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GCSE Sociology Social Stratification Notes - Free PDF with AQA Exam Questions

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Gurvs77

27/06/2023

Sociology

GCSE Sociology Social Stratification

GCSE Sociology Social Stratification Notes - Free PDF with AQA Exam Questions

Social Stratification in GCSE Sociology: A Comprehensive Overview

This document provides an in-depth exploration of social stratification for GCSE Sociology students, covering key concepts, theories, and factors affecting life chances.

  • Defines crucial terms related to social stratification and inequality
  • Examines theories of social stratification from functionalist, Marxist, and feminist perspectives
  • Analyzes the impact of class, gender, ethnicity, and age on life chances
  • Discusses policies aimed at reducing inequality and their effectiveness
...

27/06/2023

2774

Key terms
Absolute poverty - Not being able to afford the basic
things you need to survive in life e.g. food, clothing,
Achieved status - So

View

Theories of Social Stratification and Factors Affecting Life Chances

This page delves into the theories of social stratification and examines various factors that influence life chances, providing crucial information for students preparing for GCSE Sociology social stratification past papers.

The document presents three main theoretical perspectives on social stratification:

  1. Functionalist Theory: Highlight: Functionalists view social stratification as positive for society, believing it is based on meritocracy where status is 'achieved' through hard work and effort.
  2. Marxist Theory: Highlight: Marxists consider social stratification negative for society, arguing that it is based on conflict and that status is 'ascribed' at birth by class and cannot be changed.
  3. Feminist Theory: Highlight: Feminists also view social stratification negatively, focusing on how it is based on conflict and patriarchy, with top roles filled by men and women lower in the hierarchy.

The page then explores how class affects life chances, presenting arguments for and against its influence:

Example: Marxists argue that working classes have poorer opportunities in education, employment, health, and housing, while Functionalists contend that society is based on meritocracy with equal chances to succeed.

The document also addresses the question of whether distinct classes still exist in society:

Quote: "Yes - Marxists - still a divide between the working and middle classes. Life chances are still poorer for the working class, low social mobility."

Gender's impact on life chances is also discussed:

Example: Feminists argue that women have poorer life chances due to patriarchy, being less likely to be CEOs, facing a glass ceiling, and experiencing a persistent pay gap.

The page concludes by briefly mentioning other factors affecting life chances, such as ethnicity, age, disability, sexuality, and religion/beliefs. This comprehensive overview provides students with a solid foundation for understanding Social stratification theories for gcse sociology aqa and prepares them for exam questions on these topics.

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Sociology

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GCSE Sociology Social Stratification Notes - Free PDF with AQA Exam Questions

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Gurvs77

@gurvzzz0777

Social Stratification in GCSE Sociology: A Comprehensive Overview

This document provides an in-depth exploration of social stratification for GCSE Sociology students, covering key concepts, theories, and factors affecting life chances.

  • Defines crucial terms related to social stratification and inequality
  • Examines... Show more

Key terms
Absolute poverty - Not being able to afford the basic
things you need to survive in life e.g. food, clothing,
Achieved status - So

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Theories of Social Stratification and Factors Affecting Life Chances

This page delves into the theories of social stratification and examines various factors that influence life chances, providing crucial information for students preparing for GCSE Sociology social stratification past papers.

The document presents three main theoretical perspectives on social stratification:

  1. Functionalist Theory: Highlight: Functionalists view social stratification as positive for society, believing it is based on meritocracy where status is 'achieved' through hard work and effort.
  2. Marxist Theory: Highlight: Marxists consider social stratification negative for society, arguing that it is based on conflict and that status is 'ascribed' at birth by class and cannot be changed.
  3. Feminist Theory: Highlight: Feminists also view social stratification negatively, focusing on how it is based on conflict and patriarchy, with top roles filled by men and women lower in the hierarchy.

The page then explores how class affects life chances, presenting arguments for and against its influence:

Example: Marxists argue that working classes have poorer opportunities in education, employment, health, and housing, while Functionalists contend that society is based on meritocracy with equal chances to succeed.

The document also addresses the question of whether distinct classes still exist in society:

Quote: "Yes - Marxists - still a divide between the working and middle classes. Life chances are still poorer for the working class, low social mobility."

Gender's impact on life chances is also discussed:

Example: Feminists argue that women have poorer life chances due to patriarchy, being less likely to be CEOs, facing a glass ceiling, and experiencing a persistent pay gap.

The page concludes by briefly mentioning other factors affecting life chances, such as ethnicity, age, disability, sexuality, and religion/beliefs. This comprehensive overview provides students with a solid foundation for understanding Social stratification theories for gcse sociology aqa and prepares them for exam questions on these topics.

Key terms
Absolute poverty - Not being able to afford the basic
things you need to survive in life e.g. food, clothing,
Achieved status - So

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Key Terms and Concepts in Social Stratification

This page introduces essential vocabulary and concepts related to social stratification and inequality, crucial for understanding GCSE Sociology social stratification.

The document begins by defining key terms that are fundamental to the study of social stratification. These definitions provide a solid foundation for students to grasp more complex ideas in the field.

Vocabulary: Absolute poverty is defined as the inability to afford basic necessities for survival, such as food and clothing.

Vocabulary: Achieved status refers to social positions earned through personal talent, merit, and effort, rather than being fixed at birth.

Vocabulary: Ascribed status, in contrast, describes social positions or status that are fixed at birth oftenduetoclassoften due to class and do not change over time.

The page also introduces more advanced concepts, such as the culture of dependency and the glass ceiling, which are crucial for understanding modern social issues.

Definition: The culture of dependency theory suggests that the welfare system encourages people to remain on benefits rather than support themselves through work.

Definition: The glass ceiling is an invisible barrier in employment that prevents certain groups, such as women or ethnic minorities, from gaining promotions.

The document further explores concepts related to social mobility and stratification, providing students with a comprehensive vocabulary to discuss these topics.

Highlight: Social mobility, defined as the ability to move up the social ladder, is a key concept in understanding how individuals can change their social status over time.

Definition: Social stratification is described as how society is structured in a hierarchy of layers based on factors such as age, gender, and class.

This page serves as an excellent reference for students studying Social stratification GCSE Sociology AQA, providing them with the necessary terminology to engage with more complex discussions and exam questions on the topic.

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Stefan S

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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

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Sudenaz Ocak

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In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

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This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

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