AQA GCSE Sociology: Social Stratification

Overview

• Discusses the social stratification section for AQA GCSE sociology.
• Importance of watching the video before exams and using it to identify weak areas.
• Encourages taking multiple-choice questions on their website.

Lesson 1: Functionalist Theory of Stratification

• Definition: Social stratification is the unequal distribution of resources and privileges among different groups in society.
• Functionalist View:
  • Stratification is necessary for role allocation and motivation.
  • Different social classes perform essential functions for societal functioning.
  • Link between stratification and rewards motivates effort and success.
  • Critiques: It may not ensure the best people get the best jobs and can lead to social problems.
• Davis and Moore:
  • Certain roles are more important and require more skills/training.
  • Social stratification ensures these roles are filled by qualified individuals.
  • Promises of high rewards motivate skill acquisition and societal contribution.

Marxist and Feminist Perspectives

• Marxist Critique:
  • Functionalist theories overlook how stratification maintains power for the ruling class.
  • Stratification results from class struggle.
• Feminist Critique:
  • Functionalist theories ignore gendered stratification and patriarchal structures.
  • Highlight intersectionality with racism and classism, impacting mobility.

Lesson 2: Socioeconomic Class in the UK

• Class Categories:
  • Upper Class: Wealthy, powerful, positions in politics, business.
  • Middle Class: Well-educated, professional jobs, comfortable living.
  • Working Class: Manual jobs, lower income, renting homes.
• Factors Shaping Class Divisions: Industrial Revolution, globalization, gig economy, and housing issues.

Lesson 3: Theoretical Perspectives on Socioeconomic Class

• Functionalist View:
  • Classes perform essential societal functions, ensuring smooth operation.
• Marxist View:
  • Class divisions result from class struggle, maintaining inequality.
  • Exploitation of working class by ruling class.
• Feminist Perspective:
  • Class divisions are gendered, perpetuating inequality.

Lesson 4: Life Chances

• Definition: Opportunities and resources for improving well-being and goals.
• Factors Affecting Life Chances:
  • Lower social class, gender, minority backgrounds, age, disabilities.
• Theoretical Perspectives:
  • Functionalists: Inequality reflects talent and effort.
  • Marxists: Reflects unequal resource distribution.
  • Feminists: Highlight gender disparities.

Lesson 5: Divine's Affluent Worker

• Concept: Decline in class consciousness, focus on personal needs.
• Goldthorpe's Affluent Worker:
  • Skilled workers achieving affluence, aligning with capitalist class.
  • Resist wealth redistribution.
• Fiona Devine's Research:
  • Working class still resent capitalist system.

Lesson 6: Poverty as a Social Issue

• Definitions:
  • Absolute Poverty: Lack of basic necessities.
  • Relative Poverty: Inability to partake in standard societal activities.
• Factors Influencing Poverty:
  • Culture of poverty, material deprivation, government policies, globalization.
• Theoretical Perspectives:
  • Functionalists: View poverty as necessary for low-cost labor.
  • Marxists: Poverty stems from capitalist exploitation.
  • Feminists: Patriarchal structures contribute to poverty.

Lesson 7: Townsend's Relative Deprivation

• Concept: Poverty is understood in relation to societal conditions and opportunities.

Lesson 8: Murray's Underclass

• Concept: Underclass results from welfare dependency.
• Characteristics: Excluded from mainstream, dependent, seeks traditional values.

Lesson 9: Power and Authority

• Definitions:
  • Power: Ability to influence others.
  • Authority: Right to make decisions.
• Types of Power/Authority: Traditional, charismatic, rational-legal, formal, informal.
• Sociological Perspectives:
  • Functionalism: Essential for order.
  • Marxism: Used by ruling class to maintain dominance.
  • Feminism: Highlights gendered power distribution.

Lesson 10: Weber on Power and Authority

• Types of Authority: Traditional, charismatic, rational-legal.
• Legitimacy: Importance for obedience.
• Bureaucracy: Efficient organization of power.

Lesson 11: Power Relationships

• Factors Influencing Power: Social class, gender, sexuality, race, age, disability, religion.
• Sociological Perspectives:
  • Functionalism: Power maintains societal order.
  • Marxism: Reflects class dominance.
  • Feminism: Argues for redistributing power.

Lesson 12: Walby's Patriarchy Theory

• Structures of Patriarchy:
  • Paid work, state laws, household labor, sexuality norms, gender violence, cultural norms.
• Impact: Reinforces gender inequality and limits women’s autonomy.