Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the poor are largely responsible for their own situation (12) FOR New Right – Charles Murray KEY TERMS: cycle of deprivation/welfare dependency/underclass/’undeserving poor’ the underclass are the ‘undeserving poor’ create issues for themselves because of welfare dependency; state encourages them to remain dependent; over-generous benefits create issues – commit crime, births outside marriage, economic inactivity – men Criticised – blames victims/labels people in poverty AGAINST 1. Marxism KEY TERMS: capitalism/poverty capitalism creates extremes of poverty & wealth poor not responsible – poverty created by capitalism – low wages, long hours inequalities based on wealth/class E.g. people demand higher wages threatened with job losses 2. Failings of the welfare system People entitled to benefits don’t claim them Need to increase pensions Unemployment caused by government not investing in business/local areas – if unemployed not the fault of people who lose jobs

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that in Britain today, age is a more important cause of inequality than any other factor (12) FOR Yes Age is seen as something to be avoided Examples, Botox, cosmetics to reduce the appearance of wrinkles Negative stereotyping – e.g. difficult to get jobs, promotion Social position – many older people face poverty Laws have had to put in place to address age discrimination. E.g. Employment Equality (Age) Regulations, 2006; against age discrimination – employment & training AGAINST No Gender is more important Inequalities exist at work –men/women not in same occupations. E.g firefighting, secretaries, nurses When in same occupation women more likely to be paid less – management, banking; impact of the ‘glass ceiling’ Sex-discrimination, women’s triple shift, childcare responsibilities Could also choose – social class, ethnicity

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that in Britain today a person’s status is based on his or her achievements (12) FOR Yes Functionalism Because society is meritocratic – based on hard work and effort Modern society is based on the idea that the top positions attract the top pay; only the most talented can fill those positions In order to attract the best, need to have competition, reward. E.g high salaries, bonuses People are driven by rewards and are rewarded for their hard work AGAINST No Marxism Status is ascribed not achieved Society is highly stratified; based on social class Membership of social classes based on wealth Wealthy class own property, land, big businesses; less wealthy sell their labour to the wealthy Status also based on age, ethnicity, gender e.g. a white, middle-class male may have a higher status than a black, working-class, old woman

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that there is an underclass in Britain today (12) FOR New Right Charles Murray Underclass – undeserving poor, have different set of values from the mainstream, experience long-term poverty & can’t gain a living Welfare reform encourages crime, lone parent families & unemployment Is an underclass because of an over-generous welfare system Creates a dependency culture No incentive to work AGAINST No Social exclusion is the issue Some people are excluded from society – not able to participate in society’s social, economic, political & cultural life Socially excluded people want to contribute to society but are unable to because social mobility is restricted, life chances are blocked by poor educational outcomes Cycle of deprivation Not an ‘underclass’ but people who are trapped in the cycle of deprivation’ Locked in to this because – have financial & material deprivation, are culturally deprived, have low skills, not able to find a high paid job

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that Britain is a classless society (12) FOR Functionalism Because society is meritocratic – based on hard work and effort, motivation Only the most talented, hard-working will achieve Inequality is legitimate Other views Social class does not matter any more; in the past people defined themselves by their social class background. E.g.manual workers working class, managers middle class Were old industries such as manufacturing, mining, shipbuilding – helped to define class; those industries have declined as have people’s working patterns – more white-collar jobs; decline in union membership Saunders argues that class does not matter; advantages of having a private education do not necessarily shape educational outcomes AGAINST Marxists Social class exists in Britain Furlong – class matters; higher education; top universities contain those from privileged backgrounds Curtice & Heath argue that people are as likely to identify themselves by social class as they did in the 1960s Similar material for question on class inequality

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that gender discrimination in the workplace remains an issue in Britain today (12) FOR Gender inequalities remain in the workplace Inequalities exist at work –men/women not in same occupations. E.g firefighting, secretaries, nurses When in same occupation women more likely to be paid less – management, banking; impact of the ‘glass ceiling’ Sex-discrimination, women’s triple shift, childcare responsibilities Live in a patriarchal society; men have a bigger share of wealth and rewards AGAINST Legislation such as the Sex Discrimination Act, Equal Pay Act have made it unlawful to treat someone differently because of their sex Sexism has been outlawed The gap between men and women is narrowing; there are increasing numbers of women in managerial positions and positions of authority

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that improving access to high quality education is the most effective way to increase upward social mobility (12) FOR Provides opportunities to achieve qualifications – go to university, achieve professional qualifications Qualifications act as an incentive and support the idea of society being meritocratic Saunders argues that motivation levels play an important part in social mobility; This is rewarded by working hard in school AGAINST Marxists Class structures reproduce themselves and restrict social mobility Social mobility would occur when revolutionary change occurs and capitalism is got rid of That way the wealth of society would be equally distributed and the majority of society would have access to educational opportunities, jobs, land and money Other views Changes in the occupational structure – a growth in white collar jobs (which has happened in Britain) mean more chances for upward mobility and fewer chances for downward

Social stratification Absolute poverty When people’s income is insufficient to survive; able to measure Relative poverty When people can’t meet the general standard of living of most other people; taken as an average Achieved status Social positions that are earned on personal talent or merit Ascribed status Social positions fixed at birth and unchanging. E.g lord Social stratification Way that society is structured or divided into hierarchy; privileged at the top. E.g. social class; based on income, power, wealth Apartheid Government policy of racial segregation; used as stratification Caste Religious form of stratification. E.g. operated in India, linked to Hinduism Cycle of deprivation Idea that deprivation and poverty are passed on from parents to their children Deprivation Lack of material resources Gender pay gap The difference between men’s and woman’s hourly earnings Glass ceiling An invisible barrier to promotion faced by some groups. E.g. women Income Flow of resources that individuals receive over time. E.g. cash, in kind (allowances) Inequalities Differences in the distribution of resources (income) or outcomes (education) Inter-generational social mobility Movement up or down between layers as measured between the generations of a family Intra-generational social mobility Movement of an individual over the course of their life; up or down the occupational structure Life chances An individuals chances of achieving positive or negative outcomes as they progress through life

Life cycle of poverty Meritocracy Social exclusion Social inequality Movement into or out of poverty at different stages during the course of a person’s life Meritocracy System where there is an equal chance to succeed; success is based on effort Social exclusion Being shut out or excluded from participation in society’s social, economic, political and cultural life. E.g excluded from buying goods, voting, being with family and friends Social inequality The uneven distribution of resources such as money and power, or of opportunities and outcomes linked to education/health Underclass Refer to a group whose attitudes and values are different from the mainstream; those who experience long-term poverty & are unable to work Vertical segregation Within the same occupation, women and men tend to be found in jobs at different levels Wealth Ownership of assets such as property, land, works of art, as well as money held in savings accounts and shares in companies Welfare dependency Idea that some groups remain in poverty because the welfare state encourages them with generous state provision Means tested benefits Welfare benefits that are allocated according to need. E.g. housing benefit, disability allowance Everyone seen as having an equal chance of success; success is based on ability and effort, not on social class, gender or ethnicity Poverty trap Being unable to escape poverty because of poor educational qualifications, few job opportunities in a locality for example