Stratification knowledge organiser

Social Stratification Weber on Class Types of stratification: inequality based on hierarchy Functionalists – Stratification is a universal necessity. Davies and Moore: 1. Functional importance: All roles in society must be filled 2. they must be filled by those with the most talent. 3. Education and training are a necessity 4. The highest rewards = positions with the highest functional importance. Class is linked to economic factors. It is a multi-layered system Some workers are more skilled than others those with lower skills are lower down in the system. People within each class will enjoy similar life chances. Status: the level of importance or prestige attached to a group. Lifestyle: shared group attitudes and values. Party: any organised group that seeks to exercise power i.e. pressure group/ trade union Slavery A system where an individual can become the property of another. Slavery existed in the Greek and Roman empires. They are used to provide forms of labour. In Africa slaves were also used to provide labour. Europeans exploited this system and established the transatlantic slave trade. Caste system A system where Criticisms of Davies and Moore Functional importance is difficult to establish – it is subjective. Assumes that a limited number have the talent needed. Stratification encourages social division Weber's Different class’s, Property owning upper class with economic power. Social class The professional middle class (intelligentsia who are highly educated ) The petty Bourgeoisie – The lower middle class of small business owners. Ascribed Social standing given to someone based on the basis of inheritance. The manual working class – unskilled workers who have the lowest status. Achieved Social status Gained as a result of education and success in career. Marxists In the past an age of primitive communism existed where everyone cooperated. In capitalist society there is class conflict Capitalism is an economic system. Workers create wealth with their labour. Economic rewards go to the ‘owners’. Society is divided by social class Capitalism creates alienation – people are made powerless and do not recognise that they are being exploited by the system. Social mobility Describes the movement of individuals and groups up or down the socio-economic scale. Intra-generational and intergenerational social mobility. Factors effecting life chances Education Case Study: Halsey, Heath and Ridge. Longitudinal study found 8,000 men born into professional middle class families had a greater chance of going to university than those born into lower social classes due to lack of material resources. Case study: The Affluent worker -Embourgeoisement thesis: argument that over time working class would become more prosperous and middle class. -Goldthorpe and Lockwood: researchers found that manual workers in a Luton were not middle class but represented ‘new working class’. They had a change in lifestyle and values including their political views. Health The Black report (1992): an increasing divide exists between middle and working classes in terms of life expectancy, illness, child mortality and health at old age. Feminists and patriarchy Sylvia Walby: Patriarchy is the main source of inequality, where men exploit and oppress women. (see power for more details) Case Study: Fiona Divine Divine revisited Goldthorp’s study and agreed that embourseoisement had not occurred. But lifestyle and values had changed due to rising living standards. They continued to adopt working class values and identities but were less collective. Other factors. Sexism and homophobia Ageism Disability Hate crime Racism

Social Stratification Weber on Class Types of stratification: inequality based on hierarchy Functionalists – Stratification is a universal necessity. Davies and Moore: 1. 3. Class is linked to economic factors. It is a multi-layered system 2. 4. Slavery Caste system Criticisms of Davies and Moore Social mobility Social class Ascribed Achieved Marxists In the past an age of primitive communism existed where everyone cooperated. In capitalist society there is class conflict 4.. Factors effecting life chances Education Case study: The Affluent worker Embourgeoisement thesis:: Goldthorpe and Lockwood: Health Feminists and patriarchy Case Study: Fiona Divine Other factors.

Measuring poverty Sociological perspectives of poverty Welfare state New Right explanations of poverty Absolute Income is insufficient to obtain the minimum needed to survive i.e. food, shelter, water. Functionalist perspective 1. Poverty performs a function for society. 2. It ensures that dirty and dangerous jobs are done cheaply. Beverage report (1942) 1. post-war report on poverty 2. The state should act as a safety net to help eradicate poverty (the 5 giants). 3. Paid for by progressive taxation. The New Right 1..Welfare state weakens democracy and the economy 2. The state should not interfere with private citizens Relative People are poor compared to the standard of living enjoyed by most people in society. Poverty trap Poor families receiving benefits become trapped into poverty because employment pays less than benefits. Feminist perspective .lone mothers and older women are more susceptible to poverty .The gender pay gap makes women vulnerable to poverty Women are more likely to be in part time work due to childcare. New Right view: Social democratic view : Marxist view: It interferes with the individuals right to choose. Poverty is caused by capitalism – the welfare state is needed to combat poverty.. Capitalism preserves itself through the welfare state. Who are the poor The underclass including single parents and those on benefits. Lumpenproletariat The lowest level of working class in the 19th century. Cycle of deprivation The persistence of poverty from one generation to the next. Culture of poverty A way of life and set of values adopted to cope with poverty. Marxist perspective .Poverty is the outcome of class-based divisions. Capitalism generates extreme wealth and extreme poverty as it relies on low wages and high profit. .Poverty serves the interests of the Bourgeoisie as the fear of unemployment and poverty can be used to force workers to accept low wages. . Globalisation 1. Financial crisis spread via globalization. 2. This has created greater job insecurity. 3. Globalisation has increased poverty in the UK. Charles Murray KEY STYDY Criticisms 1. Welfare does not eradicate poverty. Instead it encourages it. 2. People are not inherently hard working or moral. 3. People need incentives to work hard. 4. Welfare creates an underclass. Peter Townsend CASE STUDY 1. Conducted a major survey of poverty in 1960’s 2. The state should measure poverty against a national standard. 3. Relative deprivation is a better way of measuring poverty as it includes and therefore helps more people than absolute. De-industrialisation Manufacturing industries have declined in the UK. Few low paid and manual jobs exist in the UK as a consequence of this. 1. The poor want to succeed in life. 2. Lone parenthood is not a sign of a growing underclass 3. Unsympathetic to the poor. Supports capitalism Social exclusion 1. People are shut out from everyday life due to poverty. 2. Poverty is therefore not just about income.

Measuring poverty Sociological perspectives of poverty Welfare state New Right explanations of poverty Absolute Functionalist perspective 1. 2. 3. Beverage report Interactionist perspective on crime . Relative Poverty trap Feminist perspective Perspectives of the welfare state Who are the poor Cycle of deprivation Globalisation Charles Murray KEY STYDY Criticisms 4. Culture of poverty Marxist perspective Peter Townsend CASE STUDY De-industrialisation criticism

Feminist perspectives of power Weber on power Power relationships Political power Feminist perspectives of power Authority Types of Authority People willingly agree to obey as they see it as the right thing to do, Class Ethnicity Age 1. Marxists see power as linked to social class. The Bourgeoisies power is based on ownership of the M of P. 2. Critical race theorists see power as based on divisions between different ethnic minorities and the white majority. 3. Power inequalities can exist between younger and older members of society. Voter apathy Partisan alignment Partisan non-alignment Voter turn out can be low due to the public feeling disillusioned or uninterested in voting. Patriarchy Power relations between men and women where male power which is seen to dominate in UK society, is the main source of social division within society. 1. Traditional: based on custom and tradition i.e. the monarchy. 2. Charismatic: based on belief that a leader has extraordinary qualities. 3. Legal-rational based on the acceptance of laws and rules i.e. police The public vote along class lines and in keeping with social class interests Voting is based purely on self-interest rather than class interest. Coercion Power based on threat of violence or force. Marxist theory of power .Power relationships stem from those who own the means of production and those who have to sell their labour. .Political power comes from economic power. .Elites are privileged people who have economic and political power. Elections FPTP PR 1. General elections – citizens vote for a new government. 2. Voting system based on the party with the most number of seats. 3. Based on the number of votes a party receives. Gender The balance of power based on men and women's roles. This is seen to have improved recently as more women are involved in politics I.e two female PM’s in the UK Democracy (pluralist view) Power is distributed widely and the governments power is based on rational legal authority rather than coercion. Can be representative or direct. Political spectrum 1. Left Wing = collectivism 2. Right wing = individualism Sylvia Walby – identified the main sources of inequality in modern society KEY STYDY 1. Sources of inequality from paid work. 2. The state which is male dominated. 3. Male violence against women in private and public life. 4. The media stereotypes women as sexual objects. Dictatorship Political power is concentrated in the hands of a dictator who rules by force. Forms of Political participation Pressure groups/interest groups. .joining a political party .engaging in a partition in order to lobby government. .Marching or joining a rally. Voting in a referendum. Voting in a general election. Joining a trade union and strike action. Political parties Labour: left wing party that demands social change and greater social equality. Conservative: resist s change, belief in the social hierarchy as a natural part of society. Government and the state. MP’s who are selected by the prime minister to form a government as a result of a general election. The state is made up of a number of institutions including the military, police, monarchy.

Weber on power Power relationships Political power Feminist perspectives of power Authority Types of Authority Class Ethnicity Age 1. 2. 3. Voter apathy Partisan alignment Partisan non-alignment Patriarchy Coercion Marxist theory of power . Elections FPTP PR Gender Democracy Political spectrum Sylvia Walby KEY STYDY Criticisms 4. Dictatorship Forms of Political participation Monarchy Political parties Bureaucracy