Social Class Inequality - 20 marker

Question 1

Identify the 2 areas of life in which social class inequality occurs.

Answer 1

1) Education

2) Health

Question 2

Give a piece of evidence for social class inequality in education - 1a.

Answer 2

The odds of a child in a state secondary school (who is eligible for free school meals) getting into Oxbridge is 1/2000.
- Higher Education Government report (2013)

Question 3

Identify a supporting sociologist for social class inequality in education - 1a.

Answer 3

Heath and Ridge (1980) identified poverty as a major obstacle to upwards mobility especially in terms of educational achievement.

Question 4

Give an explanation for evidence 1a of social class inequality in education.

Answer 4

A lack of material capital is associated with being lower class whereby they may not have access to a computer to aid their study whereas someone who is more wealth and of a higher class may even have access to a personal tutor.

Question 5

How does evidence 1a explain social class inequality in education.

Answer 5

Due to being lower class and having less money, they are unable to access things that may improve their learning and so future opportunities.

Question 6

Give a piece of evidence for social class inequality in education - 1b.

Answer 6

38% of pupils who receive free school meals gained 5 GCSE A*-C grades compared to 65% of other pupils.
- Teach First report (2014)

Question 7

Identify a supporting sociologist for social class inequality in education - 1b.

Answer 7

Shropshire and Middleton (1999) found that children from poor families are aware of their parent’s poverty.

Question 8

Give an explanation for evidence 1b of social class inequality in education.

Answer 8

Being aware of their poverty may cause the child to lower their educational aspirations in order to achieve immediate gratification by getting a job as soon as possible.

Question 9

How does evidence 1b explain social class inequality in education.

Answer 9

This causes class inequality as people in upper classes will be able to fund higher education which ultimately results in better jobs in the future due to achieving qualifications those in lower class will lack.

Question 10

Give a piece of evidence for social class inequality in health - 2a.

Answer 10

Children in poor housing are 32% more likely to suffer respiratory problems compared to 24% of those in good housing.
- Natcen’s report (2013)

Question 11

Identify a supporting sociologist for social class inequality in health - 2a.

Answer 11

Bartley and Bane (2008) found that the lower the social class the higher rates of mortality.

Question 12

Give an explanation for evidence 2a of social class inequality in health.

Answer 12

Poorer areas have reduced standards of living as quality of housing deteriorates, with conditions such as dampness most commonly found in council houses being correlated to the development of asthma.

Question 13

How does evidence 2a explain social class inequality in health.

Answer 13

Damp housing is more common in poorer areas and so are more commonly owned by the lower class therefore creating inequality as they are not receiving the same standards of living as upper classes causing them health issues.

Question 14

Give a piece of evidence for social class inequality in health - 2b.

Answer 14

38% of children in poorer areas are obese, compared to 19% of those in more affluent areas.
- Parliament Obesity Statistics (2017)

Question 15

Identify a supporting sociologist for social class inequality in health - 2b.

Answer 15

Calnan (1990) argues that major causes of death preventable by lifestyle are found in lower social classes.

Question 16

Give an explanation for evidence 2b of social class inequality in health.

Answer 16

Being a lower social class can have an effect on diet which can cause health issues later in life due to a poorer diet consisting of fast food and processed food as they are cheaper. More expensive food is healthier but unattainable for lower classes.

Question 17

How does evidence 2b explain social class inequality in health.

Answer 17

Social class inequality in health is created due to poorer diet from not being able to afford more expensive food that is healthier causing ill health such as heart disease in later life. People from upper classes have more option to buy expensive, healthier food and so have a better diet that leads to better health in the future.

Question 18

What conclusion can be drawn about social class inequalities in education and health?

Answer 18

Inequality in educational achievement are likely to be due to lack of aid in their study from tuition that upper classes can afford. In health it is likely to be due to poor diet in lower classes as a result of mainly being able to afford processed, fast food that disease in later life. Overall lower classes experience more inequality than upper classes.