding victim descriptions in crime reports?
White people usually say the offender was Afro-Caribbean if unknown
This reflects racial stereotypes influencing perceptions of crime.
What did Barker criticize about the representation of ethnic characters in EastEnders?
Stereotyping Black and Asian characters as Doctors and shopkeepers
This points to a lack of diverse and nuanced portrayals in media.
What did Van Dijk highlight through his content analysis of news reports?
Stereotypes portraying black people as criminals, abnormal, a threat, dependent, and unimportant
This indicates pervasive negative media representations.
What does the host-immigrant model proposed by Patterson suggest about the assimilation process?
Three stages: Accommodation, Integration, Assimilation
This model outlines how immigrants adapt to the host culture.
What did Marxist theorists argue about the role of ethnic minorities in capitalism?
Provide a reserve army of labour
This perspective sees racism as a tool to exploit and divide workers.
What is the dual labour market theory proposed by Barron and Norris?
- Primary labour market: well-paid, secure jobs
- Secondary labour market: low pay, poor conditions
This theory describes the job market’s stratification based on ethnicity.
What did Murray claim about welfare reforms in the 1960s?
Led to an increase in never-married black single mothers
This suggests a link between welfare and family structure changes.
What did Sewell find about African-Caribbean boys and family structure?
57 per cent raised in lone-parent families
This lack of male role models may impact their development.
