Inequality

Question 1

Define social inequality.

Answer 1

The unequal life changes and lifestyles.

Question 2

Define social profiling.

Answer 2

Social profiling uses areas of social life to show the likelihood of certain groups experiencing poorer life chances.

Question 3

Name 3 examples of areas of social life.

Answer 3

Any 3 from:

Education
Media
Work
The media
Politics
Youth
The family
Criminal justice system

Question 4

What is the difference between inequality of opportunity and inequality of outcome?

Answer 4

Inequality of opportunity is unequal life chances, whereas inequality of outcome is when people appear in social institutions in the same proportion that they appear in the whole of society.

Question 5

Name two of Karl Marx’s ideas on social inequality.

Answer 5

Capitalism’s exploitation of the bourgeoisie. Explained though the means of production.

The reserve army of labour.

Question 6

What is an argument against Karl Marx’s theory on capitalism?

Answer 6

Although countries like Russia have adopted a communist society, examples of them becoming corrupt shows that the theory isn’t fully justified and doesn’t work.

Question 7

Who does Murray blame social inequality on?

Answer 7

Murray blames the individual and their laziness.

Question 8

Explain the ‘trickledown’ theory.

Answer 8

An idea from Thatcher.

If the rich have lots of money and spends lots, then the wealth will trickledown through society and benefit everyone.

Question 9

Evaluate Thatcher’s trickledown economics.

Answer 9

An idea that was supposed to benefit everyone in society in reality only increased the gap between the rich and the poor.

Question 10

Outline Murray’s theory.

Answer 10

The underclass.

People relying on welfare become lazy and bring up new generations who feel that they don’t need to work.

Question 11

How does Sugarman explain working class values and how they experience inequality.

Answer 11

Inequality experienced by the poor due to cultural deprivation.
They want instant gratification and don’t see the value of hard work to plan for the future.

Question 12

Who would disagree with Sugarman’s theory on working class values?

Answer 12

Howard.

Families want to invest in their future but face sickness and health issues.

Question 13

Name the three sociologists from The New Right that can be used to explain social inequality.

Answer 13

Thatcher - Trickledown
Murray - Underclass
Sugarman - Working class values

Question 14

Outline The New Right’s overall views on social inequality.

Answer 14

The New Right share the functionalist view of society being meritocratic. They believe that people have a choice within a free market and that people are responsible for their own actions. They see that welfare is a lifestyle choice and undermines personal responsibility.

Question 15

Outline Postmodernist overall views on social inequality.

Answer 15

Postmodernists assume that inequality today is more about status than class or other social factors.

Question 16

Name the three sociologists from Postmodernism that can be used to explain social inequality.

Answer 16

Lyotard - Fragmented society
John Lee - Death of grand narratives
Blaikie - Positive aging

Question 17

What is Lyotard’s explanation of social inequality

Answer 17

Lyotard developed Weber’s theory of a fragmented society.

Class, gender, age and other social categories are meaningless today as social groups no longer share collective norms and values.

People feel unequal due to material choices advertised by the media. They realise what they lack compared to others.

Question 18

What does John Lee mean when he talks about the death of grand narratives?

Answer 18

There is no longer one explanation for inequality as society is too individual.
Lee criticises other theories for failing to recognise the choice made by the individual in their inequality.

Question 19

What is a criticism of John Lee’s theory of social inequality?

Answer 19

It doesn’t offer it’s own explanation of inequality, it only criticises others. This could appear to deny inequality even exists.

Question 20

How do the Postmodernists Lyotard and Lee differ in their theories?

Answer 20

Lyotard offers an explanation whereas Lee only directs against other theories.

Question 21

What is Blaikie’s explanation of social inequality?

Answer 21

Consumer culture changes stereotypes about age.

Older people are using their consumer power to stay youthful though spending on cosmetics and leisure.

Retiring has become something to look forward to.

Question 22

What is a negative and a positive of Postmodernist Blaikie’s theory?

Answer 22

Not everyone can afford to use consumer power to escape inequality.

It takes social change into account so may be more contemporary than previous ideas.

Question 23

How would Blaikie disagree with the Functionalists Cummins and Henry?

Answer 23

Blaikie would criticise their opinion of age inequality existing in society because the stereotype for age has gone. The idea of disengaging from the workplace isn’t because of age inequality but because retiring is more desirable.

Question 24

How would Marxists disagree with Postmodernist views on social inequality?

Answer 24

Marxists would disagree as they feel that inequality is down to capitalism, not the individual.

Question 25

Define capitalism.

Answer 25

Private ownership of the means of production.

Question 26

Explain the difference between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

Answer 26

Bourgeoisie - The ruling class
Proletariat - Work for the ruling class. They only have their labour to sell.

Question 27

What were Karl Marx’s views on capitalism?

Answer 27

The relationship between the classes was exploitative.
The bourgeoisie controlled the workers as they own all resources and the workers only have their labour to sell to survive.
He believes that one day the workers would band together and have a massive revolt against capitalism and overthrow it.

Question 28

Evaluate Marx’s views on capitalism.

Answer 28

His views were influential as countries like Russia have become communist. However these societies based on his ideals have failed, overall showing that they don’t work and people don’t prefer it.

Question 29

Explain Marx’s adopted concept of the reserve army of labour.

Answer 29

Workers are only needed during an economic boom. During a recession they are seen as an unnecessary expense so are made redundant. It shows the exploitation of the working class.

Question 30

What is an example of the reserve army of labour being relevant today?

Answer 30

Zero hour contracts.

Question 31

Define ideological state apparatus and who talked about it.

Answer 31

Ideological apparatus is controlling the values of society.
Neo-Marxist Althusser said that the state controls the media and education to control people into thinking capitalism is great.

Question 32

What is Althusser’s explanation of social inequality?

Answer 32

The state uses the media and education to control people into thinking that there is nothing bad about capitalism.
They use the police and military force if the first method fails to convince some people.

Question 33

What is an example of Althusser’s theory of social inequality happening today?

Answer 33

The media portray people on welfare as less able and ‘scroungers’ when it may not be their fault.

Question 34

What is the Neo-Marxist Hall et al theory of social inequality?

Answer 34

The media scapegoat to distract people from issues like a recession.
Eg. 1970s black muggers

Question 35

How is Hall et al and their theory relevant today?

Answer 35

Immigration has been blamed for wider social issues in the media today.

Question 36

What are the differences between Marxist and Neo-Marxist theories?

Answer 36

M - Based on one person’s theory
NM - Range of theories not all in agreement

M - Theories tested and do not work
NM - Can’t be tried and tested

M - Ignores the middle class
NM - Concerned with growth of the middle class

M - Unequal access to CAPITAL causes inequality
NM - Unequal access to POWER cases inequality