Social Stratification

Question 1

Define social stratification.

Answer 1

the way society is structured in a hierarchy of strata (layers) that are unequally ranked one above the other.

Question 2

Define social inequality.

Answer 2

access to, share of resources and opportunities. Sources include class, gender, ethnicity and age.

Question 3

What is one example of inequality?

Answer 3

wealth.
social class inequality.
occupation.

Question 4

Define social mobility.

Answer 4

can move up and down throughout the strata.

Question 5

What is ascribed status?

Answer 5

social positions are fixed at birth and do not change over time.

Question 6

What is achieved status?

Answer 6

social positions are earned on the basis of personal talents or merit.

Question 7

What is an open society?

Answer 7

social mobility is possible.

Question 8

What is a closed society?

Answer 8

social mobility is not possible.

Question 9

What do functionalists think about stratification?

Answer 9

It is functional for society because it ensures the most talented people fill the most important jobs.

Inequality is also functional as it spurs people to work harder.

Question 10

Who are Davis and Moore?

Answer 10

All societies need some way of placing individuals into different social positions or roles that must be filled.

Some of these positions are functionally more important for society than others. Eg provide essential services services and ensure society’s survival over time.

These functionally important roles are difficult to fill and require people with exceptional talent, skills and abilities. Only a minority have the natural talents. They must undertake lengthy and costly training which involves making sacrifices.

Davis and Moore say that these positions must rank highly on the social scale. They must have high salary and status to attract the right people.

Therefore, they believe that social inequality means that the most important jobs are filled by the most talented.

Question 11

What are some criticisms of Davis and Moore?

Answer 11

myth of meritocracy
they ignore privilidge
functionally important roles don’t always get paid the most.

Question 12

How does Marx view class?

Answer 12

Identified two main classes: the bourgeoisie (the ruling class) and the proletariat (the subject class). Membership of these classes was determined by economic factors - that is, by ownership and non-ownership of the means of production.
The workers experienced alienation under capitalism because they lacked control over production and over the products of their labour.

Other classes included the lumpenproletariats (drop outs and criminals) and the petty bourgeoisie (owners of small businesses).

Differing interests between the classes lead to a class struggle and conflict.

Marx highlighted the link between social class and power. The bourgeoisie also held political power.

Question 13

What is the ruling class ideology?

Answer 13

The bourgeoisie’s position was justified by the ruling class ideology. E.g. values and ideas about freedom such as the free market serve to disguise exploitation and oppression. The ruling class ideology lead to false class consciousness The proletariat, for example, were not aware of the true nature of social relationships under capitalism.

Question 14

What are some criticisms of Marx?

Answer 14

there has not been a social revolution

development of a large middle class and opportunities for social mobility challenge the Marxist approaches to the class structure.

feminists argue that Marxists focus on class at the expense of gender divisions in societies, while others argue that they neglect ethnicity.

Question 15

Define elite.

Answer 15

A group of people that has the most power in a society based on its wealth or privilidge.

Question 16

Define oligarchy.

Answer 16

A small group of powerful individuals who control an organisation or a country usually to further their own interests.

Question 17

What was Weber’s view on class?

Answer 17

Argued that classes were formed in the marketplaces such as the labour market. In the labour market, one class hired labour and another class sold their labour. Weber saw the processes of hiring labour and the rewards (or life chances) that arose from this as crucial in explaining class.

Weber argued that a class is a group of people who have similar access to life chances; that is, chances of being successful in life and opportunities in education, health and so on. He identified four main social classes:
property owners
the petty bourgeoisie (e.g. shop keepers)
professionals
the working class.

These different class situations reflected different market situations or different life chances in the labour market.

Like Marx, he saw class as based on the distribution of economic resources such as wealth. However, he also stressed the importance of non-economic factors such as status (prestige) and power (political influence) in determining life chances and in shaping patterns of stratification.

Weber distinguished between class and status. He saw class and status as two separate aspects of stratification. In his view, a persons status may differ from their class. Eg Lord and Lady’s have status but may have no money.

Question 18

How can occupation be determined?

Answer 18

unskilled and skilled.

manual and non-manual.

Question 19

What is The Registrar General’s social class scale?

Answer 19

Uses occupation to define class.
I professional occupations eg solicitors or surgeons
II managerial + technical eg nurses
III (non-manual) skilled non-manual occupations eg receptionists
III (manual) skilled manual occupations eg hairdressers.
IV part skilled postal delivery workers.
V unskilled occupations eg labourers and cleaners.

Question 20

What are the advantages of using occupation to measure social class?

Answer 20

information is easy to get hold of
good guide to skill, qualifications and income
occupation influences power and status
wc occupations are mainly manual, physical work.

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of using occupation to measure social class?

Answer 21

doesn't accomodate jobless people eg unemployed or retired
occupation doesn't tell you about wealth or property.  eg lottery winner
up until the 1970s a family's social class would be categorised based on the man's occupation. 
the same job title may hide significant differences in social class.

Question 22

What is The National Statistics Socio-Economic Classifications (NS-SEC)?

Answer 22

Another scale which determines social class by occupation. It covers the whole of the adult population, including the unemployed. 
Includes three other categories, 'students', 'occupations not stated or inadequatly described' and 'not classifiable for other reasons' under 'not classified'.

Question 23

Define life chances

Answer 23

refers to people’s chances of achieving positive or negative outcomes as they progress through life. They relate to health, life expectancy and education.

Question 24

What are life chances effected by?

Answer 24

Life chances are effected by inequalities in wealth, income, power and status. They are not distributed equally.

Question 25

What are some factors effecting life chance inequality?

Answer 25

``` life expectancy at birth morbidity income and wealth housing infant mortality educational outcomes poverty employment prospects. ```

Question 26

Define affluent

Answer 26

having lots of money and material possessions.

Question 27

Define instrumentalism.

Answer 27

an attitude or apprach to something (like paid work) where it is a means to an end (e.g.the wages give a comfortable lifestyle) rather than an end to itself (job satisfaction). extrinsic v intrinsic.

Question 28

Define privatised nuclear family.

Answer 28

a nuclear family that is cut off from the extended family. The lifestyle tends to focus on the home.

Question 29

What is the embourgeoisie thesis?

Answer 29

``` the wc are becoming more middle class in their norms and values as their income and standards of living are improved. Their aspirations were based on consumerism. This means that their affluence has led them to adopt privatised lifestyles (all about buying). The wc values of solidarity and community has disappeared. ```

Question 30

What did Goldthorpe find?

Answer 30

``` Looked at affluent manual workers, including their wives. Rejected the embourgeoisie thesis. Instead, he identified an emerging 'new' working class. This new class is similar to the middle class in terms of their privatised, home centred lifestyles. They wanted to improve their own pay rather than change society for the benefit of others. (instrumental collectivism). The working class stuck together as a means to an end (to get more money). Community was important for money. ```

Question 31

What did Devine find?

Answer 31

Revisited Goldthorpe's research. She found that there was little clear evidence that the wc moving was motivated by wanting toimprove their living standards. Many were forced to move to escaoe unemployment. They weren't purely instrumental in their motives for geographical mobility. She found little change in wc lifestyles, norms and values.

Question 32

Define social mobility.

Answer 32

people's ability to move up or down a society's strata.

Question 33

Define intra generational social mobility.

Answer 33

the movement of an individual between social classes over their lifetime as a result, for example, of a promotion.

Question 34

Define inter generational social mobility.

Answer 34

the movement between the generations of a family and occurs when a child enters a different social class from his or her parents.

Question 35

What did Goldthorpe find about social mobility?

Answer 35

mobility study showed that although wc children could, and did, end up in middle class jobs they were much less likely to do so.

Question 36

What did Crompton find about social mobility?

Answer 36

social mobility is in decline due to the change in occupational structure. Skilled manual jobs have declined and the growth in professional and manual jobs has slowed down.

Question 37

What did Scott find about class?

Answer 37

argues that education does not matter very much when determining educational success and imporvements in income. Overall, it seems that class structures are self-reproducing. So the chances of a person rising or falling in the social hierarchy depends on their background far more than their individual educational achievment. The influence of class is weaker than in the past, but it still remains the strongest influence.

Question 38

What is the social mobility commission?

Answer 38

candidates suitability was assessed by their 'polish' ei confidence, dress, accent, behaviour.

Question 39

What are some problems in measuring social mobility?

Answer 39

some studies of inter generational mobility focus on males only, so are not representative. during longitudinal studies a young person might only be in a temporary job. participants memory - studies that ask participants to recall employment histories are likely to be based on unreliable data.

Question 40

What are the arguments for the importance of class?

Answer 40

``` economic changes such as recessions have made people more aware of class. social mobility - people care about what class they are in, and what class they are moving into to. A large majority of the top jobs are taken by privileged classes. Evidence suggests life chances are still affected by your class position. Polish ```

Question 41

What arguments are there for the decline in the importance of class?

Answer 41

``` stereotypes are no longer as strong eg not all upper class people live in stately homes. post modernist factors such as gender, ethnicity and sexuality are now how people are more likely to identify themselves, not class. wc population has shrunk due to changes in occupational structure. there is greater freedom in lifestyle choices. People can make decisions without the restrictions of their social class. Class dealignment - people are no longer voting according to their class eg upper class vote for labour. Functionalists believe that Britain is a meritocracy and so ability and motivation matter most. Class is a social construct. ```

Question 42

Define canalisation.

Answer 42

The way that parents channel their children's interests according to 'what is appropriate' for their gender.

Question 43

Define sexism.

Answer 43

Discrimination on the basis of sex.

Question 44

Define prejudice.

Answer 44

A prejudgement in favour of, or against a person, group or issue. Prejudice involves opinions and beliefs, rather than actions.

Question 45

Define discrimination.

Answer 45

Less favorable or unfair treatment based, for example, on an individual's gender, ethnicity or age.

Question 46

What is the 1970 equal pay act?

Answer 46

employers must pay men and women the same salary when they are doing the same work or work of equal value.

Question 47

What is the 1975 sex discrimination act?

Answer 47

made it unlawful to discriminate or treat someone less favourably because of their sex.

Question 48

Define glass ceiling.

Answer 48

an invisible barrier to promotion faced by some groups, including women.

Question 49

What did Holmes say about gender?

Answer 49

Argues that society is still organised in ways that tend to benefit men more than women. Society is controlled mainly by men, who have considerable power within politics and the workplace. Women are under-represented in politics.

Question 50

What is the crisis of masculinity?

Answer 50

underachievement of boys compared to girls in schools. the decline of paid work in manufacturing and heavy industries. women's increased participation in paid employment.

Question 51

Define pay gap.

Answer 51

The gender pay gap is defined as the difference in median pay between men and women.

Question 52

Why do women earn less?

Answer 52

sex discrimination women's triple shift childcare provision - usually the mum takes time off. glass ceiling.

Question 53

Define ethnicity.

Answer 53

cultural traditions, norms and values that distinguish the members of a particular social group from other social groups.

Question 54

Define race.

Answer 54

based on the natural and physical differences between people.

Question 55

Define ethnic group.

Answer 55

A social group whose members share an identity based on their cultural traditions, or cultural characteristics such as religion or language.

Question 56

Define ethnic minority.

Answer 56

A group of people who are from a different ethnic group to the general population.

Question 57

Define assimilation.

Answer 57

the assimilation model suggests that immigrants should abandon their own culture in favour of that of the majority.

Question 58

What is BAME?

Answer 58

Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority.

Question 59

Define racism.

Answer 59

or racial discrimination. When people are treated differently and less favourably on the basis of their ethnicity.

Question 60

Define prejudice.

Answer 60

A pre-judgement in favour of or against a person, group or issue. Opinions and beliefs rather than actions.

Question 61

What changes have taken place to address inequality based on ethnicity?

Answer 61

equality and anti-discriminatory legislation - the 1976 Race Relations Act, for example outlawed direct discrimination and victimalisation. Equality Act 2010 - aims to promote a fair and more equal society. Equality and Human Right Commission Equal Opportunities Policies or statements supporting diversity in the workplace.

Question 62

What are some statistics about ethnicity and unemployment?

Answer 62

11.5% of black women were unemployed in 2015. | Whereas only 4.9% of white men were unemployed in 2015.

Question 63

What does chronological mean?

Answer 63

To do with the number of years.

Question 64

What does biological mean?

Answer 64

To do with what is happening to your body.

Question 65

Define Age as a social category.

Answer 65

To do with society's expectations.

Question 66

What is N.E.E.T?

Answer 66

Not in education, employment or training.

Question 67

Define ageism/age discrimination.

Answer 67

the negative stereotyping and unfair treatment of individuals because of their age.

Question 68

Define poverty.

Answer 68

Lack of the means necessary to meet the basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter.

Question 69

What is an occupational pension?

Answer 69

A pension which you have saved for whilst working.

Question 70

What is the state pension?

Answer 70

The basic governemnt pension (currently £129.90 per week).

Question 71

What did Aries find?

Answer 71

What 'childhood' means can vary according to time and place. Eg in Medival Times children were a economic asset. Since then, there have been legal changes and children cannot work. Now, many children resemble adults in being active consumers of fashion, brands and technologies. Children are protected by laws and childhood is often seen as a separate stage to youth and adulthood. In other cultures, childhood is less marked and children fend for themselves. Relationships between parents and children have become more democratic and less authoritative. Families are more child centred.

Question 72

What is the employment equality (age) regulations 2006

Answer 72

Regulations against age discrimination in employment and training.

Question 73

What is the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 73

Protects people from age discrimination eg when accessing services such a gyms.

Question 74

Define life chances.

Answer 74

A person’s chance of achieving positive or negative outcomes as they progress through life.

Question 75

Define disablism.

Answer 75

Prejudice and discrimination against people with disabilities.

Question 76

What did Lister say about disablism?

Answer 76

Disabled people are more likely to have low income because they are in disadvantaged positions in the labour market. Eg more likely to be unemployed. Disabled people have to pay extra expenses eg equipment.

Question 77

Define hate crime.

Answer 77

Any crime that is perceived to be motivated by prejudice based on eg race, religion, sexual orientation or disability.

Question 78

Define life cycle poverty.

Answer 78

Movement into and out of poverty at different stages during the course of a person’s life. May be affected by marriage and children or old age.

Question 79

Define situational poverty.

Answer 79

Poverty due to the situation eg losing job, divorce.

Question 80

Why are ethnic minorities at risk of deprivation?

Answer 80

They live in deprives areas. Lister - racism and discrimination, less likely to be employed. Or quality of the job. Sometimes they don’t claim the benefits they are entitled to.

Question 81

Why are women at risk of poverty?

Answer 81

Gender pay gap. Love longer. Look after the children so they are more likely to be in part time work. Less likely to be in good occupational positions.

Question 82

What are individual accounts?

Answer 82

Highlight the behaviour of individuals or groups who experience poverty, and imply they are responsible for their position in some way.

Question 83

What are structural accounts?

Answer 83

Focus on how economic, social and political structures create and perpetuate poverty.

Question 84

Name some individual explanations.

Answer 84

Culture of poverty. Cycle of deprivation. New Right Welfare dependency and the underclass.

Question 85

What are some Structural Explanations?

Answer 85

``` Functionalism Marxists Feminism Unemployment and inadequacies of the welfare state. Globalisation. ```

Question 86

What does Murray say?

Answer 86

New Right The ‘underclass’ Drawing on trends shown in official statistics Focussed on behaviour of undeserving poor and examined three measures of the underclass. Rising crime rates Increase in the number of illegitimate or extra marital births. Drop out of the labour force among working age men.

Question 87

What is the culture of poverty?

Answer 87

WC are socialised into values that keep them poor eg we can’t change things so we just accept it.

Question 88

What is the cycle of deprivation?

Answer 88

The idea that poverty is passed from one generation to the next through material and cultural deprivation.

Question 89

What do functionalists say about poverty?

Answer 89

Poverty means some work gets done cheaply, create jobs for those who deal with the poor eg police and the poor also show us what deviance isn’t reinforcing mainstream norms eg work hard.

Question 90

What do Marxists think about poverty?

Answer 90

The ruling class take advantage of the poor by not paying them much. It is just part of the capitalist system.

Question 91

What do feminists think about poverty?

Answer 91

Women face inequality in a patriarchal society. Gender Kay gap and gender roles are to blame. Women act as ‘shock absorbers’ to poverty.

Question 92

How do the New Right explain poverty?

Answer 92

The underclass are a group of undeserving poor who are too lazy to work and have the wrong values. They rely on the benefits and this has created a culture of dependency.

Question 93

How do unemployment and inadequacies of the welfare state explain poverty?

Answer 93

They will always be people in poverty when there are no jobs. Also, the benefits system does not work well enough.

Question 94

How does globalisation explain poverty?

Answer 94

Increases inequality because if there is a global recession it means there are less jobs worldwide and fuel and food prices also rise.

Question 95

What is the Welfare State?

Answer 95

A system in which the state takes responsibility for protecting the health and welfare of its citizens and meeting their social needs. The state does this by providing services and benefits. Eg NHS and INCOME SUPPORT.

Question 96

What is means testing?

Answer 96

Established that a person is in need before they receive financial support from public funds.

Question 97

What are universal benefits?

Answer 97

Aren’t means tested and can be available to anyone.

Question 98

What are selective benefits?

Answer 98

Target those in greatest financial need in the basis of a means test.

Question 99

What is the poverty trap?

Answer 99

Refers to the idea that people cannot escape poverty eg get a pay rise but now they earn too much to qualify for benefits.

Question 100

What does Murray argue about benefits?

Answer 100

Argued that the welfare reform (increasing benefits) encourages crime, single parenthood, unemployment and took away the incentive to work. It creates a CULTURE OF DEPENDENCY.

Question 101

What does Weber identify?

Answer 101

``` Sources of power: coercion and authority. Identified three types of authority - traditional authority - rational legal authority - charismatic authority. ```

Question 102

What is coercion?

Answer 102

The use of force. We obey because we have no choice. We are forced into obeying against our will. Eg can include threat or physical violence.

Question 103

Define authority.

Answer 103

Exercised over us when we willingly obey an individual because we think it is the right thing to do. Force is unnecessary because we agree to obey eg a teacher.

Question 104

What is traditional authority?

Answer 104

Based on custom and tradition. We accept authority because it is customary for us to do so. Eg monarchy.

Question 105

What is rational legal authority?

Answer 105

Based on accepting a set of laws or rules in which their power rests. Operates in a bureaucracy. Laid out in contracts eg obeying a manager.

Question 106

What is a bureaucracy?

Answer 106

An organisation with a hierarchy and a clear set of rules.

Question 107

Define charismatic authority.

Answer 107

We obey a leader because we believe that he or she has extraordinary personal qualities or powers that inspire us. Based on charisma eg Nelson Mandela.

Question 108

Define power.

Answer 108

When an individual is able to get what they want, despite opposition.

Question 109

How does Marx see power?

Answer 109

``` Based on class relationships. Based on ownership of the means of production. ```

Question 110

What did Walby say?

Answer 110

``` Feminist. Identified six patriarchal structures. - paid employment - the household - culture - sexuality (double standards) - male violence against women - the state (state policies relating to gender have changed eg easier to divorce). ```

Question 111

What was made a crime in 2015?

Answer 111

Controlling and coercive behaviour.

Question 112

What are some forms on controlling and coercive behaviour?

Answer 112

``` Controlling finance Controlling activities Use of intimidation/threat. Isolating a partner or family member from friends/family. Monitoring how they spend their time. Monitoring them by social media/phone. Controlling what they wear. ```

Question 113

Define democracy.

Answer 113

Political power is widely dispersed and based on consent.

Question 114

What is a constituency?

Answer 114

One area of 650 in the UK in which people vote and send a local MP to parliament.

Question 115

Define censorship.

Answer 115

Government control over what people know eg deciding what can or can not be shown in the media.

Question 116

Define dictatorship.

Answer 116

Political power is concentrated to one person and her or her rules are forced on society.

Question 117

Define propaganda.

Answer 117

Campaigns eg in the media to further political aims.

Question 118

Define member of parliament.

Answer 118

One person of six hundred and fifty who is voted into Parliament to debate government laws and policies.

Question 119

Define proportional representation.

Answer 119

Seats in parliament are allocated according to the total number of votes that each party receives.

Question 120

What is the current voting system?

Answer 120

First past the post.

Question 121

What are some state institutions?

Answer 121

Police Armed forces Civil service and judiciary.

Question 122

What is pluralism?

Answer 122

Pluralism is the approach that political power is shared. Argues that a range of views, interests and opinions exist in society and no one group dominates the political process. Pressure groups allow power to be shared.

Question 123

What is the conflict approach?

Answer 123

Argues that society is based on conflicting interests eg the bourgeoisie own the means of productions (often from privileged backgrounds). The state’s role is to protect the interest of the bourgeoisie.

Question 124

What is the pluralist approach to the media?

Answer 124

Range of information we can chose from as an active audience.

Question 125

What is the conflict approach to the media?

Answer 125

Media is controlled by capitalist gatekeepers that only give us access to certain information.

Question 126

What is a pressure group?

Answer 126

A group of people who share an interest and try to persuade the government to adopt a particular policy or to influence public opinion on an issue.

Question 127

How do pressure groups have power?

Answer 127

They have the power to influence policy and opinion. They organise direct action. Pluralists think that they are crucial to democracy.