7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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