Social Inequality Flashcards
What different forms of stratification are there?
Different forms of stratification have existed between societies over time. They include caste, Apartheid and class.
How have sociologists explained social class?
Marx identified two main classes. Class membership was determined by economic factors. Weber saw class, status and power as important in determining life chances.
How does the functionalist approach view stratification?
Functionalist approach argues that some positions are vital to society but not everyone has the talent to fill these posts. To attract the best qualified people, top positions must provide access to desirable rewards such as high pay and status. Stratification is functional for society because it ensures that the most important jobs are filled by the most talented and qualified people.
How is class measured?
Occupation is often used to measure social class because it is related to factors such as status and life chances. The NS-SEC is seen as overcoming many of the problems with the Registrar General’s scales.
What is gender?
The term gender describes the different social practices and ideas that are associated with masculinity and femininity. Sociologists argue that gender is based on social rather than biological differences. The socialisation process for example is gendered.
What inequalities are based on gender?
Despite legislation, women still experience inequality in employment.
What is ethnicity?
One view that changes in attitudes and practices (such as the recognition that institutional racism must be addressed) have taken place to address inequalities based on ethnicity. As a result, ethnicity has become a less significant social division than in the past.
What inequalities are based on ethnicity?
There is evidence to suggest that, despite discrimination based on ethnicity persists, for example in the labour market.
How do sociologists approach the study of age?
We can look at age as a biological and social category. Sociologist explore the ways in which expectations surrounding age vary cross-culturally and historically.
How do sociologists view youth?
In some cultures, the transition fro childhood to adulthood is clearly marked by initiation ceremonies. In others, the transition is more extended.
How are wealth and income distributed in Britain?
Life chances are influenced by wealth and income. There are huge inequalities in the distribution of wealth and income in Britain which appear to be growing.
What is social mobility?
Social mobility refers to people’s movement up or down between society’s’ strata. High rates of social mobility can be seen as evidence of a meritocratic society in which status is achieved and opportunities are offered to all.
How much social mobility is there in Britain?
Although long-range mobility has occurred, children from working-class background have less chance of moving into professional occupations than children who are from professional backgrounds. Mobility chances may still depend on class background rather than on educational achievement.
What is poverty?
Poverty has been defined in absolute and relative terms. It has also been defined in terms of exclusion from everyday activities and customs. The definition adopted is important because it influences the extent to which poverty is said to exist, the numbers counted as in poverty and the Government policies adopted to address it.
How do we measure poverty?
There are several ways of measuring poverty. The official UK government measure is incomes below 60% of the median income of the population. Other measures include lack of items seen as necessities and subjective measures. Research suggests that poverty and inequality have increased.
Who is likely to experience poverty?
The chances of experiencing poverty are not distributed equally. Women and people from some minority ethnic groups are more likely to experience poverty than some other groups.
Which other groups are likely to experience poverty?
The chances of experiencing poverty are linked to age - children and pensioners are more at risk of poverty than other age groups. This is expressed in the idea of his life cycle of poverty. People with disabilities are also more at risk.
How do we explain poverty?
The culture of poverty shows that the way people adopt to poverty (particularly in their sub cultural values) can keep them in poverty. The cycle of deprivation shows how poverty is passed between the generations of a family.
What other explanations of poverty are there?
New right approaches argue that welfare state provision is too generous and makes the problem of poverty worse by creating ‘welfare dependency’ and the development of an underclass. Social exclusion refers to being shut out or excluded from participation in society’s social exclusion, political and cultural life.
What do structural explanations of poverty involve?
Marxist approaches see poverty as an outcome of class-based divisions in capitalist society. Other structured approaches explain poverty in terms of unemployment or inadequacies of the welfare state.
What other views are there on the changing significance of social class?
One version of ‘decline of class’ views argues that social inequalities linked to gender, ethnicity and age are now more significant sources of social divisions than class. However, it may be useful to see class, gender, ethnicity and age as interrelated aspects of inequality rather than as separate aspects. Many sociologists accept that class has changed but reject the ideas that it has declined.
Absolute poverty
A condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to services
Achieved status
A social position that a person can acquire on the basis of merit; it is a position that is earned or chosen. It is the opposite of ascribed status. It reflects personal skills, abilities, and efforts.
Ageism
Stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. This may be casual or systematic. It can impact on someone’s confidence, job prospects, financial situation and quality of life. It can also include the way that older people are represented in the media, which can have a wider impact on the public’s attitudes.
Ascribed status
The social status a person is assigned at birth or assumed involuntarily later in life. It is a position that is neither earned nor chosen but assigned.
Asylum seeker
Someone who has left their home country due to war or for political reasons and are seeking shelter in another country.
