1. Class stratification and life chances
L.O: To be able to
define life chances & give examples of inequality in life chances (G)
explain reasons for the unequal distribution of life chances (C)
Relate the distribution of life chances to the development of social classes (A)
Men in Kensington live on average 10 years longer than men in Manchester.
Women in Kensington live on average 9 years longer than women in Liverpool.
Starter: How do you explain these statistics? Hint: Look at the learning objectives for a clue!

2. Life chances = the chances that sections of society have of achieving the “things” which are valued by their society.
Life expectancy
Chances of heart attack
Levels of tooth decay
Going to university
Owning a house…
Activity: Look at the table below:
Describe the trend in the statistics.
Write a list of factors that could explain this under the headings:
Resources of family
Culture of family/area
Facilities in area
Tooth decay
(5 years old)
(15 years old)
“Deprived” schools
60%
72%
“Non-deprived” schools
40%
55%

3. What would a Marxist say when asked if life chances are distributed unequally in society?
A: Competition in society creates winners and losers. The winners are rich and powerful & have the best life chances – best education, healthcare etc. The losers are poor and have the worst life chances…
What would a Functionalist say when asked if life chances are distributed unequally in society?
A: Welfare benefits, free education and free healthcare mean that individuals can improve their life chances if they want to. Hard work and a sensible lifestyle can turn these opportunities into better life chances…

4. You should all be able to explain the first learning objective…
L.O: To be able to
define life chances & give examples of inequality in life chances (G)
explain reasons for the unequal distribution of life chances (C)
Relate the distribution of life chances to the development of social classes (A)
You should all be able to explain the first learning objective…
Most should be able to explain the second…
Some could have a go at the third…

5. How is social class measured?
Occupation = job/career Skilled – need qualifications Non-skilled – no qualifications needed Manual – hands on jobs – wear an overall Non-manual – doesn’t involve getting your handed dirty/ no overall/ suit wearing

6. Classes in the UK Upper class Middle class Working class
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
Classes in the UK
Upper class
Middle class
Working class

7. Class according to Karl Marx
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
Class according to Karl Marx
Upper class
Working class

8. Classes in the UK Upper class Middle class Working class
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
Classes in the UK
Upper class
Middle class
Working class

9. Registrar general’s scale
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
Registrar general’s scale
Professional occupations
Managerial
Skilled non manual
Skilled manual
Partly skilled
Unskilled
This was used by the government until 1998

10. Doctor’s Receptionist Hospital nurse Biology teacher Postman
Put the following job in the correct category according to the registrar general’s scale – use p.286 to help you.
Brain surgeon
Doctor’s Receptionist
Hospital nurse
Biology teacher
Postman
Office cleaner
Toni and Guy Hairdresser
Bus driver
Pub barmaid
Architect
Solicitor
Bin men

11. Registrar general’s scale
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
Registrar general’s scale
Solicitors, surgeons, architects
Professional occupations
Teachers, nurses, pilots
Managerial
Skilled non manual
Secretary/receptionist
Bus driver, electrician, hairdresser
Skilled manual
Partly skilled
Postal worker, bartenders, caretaker
Unskilled
Refuse collectors, cleaners
What are the problems with using
occupation to measure social class?

12. Doesn’t include groups such as… Married women were classed as….
Problem’s with the registrar general’s scale
Doesn’t include groups such as…
Married women were classed as….
Doesn’t reflect other factors such as…

13. Problem’s with the registrar general’s scale
Doesn’t include groups such as students, retired, unemployed.
Married housewives were classed as the same as their husband.
Doesn’t reflect other factors such as wealth, status, property.

14. NS-SEC class scale This is the official UK classification used today
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
NS-SEC class scale
Higher managerial
Higher managerial
Lower managerial
Intermediate
Employers
Lower supervisory
Semi routine
Routine
Never worked
This is the official UK classification used today

15. Doctor’s Receptionist
Put the following job in the correct category according to the NS-SEC scale – use p.287 to help you.
Office cleaner
Doctor’s Receptionist
Biology teacher
Farmer
Unemployed
Bus driver
Car mechanic
Solicitor

16. Why is this better than the Register general’s scale?
More power, wealth, income and status
Less power, wealth, income and status
NS-SEC class scale
Higher managerial
solicitor
Higher managerial
Lower managerial
teachers
secretaries
Intermediate
Employers
farmers
Lower supervisory
Car mechanic
Semi routine
Bus driver
Routine
cleaner
Never worked
Unemployed
Why is this better than the Register general’s scale?

17. Advantages of NS-SEC scale
Includes whole population
Reflects levels of authority

18. These all mean the same
1) Describe one way the government could measure social class and explain how it may be problematic. (5)
2) Describe one way the government could measure social class and explain how it may not be accurate. (5)
3) Describe one way in which social class can be measured explain problems with this method(5)
4) Describe one way in which social class can be classified and explain problems with this way of classifying people (5)

19. Describe one social class and explain how it could be measured . (5)
One social class could be the upper class
For example people with wealth, status and power
This could be measured using the registrar general’s scale
This means that a person’s occupation is used to judge their class
For example a brain surgeon would be judged as upper class as they have a professional job.
2/2
Identify
3/3
Explain
5/5

20. Describe one way of measuring social class and explain how accurate this measurement is. (5)
One way could be using the registrar general’s scale
For example a surgeon is upper class professional
They are not accurate because people may have a professional job but not a lot of money.
This means that it doesn’t take into account other factors.
For example a newly qualified surgeon may still be paying off university debt which means that he does not have the wealth or status of most upper classes people.
2/2
Identify
3/3
Explain
5/5