Social inequalities Flashcards
CSocial class- concept
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Behaving in a way that a label suggests
Social class- concept
Dependency culture
Norm is to rely on benifits
Social class- concept
Social mobility
Moving between social classes
Social class- concept
Open society
There is social mobility
Social class- concept
Closed society
No social mobility
Social class- concept
Absolue poverty
Connot meet basic needs
Social class- concept
Relative poverty
Poor compared to thoes around you
Social class- concept
Underclass
Undeserving poor
Social class- concept
Stratification
Division of society into groups based on factors like social class, gender, ethnicity, and age, impacting individuals’ life chances and opportunities
Social class- concept
Blue collar jobs
Manual labour jobs
Social class- concept
White collar jobs
Office jobs
Social class- concept
Black collar jobs
High status jobs
Social class- concept
Meriocracy
System in which hard work and talent recieves rewards and status
Social class- concept
Cycle of deprivation
Poverty causes poverty
Social class
Wealth
- Oxfam- richest 5 families wealthier than the botton 20%
- Most affluent family has more wealth than the poorest 10%
Social class
Poverty
- Francis-Devine- 13% were in absolute poverty before housing costs, 17% after
- CPAG- 29% of children live in households below the poverty line
Social class
Education
- Smith & Nobel- low incomes create barriers to learning
- Bernstein- working class families used restricted code whilst upper class used elaborate code
Social class
Employment
- Sutton trust- thoes from private school were overrepresented in high status jobs
- Golabek-Goldman- employers discriminate based on home address and favour addresses in more affluent areas
Social class
Social mobility
- Goldthorpe- social mobility of working, middle and upper classes is 1:2:4
- Egerton- 55% of thoes born in working class raimained there
Social class
Crime and deviance
- Sutherland- high numbers of working class offenders and low numbers of middle/upper class offenders
- CSEW- victims of violent crimes were twice as likely to br from poorest areas
Social class- Functionalism
Durkheim
- Industrialisation exacerbates inequalities
- Talented people in the working class don’t get fair rewards
- Working classes are disadvantaged by unequal exchanges in society
Social class- Functionalism
Parsons
- Value consensus- there is a consensus in society about which jobs are deserving of high pay
- Differing amounts of pay cause inequality
Social class- Functionalism
Davis & Moore
Society is meritocratic so roles are allocated, the best people are to do the hardest jobs
Social class- New Right
Murray
Underclass deviate from social norms and rely on benifits
Social class- New Right
Saunders
- Everyone in society has the oportunity to succeed, inequality is based on a persons hard work and talent
- We need inequality to motivate hard work
Social class- Marxism
Marx
Bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat to make as much money as possible by alienating them from their labour and leading them into a false consciousness
Social class- Neo-Marxism
Althusser
Ruling class persuade people that inequalities are fair via elements of the superstructure and ISAs
Social class- Neo-Marxism
Bowles & Gintis
There is a hidden curriculum which teaches students the myth of meritocracy and prepares them for work
Social class- Neo-Marxism
Gramsci
The proletariat rely on the bourgeoisie for concessions, amking them unlikely to revolt
Social class- Weberian
Weber
Life chances can be determined by class, party, status
Social class- Postmodernism
Beck
We now live in a risk society where risks will effect everyone regardless of class
Social class- Postmodernism
Offe
There is no longer shared class experiences as classes are fragmenting, lower classes can access high culture through the media
Social class- Postmodernism
Pakulski & Waters
We are now defined by what we consume rather than what we produce
Gender- concept
Vertical segregation
Men dominate top positive employment hierarchies
Gender- concept
Horizontal segregation
Differnt sectors are dominated by different genders
Gender- concept
Triple shift
Women have to complete paid, emotional and care work
Gender- concept
Glass elevator
Men in female dominated industries get promoted quicker
Gender- concept
Glass ceiling
Invisible barriers prevent women from accessing top jobs
Gender- concept
Gender pay gap
Pay difference between men and women
Gender- concept
Maternity leave
Lower paid leave that women recieve afer giving birth, usually after a couple of months
Gender- concept
Time poverty
Women have less time than men due to amount of work they need to do
Gender- concept
Patriarchy
Society madeby men for men
Gender
Income
- ONS- the gender pay gap for full time workers is 7.7%
- Women’s Budget Group- pension gap between men and women is 90%
Gender
Poverty
- Global citizen- women make up 70% of the worlds poor
- Chant- women experience time poverty due to multiple areas of work that they complete
Gender
Employment
- Maxfield- women are more risk adverse than men making them less likely to ask for a pay rise or promotion
- Government Equalities Office- 74% of teachers are women but 66% of headteachers are women
Gender
Education
- Statistica- girls are more likely to attend university, 56.7%
- Statistica- girls outperform boys at GCSE but boys marginally outperform girls at A-Level
Gender
Health
- National Cancer Institute- men more likely to get cancer, men 1 in 2 but women 1 in 3
- Statistica- life expectancy for women is 83 but for men its 79
Gender
Crime & deviance
- Ministry of Justice- men more likely to commit a crime
- CSEW- men are more likrly to be victims of violence
Gender- Functionalism
Parsons & Bales
Men are instrumental and women are naturally expressive, meaning each gender is naturally inclined to different work with differing pay and status
Gender- Functionalism
Popenoe
There are biological imperatives which draw men and women to different activities which recieve different levels of pay
Gender- Functionalism
Murdock
Studied 250 societies and found that hegemonic gender roles are culteral universals, gener divisions of labour is due to biology than social factors
Gender- Functionalism
Rastogi
Men are work orientated and develop better human capital, women are family orientated leading to differing pay and status
Gender- New Right
Schafly
- Men and women are naturally different and women are more fulfilled in the home
- Feminism has led to women working the triple shift
- Women should have kids first and a career later
Gender- Feminism (Liberal)
Oakly
People are socialised into gender roles through the family, this is reinforced by secondary socialisation which will impact children’s future jobs
Gender- Feminism (Liberal)
Sharpe
Changing attitudes of girls largely comes from media representation of women
Gender- Feminism (Marxists)
Ainsley
Women are the “takers of shit” as men take out their fustrations from work out on their wives
Gender- Feminism (Marxists)
Benston
The role of women is to keep men in good working order so that they can continue to contribute towards the capitalist system
Gender- Feminism (Marxists)
Brugel
Bourgeoisie use women as the reserve army of labour and use them as domestic housewives when they are not needed
Gender- Feminism (Marxists)
Feeley
The family teaches children to submit to male authority so that they are prepared to accept their position within a patriarchal and capitalist society
Gender- Feminism (Radical)
Greer
Family is at the core of women’s exploitation, where women are forced into the caregiver role making them financially independant
Gender- Feminism (Radical)
Rich
Patriarchy uses marriage, sexual violence, rape and sexual oppresion to ensure women are subordinate and kept in compulsory hetrosexuality
Gender- Feminism (Radical)
Johnson
Patriarchal terorism, male violence, is used to control womens behaviour
Gender- Feminism (Intersectional)
Walby
Tripple threat of oppression- capitalism, patriarchy, racism
Gender- Weberian
Barron & Norris
There is a dual labour market where white men have secured well paid jobs and women have low paid, unskilled jobs
Gender- Weberian
Electoral party comission
Men are more likely to take part in politics by contacting their local MP, be in a pressure group and be a memeber of a political party
Gender- Preference theory
Hakim
Women have a preference and the ability to make the choice to be home-centred, work-centred or adaptive
Ethnicity- concept
Race
Biological characteristics
Ethnicity- concept
Ethnicity
Socially constructed based loosely on race, incudes religious traditions
Ethnicity- concept
Assimiation
Adopting the norms and values of the culture you are in
Ethnicity- concept
Institutional racism
Structures in society underpined by racist assumptions
Ethnicity- concept
Culteral racism
Racism is part of the societies norms and values
Ethnicity- concept
Individual racism
Informal small scale racism
Ethnicity- concept
Ethnic penalties
Disadvantage in the workplace due to ethnicity
Ethnicity- concept
Concrete ceiling
Barrier preventing promotion for ethnic minority women
Ethnicity- concept
Intersectionality
Two or more social characteristics disadvantaging a person
Ethnicity
Health
- MBRACE-UK- black british women were 4 times more likely to die during or after pregnancy
- Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology- South Asian men 50% more likely to have a heart attack
Ethnicity
Education
The Guardian- exclusion rates for black Caribbean students are six times higher than white students
Strand- ethnic minorities living in poverty see education as a way out whereas white people in poverty do not
Ethnicity
Employment
- Francis-Devine- Unemployment levels for ethnic minorities rose to 7.7%, white unemployment fell to 3.1%
- Equality and human rights commissions- only 5% of black workers were in managing director or senior official jobs compared to 11% white british
Ethnicity
Income and wealth
- Runnymede Trust- Bangladeshi households have 10p for every £1 of white british wealth
- Ethnic Minorities Employment Task Force- ethnic minorities earn an average £7,000 less than a white person doing the same job
Ethnicity
Poverty
- ONS- 29% of Bangladeshi households were living in poverty
- Flaherty- there are a number of reasons why ethnic minorities are in poverty e.g more likely to be unemployed, concentrated in low skilled jobs, more likely to have educational disadvantages
Ethnicity
Social mobility
- Li- many ethnic groups achieved social mobility apart from Black Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi men
- Li- ethnic minority children from families of unskilled workers were more likely to achieve social mobility
Ethnicity
Crime & deviance
- Ministry of Justice- Asian ethnic group least likely to be a victim of a personal crime 2%, mixed ethnic group most likely 7%
- IRR- Black and Asian ethnic groups more likely to be setanced to immediate custody for offences which could be tried in the crown court
Ethnicity-Functionalism
Parsons
Historically, Black Americans were seen as lacking status due to slavery, this prejudice still exists in society today but when this value changes Black Americans will no longer face inequality
Ethnicity-Functionalism
Park
- Culteral differences in languages, qualifications and customs disadvantage immigrants in a host society where these values are different
- Disadvantages will disappear as the immigrant group is assimilated into the host society
Ethnicity-Functionalism
Patterson
Over time immigants will assimilate into the hsot society and inequalities will disapear, assimilation will occur through
- Accomodation
- Integration
- Assimilation
Ethnicity-New Right
Murray
- Black people are more likely to be in the underclass because they have higher rates of lone parenthood
- Fatherlessness causes disadvantage and inequality because young boys lack positive role models
Ethnicity-New Right
Sewell
Factors leading to inequalities in young African-Caribbean boys
- Fatherlessness
- Institutional racism
- Media
Ethnicity- Marxism
Cox
- The white bourgeoisie created racism in colonial times to justify slavery and treating ethnic minorities poorly as it benifted capitalism
- If capitalism did not exist neither would racism
Ethnicity- Marxism
Castles & Kosack
Capitalism and the bourgeoisise reinforced ethnic inequlity for:
- Scapegoating
- Divide and rule
- Reserve army of labour
Ethnicity- Marxism
Miles
- Ethic minorities find themselves in racialised class fractions due to class positions and ethnic minorities choosing to set themselves apart
- This reinforced inequality due to lack of status, isolation and prejudice
Ethnicity- Weberian
Barron & Norris
There is a dual labour market where white men have secured well paid jobs and ethnic minorities have low paid, unskilled jobs
Ethnicity- Weberian
Rex & Tomlinson
Ethnic minorities are more likely to be in the underclass, where they are materially disadvantaged and lack status
Ethnicity- Black Feminism
Brewer
Racism and sexism disadvantages ethnic minority women
Ethnicity- Black Feminism
Mirza
Mainstream feminism ignores the disadvantage ethnic minority women face and treats all ethnic minorities the same
Ethnicity- Black Feminism
Connel
- Colonisation established inequality for ethnic minority womenwhcih have persisted dispite decolonisation
- Western feminism is unrepresentative of ethnic minority women
Age- concept
Ageism
Prejudice/ a preconceived notion that the young or old recieve due to their age
Age- concept
Life course
Stages throughout life
Age- concept
Retirement
Stopping working and drawing pensions
Age- concept
Youth
Younger generations
Age- concept
Digital generational divide
Old people use DSM less than younger people
Age- concept
Child poverty
Poverty among children affecting their development
Age- concept
Genronticide
Killing the eldery
Age- concept
Gerontocracy
Ruled by the elderly
Age- concept
Cometicisation
Pressure on older women to look younger
Age
Age and gender
- FGM- over 230 million women have been subject to FGM with the majority of these cases occuring in Africa
- Itzin- women are doubly devalued due to their age and their gender (retirement and loss of reproductivity)
Age
Work & employment
- Gov.UK- minimum wage is lower for younger people who are alos more likely to be on zero hour contracts
- Philipson and Townsend- old people are forced into retirement
Age
Income & poverty
- CPAG- 4.3 million children in the UK live in poverty
- Fuel poverty- old people connot pay for high heating costs as pension amount is too low
Age
Culture
- Afganistan- young girls are prevented from education, this was faught against by Malala Yousafi
- Gentronticide- old people are killed as they are no longer seen as needed in society
Age- Functionalism
Cummings & Henry
Disengagemnt theory, peoples’s abilities deteriorate as they age so they should be replaced for social stability to be maintained
Age- Functionalism
Parsons
Adolesence is a bridge from childhood to adulthood, socialised into norms and vaues of adulthood
Age- Marxism
Philipson
The young and elderly are in the reserve army of labour
Age- Marxism
Philipson & Townsend
Elderly face inequality as they no longer meet the needs of the ecconomy and are institutionally marginalised
Age- Feminism
Itzin
- Women’s staus is linked to their reproductive cycle and fertility, as women age they become infertile causing a decline in their status
- Older women are doubly devalued after manopause and retirement
Age- Marxism
Gramsci
Bourgeoisie maintains false consciousness through concessions
Age- Feminism
Arber & Ginn
Older women face inequalities that older men do not, such as cosmeticisation
Age- Weberian
Parkin
Negatively privileged status groups are pushed out by social segregation and discrimination from the media
Age- Weberian
Turner
The elderly and the young have a poor ecconomic position and are dependant on others meaning they lack status
Age- Weberian
Barron & Norris
There is a dual labour market where working age people have secured well paid jobs and the elderly and young have low paid, unskilled jobs
Age- Social action
Reyet al
Elderly are infantilised as they are treated as having lower mental capabilities, this becomes a self fulfilling prophecy
Age- Social action
Victor
Elderly are often stereotypes and labelled negitively such as useless, lonely, dependent and unable to learn which becomes a self fulfilling prophecy
Age- Social action
Havinghurst
Activity theory- retirement decreases social interactions, which causes inequalities
