This document has 20 mark essays on explanations of inequalities. The main 4 inequalities being social class, gender, age and ethnicity. This document also has essay plans of potential 40 markers for the theory questions. The main ones such as Marxism, feminism, weberianism, functionalists, postmod...
(only use conflict theories when writing an explanation for 20
markers - Marxism, weberianism, feminism, critical race
theory)
You need two areas of life so two paragraphs/points and two
counter points - no evaluation just explanation
,Identify evidence of social class inequalities in 2 areas of
social life (20)
Social class inequalities are present in multiple aspects of life, such as education and health,
can be seen very clearly in data from the UK. There are several sociological theories which
seek to explain them.
POINT 1 One area of social life where we can see social class inequalities is education. The
first piece of evidence that demonstrates this is attainment data from the Department for
Education in 2023 (Key Stage 4 performance data). This shows the attainment gap between
students who are classed as being 'disadvantaged' and those that are not - measured through
the accessing of Free School Meals (FSM) by students. The data demonstrates a gap of over
15 points for Average Attainment 8 scores, between FSM students and all other pupils. 25% of
FSM students achieved a 5 in English and Maths, whereas 52% of students not on FSM
achieved a 5 in English and Maths.Sociologists such as Bourdieu explain differences in
educational attainment by pointing to cultural capital; the knowledge, attitudes and tastes of the
middle class. He argues that school has a middle class 'habitus' and that the cultural
knowledge, tastes and attitudes of the middle class are highly valued. This gives middle class
students with high levels of cultural capital, a distinct advantage as they are more likely to
develop intellectual interests and an understanding of what the education system requires for
success. Meanwhile working-class culture is devalued and seen as inferior, which can lead such
students to feel education isn't for them and also teachers to perceive them in a negative way.
In turn students can resist and withdraw, leading to exam failure.
CP 1: Another aspect of social inequality within education can be demonstrated by the data
from Sutton trust report on elitist Britain 2019 highlighting the prevalence of private schools. The
data exemplifies that Only 7% of all UK pupils attend private schools but still 42% of Oxbridge
places go to private school pupils. This demonstrates that Britain is ruled by the elite that attend
private school systems restricting an advantageous education for all. Sociologists, such as
Weber would argue that there are differences in educational attainment due to concept of social
closure that Weber introduces - this is where upper classes ensure that their prestige and power
are only passed on to their own which is maintained in education as seen from the data
above.Private school education in the eyes of Weber would also prompt higher social
connections alongside increasing political influence. This essentially gives students of the elite a
distinct advantage as they are more likely to understand what the education system requires for
success. Ruling classes use their privileged position and economic capital to gain private school
education and gain greater status and political influence by doing so, thus maintain their
position.
POINT 2: Another area of social life where we can see social class inequalities is health. The
first piece of evidence is rate of long terms conditions from the kings fund. This data shows how
deprivation due to low social class increases the likelihood of having more than one long term
condition at the same time. It highlights how on average people in the most deprived 1/5
develop multiple lt conditions 10 years earlier than those from the least deprived 1/5. Theories
such as Marxism would argue that this data supports how health is impacted by the effects of
capitalism – which is an economic system based on private ownership of the means of
production and the creation of profit through the sale of goods and services. Those who own the
means of production and able to take the profits thus increasing their wealth. This is where the
proletariat have to sell their labour and earn just enough to survive, while surplus value goes to
the Bourgeoisie. This explains why there are disparities in health due to social classes as
, capitalism leads to the proletariat having low standards of living; inadequate housing and poor
diets which all have a serious and long-lasting impact on their health. This reduces the life
expectancy of the working class.
CP 2: Another aspect of social inequality within health can be demonstrated by the data from
the Acheson report (1998) on premature morbidity. The data highlights that death before 65 was
higher among people who were unskilled. Death from accident, suicide and heart disease were
all higher among the lower classes than the higher classes. A theory that can explain this data is
weberianism, where they believe social closure and opportunity hoarding causes health issues
such as premature mobility. The elites restrict opportunities for the working classes through
different mechanisms. This can stop the working class being able to enter higher paid
professions with associated higher levels of income and disposable income. This directly
impacts the quality of housing and diet which are available to them and has a direct impact on
health, morbidity and life expectancy. Neo-weberanists, such as Rex and Tomlinson, also agree
with this further, they argue that poor housing impacts people's health and stress levels -
potentially causing higher mortality rates.
Identify evidence of gender inequalities in 2 areas of social
life (20)
Gender inequalities are present in multiple aspects of life, such as families and households as
well as workplace, and can be seen very clearly in data from the UK. There are several
sociological theories which seek to explain them.
POINT 1: One area of social life where we can see gender inequalities is families and
households. The first piece of evidence that demonstrates this is the differences in hours of
unpaid work from the ONS time use survey 2016. For example, the data demonstrates a
difference in the hours of unpaid work per week done by men which averages to 16 hours
whereas women do about 26 hours. This shows the differences in amount of unpaid work with
women taking up more of the domestic work (such as childcare, laundry and cleaning) than
men. Sociological perspectives such as radical feminists explain this inequality in unpaid
domestic work by pointing towards the patriarchy - which is a structure in society where men
cause exploitation and benefit from subjugating women. They argue that family is the root of
female oppression as men benefit from women's unpaid domestic labour and sexual services,
consequently putting women into the role of housewives.
CP 1: Another aspect of social inequality within families and households can be demonstrated
by the data from an ONS survey on parenting in lockdown 2020 which highlights the division of
childcare between men and women within a family and household. The data exemplifies that
during the first weeks of lockdown, women were carrying out on average 2/3 more of the
childcare duties per day than men. This demonstrates that women spend more time on
childcare which includes developmental childcare and supervision. Sociological perspectives
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