 2 Hour Exam in June  Source Material  2 Questions on Methodology  2 Questions on Issues of Inequality & Difference in Contemporary UK  Requires knowledge gained across 2 year programme

 Do you think the contemporary UK is an equal or unequal society?  Would you prefer to live in a society based on equality or inequality? Why?  Who do you think holds power in the contemporary UK?

 Write a short definition of what you understand by the term ‘social inequality’? Ext: - How do you think the term social inequality differs from the term ‘social difference’?

Social inequalities involve an element of social advantage or disadvantage for some groups or individuals over others…related to people’s share of material and cultural resources. (Payne; 2006) The UK remains one of the most unequal societies in the developed world. (Cooke & Oppenheim; 2008)

 The following list of people are the occupants of your bomb shelter.  There is only enough room and provisions for seven of them (plus yourself). Therefore, you have to choose which seven of them to send outside to die.  Justify your decisions.

Computer programmer (Male; 37)Scientist (M; 50) Baby (F; 6m)Schoolgirl (F; 8) Farmer (M; 45)Famous Writer (M; 56) MP (Male; 40) Teenager (M; 14) Priest (M; 67) Suspected IRA Terrorist (F; 28) Sociology Teacher (F; 30) Footballer (M; 22) Housewife (F; 25) Her Husband (M; 27)

Beteille (1986)  There has always been social inequality: It is natural.  It even exists within the smallest tribes. Discuss: So social inequality within human societies is natural and should not be challenged? Should we never challenge that which is ‘natural’?

 Every society is therefore stratified ; divided into a hierarchy of social groups.  Depending on the stratification system of a society, there are advantages and disadvantages linked to income, wealth, occupation, ethnicity, gender, age etc.  Humans dream of equal societies...but we have yet to create one.

 This is the sociological term that describes how important someone is in their society. Status can be gained in two ways: Ascribed Achieved Give examples for each.

 The ease/ability to change one’s status within a society demonstrates how socially open or socially closed that society is: OpennessClosure Lots of opportunity to change social position. No opportunity to change social position

 For each of the following societies, identify a characteristic that impacts people’s life chances:  Northern Ireland  The Old Soviet Union  Israel  The USA Deep South  The old South Africa

 Complete the worksheet…

Brahmins (priests and nobles) Kshatriyas/Rajputs (warriors, rulers, landowners) Vaishyas (merchants, traders, farmers) Shudras (servants, labourers, manual workers) Outcasts/untouchables Caste is ascribed at birth and there is little chance of social mobility. Some argue the UK class system is not so different.

 The Feudal System (nobles, clergy, commoners)  Slavery  Capitalism (a class system based on people’s positions in the market).

DrinkAgeSexClass Champagne cocktail A pint of bitter Gin & Tonic Half-Lager and Lime Double Whisky Mackeson Perrier Water Glass of white wine Dry Martini (shaken, not stirred) Half a Cider

 What do you think is meant by the word ‘Wealth’?  How is this different from ‘income’?

 WEALTH is property in the form of assets which can be sold for cash  Productive property  Consumption property  INCOME is the money people receive  Earned income  Unearned income

 Examine the sources on your handout and answer the questions provided. Pairs; 5 mins

 Who are the ‘wealthy’ people in our society?  How do we decide whether or not someone is ‘wealthy’?

Rank the following in terms of their importance in shaping economic inequalities in the UK:  THE JOBS PEOPLE DO  GENDER  ETHNIC IDENTITY  THE FAMILY THEY WERE BORN INTO  THE REGION OF THE COUNTRY THEY WERE BORN IN  THEIR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION  HOW OLD THEY ARE

 Find out who are the ten richest individuals in the UK today, and how much each is worth. list/nation/sunday-times-rich-list/

Outline and evaluate two ways in which UK society is stratified. (15 mins)