GCSE sociology – social inequality revision

What is Stratification / The way we are divided into stratas/groups. For e.g. Class, Age, Gender, Ethnicity (CAGE)
What is social class? / What our occupation is determines/decides our social class. In broad terms there are the working class (earn a wage), middle class (professionals like teachers/nurses) upper class (aristocracy, the Queen )
What is social mobility / The movement between social classes is social mobility. If a shelf stacker from Tesco did some extra qualifications gained promotion and became a manager of an area he would be socially mobile and become middle class from working class
What other ways can someone gain social mobility / Education, marriage (as social class is often based on the males occupation)work promotion
Achieved social status / In our society it is achieved. This means we achieve our own social class and it doesn’t matter if our parents/carers were working class we can still reach middle class because we an open system
Open system / A class system where social mobility is possible, like the UK
Closed system / A class system where social mobility does not happen, like in India , as it is ascribed
Ascribed social status / A society where your social status is given to you at birth and you can’t change it. An eg would be the Caste system
Slavery / A form of stratification where the person is ‘owned’ by another person and has to do exactly as they are commanded. We often think that slavery no longer exists but there is evidence of domestic slaves in the UK where people are brought over to this country having been promised work and then they are treated badly and their passport is taken away, they are given basic accommodation and food so they can’t escape their ‘owner’- this is illegal
How has class system changed? / It is no longer so clear which class we belong to. We have a ‘subjective class’ which is the class we think we should belong to. In the mid 20th century people belonged to the working, middle or upper class. Their job, values, housing, leisure supported this. Now you have the opportunity to work in Tesco, win the lottery, go to the theatre but still socialise down the pub – mixing traditional class values/leisure.
What are life chances? / The chance of achieving those things considered desirable, such as a nice house, having good health, good education, being safe
How can social class affect life chances? / Middle class people have more money therefore they can afford better health care, a warmer more secure house, holidays abroad that are culturally educational(Egypt V Tenerife) , better education
How can age as a strata affect life chances? / Ageism. Elderly people are now being encouraged to work as their pension is either worth nothing or it is very low. They are however not treated fairly by society who thinks they are all frail, dependent, useless and rude. The youth also struggle to get a job due to having little experience and having the stereotype of being lazy, troublesome and rude
How can gender affect life chances? / Sexism. This is when someone is treated differently because of their gender. The term usually refers to females and it is usually a negative experience
Pay for females is often lower, despite this being illegal
How can the upbringing of a child affect their life chances? / A boy will more likely be given toys that stretch his imagination, encourage him to construct things, destroy things and develop the ‘killer’ instinct needed for business.
Girls are more likely to be given dolls and toys that encourage gentleness and domesticity. Ideal development for a gender specific life!
Adverts and other media further reinforce this gender division.(girlification)
What is the glass ceiling / When a person can’t get promoted due to their gender or ethnicity they might feel that they have hit a glass ceiling. It is invisible, illegal but does seem to exist.
How can ethnicity affect life chances? / Racism. This is when someone is treated differently because of their race. This is usually a negative way.
This can be in the work place, education (remember not all MEG fail)
Does discrimination and inequality still exist? / Yes! Despite the laws that the government have put in place, such as the Equality Act 2010 which prohibits any form of discrimination of age, gender, ethnicity.
What is wealth and income / Wealth- the assets that are owned. Like jewellery, property, art work.
Income - what you earn. Wages or a salary
Why is wealth unequal / Money breeds money. If you are a business woman you can afford a top accountant who will know all the legal tax loopholes. You are more likely to know what art to buy, can afford to buy property and sell it at a profit as you have less to lose. Those with more skill have the opportunity to ‘sell’ their skill to the highest bidder so go and work for the company who will pay the most
What is poverty?
Absolute / Poverty where the person does not have the basic necessities. Food, water, shelter. It is life threatening and we normally associate it with third world countries
Relative poverty / Not having what the majority of people around you have – TV, washing machine, mobile phone
Environmental poverty / Living in a poorly maintained area/house/flat
Who are the poor? / According to Mack and Lansley they are?
The unemployed / Benefits are low
The low paid / Earnings stop benefits
Lone parents / Child care facilities are expensive, therefore working is a problem
The sick or disabled / Benefits can be low and getting a job can be difficulty due to discrimination
The elderly / The elderly are replaced by the young, illness can prevent work, and pensions can be low.