Power Relationships

Question 1

Social class

Answer 1

Bourgeoisie use their economic power to exploit the proletariat through controlling the means of production

Question 2

Gender

Answer 2

Feminists believe that society is dominated by men.
Women still tend to occupy fewer positions of power as they still continue to take the main responsibility for caring and provide unpaid work

Question 3

Sexuality

Answer 3

Members of the LGBTQ+ face discrimination from members of society
Individuals feel reluctant to reveal their sexuality as it may damage their career pathways

Question 4

Ethnicity

Answer 4

Members of minority ethnic groups continue to experience prejudiced and discrimination and are less likely to occupy positions of power
Black people are nine and a half more likely to be stopped and searched

Question 5

Age

Answer 5

Children and young people are vulnerable to be exploited and abused by adults.
They remain vulnerable to exploitation by employers to remain ‘competitive’
Young adults find it hard to have long term work as they are usually employed in short time and low paid jobs

Question 6

Disabilities

Answer 6

Individuals with physical disabilities or chronic health problems can experience prejudice and discrimination, limiting their opportunities to access services or find employment

Question 7

Religion and belief

Answer 7

Members of some religious communities can experience prejudice and discrimination
- Muslim communities (Islamophobia)
- Jewish communities (anti-semitism)

Question 8

Functionalist perspective on power and authority

Answer 8

• see nothing wrong with unequal distribution of power as they believe that society is meritocratic wheee most talented achieve roles of leadership
• government power helps maintain order and operated in the interest of people
• most functional gov is one that is democratically elected and it reflects the norms and values of society

Question 9

Marxists perspective on power and authority

Answer 9

• see power as dislocated with the bourgeoisie and derived from their ownership of means of production
• political power comes through their control over the state.
• by owning these key assists and propaganda of the mass media, the upper classes are ‘gatekeepers’ in a position to shape ideas in society in a way that it supports their powerful position
• upper classes make the proletariat support them by flash class consciousness