Social Stratification | AQA GCSE Sociology (8192)
Social Stratification
- 133 questions
- 6 subtopics
- Paper 2
- Paper 2
Social Stratification is examined in Paper 2, The sociology of crime and deviance and social stratification.
It covers functionalist theory of stratification, Marx, Weber and socio-economic class, factors affecting life chances, poverty as a social issue, forms of power and authority and power relationships.
Sample questions from Social Stratification
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
-
Functionalist theory of stratification
What is a meritocracy, and why do functionalists link it to stratification?
Show the answer
A meritocracy is a society in which positions are allocated by talent and effort rather than background. Functionalists argue that modern Britain rewards merit, so inequality is fair. -
Functionalist theory of stratification
Give two criticisms of Davis and Moore's theory.
Show the answer
Many poorly paid jobs, such as nursing and refuse collection, are vital to society. Pay may reflect a group's power rather than its importance, as with very high executive salaries. -
Marx, Weber and socio-economic class
Who were the petty bourgeoisie and the lumpenproletariat in Marx's theory?
Show the answer
The petty bourgeoisie are small business owners, such as shopkeepers, who own a little capital. The lumpenproletariat are the very poorest, such as beggars and criminals, who are outside regular work. -
Marx, Weber and socio-economic class
How did Weber's view of class differ from Marx's?
Show the answer
Weber agreed that owning property was the main class division. Unlike Marx, Weber expected the middle class to grow rather than the classes to polarise. -
Factors affecting life chances
How can religion and belief affect life chances?
Show the answer
Religious prejudice, such as Islamophobia or antisemitism, can limit opportunities at work and in public life. The Equality Act 2010 makes discrimination on grounds of religion or belief unlawful. -
Factors affecting life chances
What did Devine find about affluent workers' attitudes to class and politics?
Show the answer
Many of Devine's respondents resented inherited wealth and saw extreme class inequality as unjust. Most had lost faith in the Labour Party's ability to create a fairer society. -
Poverty as a social issue
What is material deprivation, and how does it explain poverty?
Show the answer
Material deprivation is a lack of money and essential goods such as adequate food, heating and housing. Structural explanations blame low wages, unemployment and inadequate benefits rather than the values of the poor. Environmental poverty is living in a damaging environment, such as damp housing or polluted streets. -
Poverty as a social issue
How does Murray's underclass theory reflect New Right ideas about poverty?
Show the answer
The New Right blames poverty on individual behaviour and an over-generous welfare state rather than on the structure of society. Murray follows this by arguing that benefits reward worklessness and lone parenthood.
The 6 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Functionalist theory of stratification | Slavery, caste, feudalism and class, ascribed and achieved status, social mobility and meritocracy, Davis and Moore's theory, and the criticisms from Tumin, Marxists and feminists. | 18 |
| Marx, Weber and socio-economic class | Socio-economic and subjective class, the NS-SEC, Marx on the means of production, ideology and class struggle, Weber's market situation, status and party, and proletarianisation. | 18 |
| Factors affecting life chances | How class, gender, ethnicity, age, disability, sexuality and religion affect life chances, income and wealth, and Devine's Affluent Workers Revisited and embourgeoisement. | 23 |
| Poverty as a social issue | Absolute, relative and subjective poverty, Townsend's relative deprivation, the culture of poverty, Murray and the underclass, the welfare state, and the four perspectives on poverty. | 26 |
| Forms of power and authority | Power, authority and coercion, Weber's traditional, charismatic and rational-legal authority, bureaucracy, pluralism and elite theory, liberal democracy, and parties and pressure groups. | 26 |
| Power relationships | Power at work and trade unions, class dealignment, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age, disability and religion, and Walby's six structures of private and public patriarchy. | 22 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
-
Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
-
Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
-
Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA GCSE Sociology Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 578 questions with their answers.