sociology- social stratification and inequality

What is social stratification?

Define social stratification

Describes the way society’s structure in a hierarchy of strata or layers that are unequally ranked one above the other

Define open society

Social mobility is possible through hard work, education etc

Define closed society

Your status can’t change

Define ascribed status

Your position in society is given to you at birth. For example the queen was a princess when born

Define achieved status

You reach your desired status through hard work

Poverty

Define absolute poverty

When a person can’t afford the basic needs to maintain good health

Define relative poverty

When a person can’t afford to meet the general standard of living of the rest of society

Define cycle of poverty

When poor families become trapped in poverty for at least 3 generations

Define poverty trap

When poor people are unable to escape being poor

Define culture of poverty

When a group of people who are in poverty share the same values, beliefs, and behaviours that keep them in poverty

Wealth

What are the 3 forms of wealth?

Money, income, and land owned

Define power

The ability to control/influence other peoples behaviour to achieve what you want to

Closed societies

Define slavery in closed societies

Individuals status is fixed at birth. Individuals were essentially property and their children inherited that status

Define modern slavery in closed societies

Hidden, and sometimes brutal forms of exploitation that occurs within isolated/ restricted communities

Define caste in closed societies

A persons status in given at birth and is very hard/ impossible to change

Social mobility in open societies

Define upward mobility

More power, wealth, income and status. Upper/middle class

Define downward mobility

Less power, wealth, income and status. Working class

Define INTERgenerational

Refers to movement between the generations of a family and occurs when a child enters a different social class from their parents

Define INTRAgenerational

Refers to the movement of an individual between social classes within their lifetime as a result e.g promotion in work

Define meritocracy

A social system where individuals are rewarded and achieve status based on their abilities, talent, and effort. Rather than their social background or inherited advantages

What are the factors that lead to social mobility?

Educational achievements, marriage, huge lottery win, changes in job types

Life chances

Age and education?

There is free and universal eduction available today to children within the local area.

Older people may not have gone to school/ had a good education so may be illiterate.

Age and employment?

Children can only work from age 14+ in the UK. In poorer countries, children may need to contribute to income.

Older people may face discrimination while trying to get a job.

Age and health?

Vaccinations are available for children when they’re first born. In poorer countries, children may not have a good access to healthcare services.

Older people are more vulnerable to disease and illness.

Age and housing?

Children usually live with family.

Older people may live alone, and may struggle to cope alone. They may move in with family or into a care home to improve their life chances. Care homes are expensive, most people need to sell their home to be able to afford it.

Age and life expectancy?

Many deaths are infants (babies), which brings the average age down.

Older people live longer.

Gender and education?

Boys are constantly outperformed by girls in the education system.

Boys and girls are expected to take different subjects in schools. Boys are expected to take PE (sports), and girls are expected to take art, for example.

Gender and employment?

Men and women work different jobs. Women as carers, men as bricklayers for example.

Women earn less money than men.

Gender and health?

Women more likely to become ill if working in a care home or nursery.

Women are expected to look after her children/husband if they get ill.

Gender and housing?

Women are more likely to become homeless, and face financial difficulties affording housing.

Gender and life expectancy?

Men have riskier jobs which could lead to illness or death.

Women tend to be more health conscious.

Ethnicity and education?

Teachers say the ethnic minority are lazy. These students may believe them, and live up to that label ( self- fulfilling prophecy).

Schools may ignore the culture of minorities, limiting students achievements.

Ethnicity and employment?

People of colour may struggle to get a job because of discrimination.

Pay may be lower for people of colour.