Social Stratification

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infoWhy this? Examining social stratification helps us understand how wealth, income, status, and power structure inequalities in society. Comparing explanations of poverty and differences in life chances allows us to assess how social class, gender, ethnicity, and other social factors shape opportunities and power relationships.

scheduleWhy now? Earlier work on education, families, and crime gives us concrete examples of unequal opportunities and power relationships to bring together in this final unit. Revisiting Marxist and functionalist ideas alongside Weberian explanations extends our understanding of social hierarchy and allows us to evaluate inequality across the course.

The difference types of stratification in society
Functionalist explanations of social stratification
Marxist explanations of socio-economic class
Weberian explanations of socio-economic class
Different views on factors affecting life chances (gender, ethnicity, age, religion, disability and social class)
Different interpretations of poverty as a social issue
Different forms of power and authority
Different factors affecting power relationships

rocket_launchYou must be able to

Describe and explain the functionalist theory of stratification
Identity and describe socio-economic class divisions
Compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on socio-economic class
Identify and explain factors affecting life chances (gender, ethnicity, age, religion, disability and social class)
Compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on life chances
Identify and describe different interpretations of poverty as a social issue
Compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on poverty
Describe key ideas of Murray on the underclass including links to New Right theories
Identify and describe different forms of power and authority
Compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on power relationships

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