Unit 2 Part 1 Social Structures Flashcards
What is inequality?
Inequality is where some groups of people have more wealth, better opportunities and may be seen as more important than other groups.
What are the causes of inequality?
- Inequality of opportunity – people not getting an equal chance to be successful. - Sexism – the idea that one gender is better or more suited to some activities than the other - Racism – the ideas that one ethnic group is better than others. - Ageism – the idea that some age groups are not as capable or that they act in a certain way.
What status and prestige?
Status is how important a person in society is. - Ascribed status – is a position you are born into e.g. Gender, the Queen. - Achieved status- is a position you have earned, e.g. teacher, doctor. Prestige is how special or important a person is seen as. A doctor is seen as a position with a great deal of prestige. Most parents would be proud if their children became a doctor or a lawyer. In comparison, a labourer would have low prestige and not be seen as special by others.
What is the difference between income and wealth?
Wealth includes property, savings, shares and valuable items. Income is money that is received weekly or monthly as wages, benefit or pension. The wealth gap between the rich and poor in the UK is getting wider.
Who are the elites? Who has power?
Elite is a small group of people who are powerful and wealthy. Marxists would say the most powerful elite are the ruling class. This includes the very rich who own the most important companies. Another part of this group is the aristocracy. There is also an ‘old boy’s network’ who went to top fee paying schools like Eton or Harrow. They are white and male and favour each other when top jobs are available. They have the power to influence decisions in their favour.
What is social class?
Class is a way of grouping people based on their job and status. Upper class – this includes the aristocracy, owners of bog companies and the very rich. They have the highest status. Middle class – people who are better off and usually do jobs where they do not work with their hands: teachers, nurses and office workers. Working class – people who work in manual jobs (using their hands). This includes mines, factory workers and shipbuilders.
What do the major theories say about inequality?
Functionalists Think inequality is important as it creates winners and losers. Inequality helps motivate people to be winners. Inequality is needed to help society run well. Marxists Think inequality this not a good thing. They believe there are two classes, the working class and the ruling class. The ruling class have all the power and own big businesses. They have such a lot of power they control how the working class think. This means they will never realise how they are being used by the ruling class. Feminism We live in a patriarchal society where men and women are unequal.
What is prejudice and discrimination?
Prejudice is an idea about what someone is like based on a pre-judgement about them. Discrimination is an action for or against someone based on prejudice. Reasons for prejudice and discrimination: Misunderstanding and fear – people may find different cultures hard to understand. Socialisation – parents can socialise children into prejudiced ideas, and they grow up thinking this is the norm. Stereotypes - these are oversimiplistic or exaggerated ides about a group of people, these people can then be used as scapegoats and blamed for problems.
Why are people racist?
Ethnicity is about the cultural group a person belongs to – their religion, nationality and way of life. Racism is when people are prejudiced and discriminate against different ethnic groups. People may mistrust people who are different tan themselves, parents may have socialised them into being racist. Scapegoating is when a group is blamed for society’s problems. Ethnic groups are sometimes blamed for things like unemployment and crime
Why have norms about sexuality changed?
Legal changes – civil partnerships and Equality Acts, Media influences, young people are more open minded
Why are people ageist?
Sociologists see age as a social construction.Young people are stereotyped and demonised in our society. Older people are seen as frail and unable.
What are life chances?
Life chances refer to the opportunities people have or having good things happen to them and avoiding bad things. These might include: • Being healthy • Living in a nice house • Being rich • Living until you are old • Getting a good education, • Travelling the world • Going to prison • Being a victim of crime. If you are happy, healthy and feel good about your life, you are said to have a good quality of life. Lifestyle is linked to this, this includes attitudes, possessions, hobbies, interests and what a person enjoys doing.
What does social exclusion mean?
Social exclusion means that groups or individuals are left out of society, the government worries about these groups as this can lead to social problems like crime. Homeless people can be socially excluded as they don’t have access to the most basic things to have a comfortable life. They cannot be on a GPs list, use modern means of communication like the internet and mobile phones. Unemployed people can be socially excluded as they don’t have a routine and a reason to get up in the morning. It can mean they cannot afford things that other people take for granted, like holidays or meals out. This caused by the recession, where many people are going out of business and losing their jobs.
How does disability affect life chances?
Disability does not simple mean people who use wheelchairs; it can refer to a range of physical and mental conditions. People with disabilities may suffer worse life chances because of prejudice and discrimination. Some people with disabilities assume that people with disabilities are not intelligent and are not independent. People need to be better educated about disability. The medical model of disability sees disability as an illness or something bad. The social model of disability sees it as part of someone’s identity, and that society needs to change to make things accessible for people.
How does gender affect life chances?
Women made progress in the twentieth century by gaining the vote, earning equal pay and, though feminism sexual discrimination became illegal. However, feminists argue that today women till do not have equality. There is a glass ceiling which is an invisible barrier caused by sexism which means that women cannot reach the top jobs. Women also have a double burden – they are usually responsible for careers and housework/childcare. Some argue women do a triple shift which makes them responsible for pad work, housework and emotional work. Men have traditionally been the breadwinners; these are the main wage earners in the family. Now that women’s role have changed, men roles have changed too. We have the new man who is a man who shows his emotions and takes on more caring roles in the home. There are also now house husbands who stay at home looking after the house and children, while the woman goes out to work. Traditional men’s jobs in mines, factories and shipbuilding have gone into decline, more office and non-manual jobs are appearing. This has caused a crisis of masculinity as the norms for being a man are not clear anymore.
What is poverty?
Absolute poverty is not having the basics needed for survival – food, clothing, shelter and warmth. People in the UK shouldn’t live in absolute poverty because we have a benefits system to prevent this. Relative poverty is being deprived compared to other people. E.g. not having access to the internet, or be able to go out for a meal. Subjective poverty is when you think you live in poverty compared with other people. Poverty links to social exclusion – people without the internet or who can’t afford to have hobbies are socially excluded.
Why is there an underclass?
The underclass are a group of people who have such low status and poor quality of life, that they are not part of the social class system. They include the long-term unemployed, homeless and some disabled people. Culture of poverty explanation This states that these groups create their own way of life with different norms from other social classes. The New Right support this view and blame the underclass themselves, They say they learn to depend on benefits and do not want to get jobs. The cycle of deprivation This view sees the underclass as lacking the basics for a happy and successful life. The underclass grow up in poor areas with bad housing. Children copy their parents and socialise their children in the same way. This continues the cycle of deprivation. They are trapped in poverty. Marxist view This view states that society is competitive and greedy, and there will always have to be people at the bottom of society.
