social inequality

• Absolute poverty

  Not having the basic necessities to live e.g. food, shelter and clothing.
• Ascribed status


  A status you are born into or given.
• Ageism

  A situation when someone is treated differently because of their age.
• Achieved status

  A status you work hard to achieve.
• Culture of poverty

  The theory that certain groups and individuals tend to persist in a state of poverty because they have distinct beliefs, values and behaviour that are incompatible with economic success.
• Cycle of deprivation


  The idea that if you're born into poverty, you are likely to stay in it for your whole life.
• Dependency culture


  When someone relies on benefits from the government and does not try to support themself
• Ethnic diversity

  A range of ethnic backgrounds in society
• Ethnic group


  A group with distinct cultural, religious and traditional practices
• Ethnic minority

  An ethnic group that is of a low percentage in a country or geographical area.
• Glass ceiling

  The invisible barrier preventing women and BAME people reaching top jobs
• Income


  The amount of money you have coming into your household.
• Institutional racism


  Racism within the institutions of society, e.g, education and the criminal justice system.
• Life chances

  The way that our social characteristics affect our chances in life.
• Old Boys network


  An expression that describes an exclusive informal 'club' that often consists of white upper class males who have achieved success and power. Often related to the elite schools and universities they have attended
• Patriarchy


  A society in which men hold power over women.
• Poverty trap

  How people get stuck and are unable to break out of poverty
• Racial discrimination/racism

  Treating someone differently because of their ethnic background.
• Racial equality

  Treating people of different ethnicities equally.
• Relative poverty

  When someone is poor compared to others in society. They don't have the things needed to take part in normal social activity.
• Scapegoat


  A person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others.
• Sex/Gender Discrimination

  Treating someone differently because of their sex and/or gender.
• Sexism


  The belief that one sex is better than another.
• Social exclusion

  When people are unable, or feel unable, to play a full part in society.
• Social mobility

  The ability to move up or down the social ladder.
• Socio-economic class

  An economic and sociological measure of a person's work experience and of an individual's or family's economic and social position in relation to others,
• Social stratification

  The way society is structured or divided into hierarchal layers.
• Stereotype


  Assuming something about someone because of a key feature about them e.g. their ethnicity, age or religion
• Subjective poverty

  A person's belief that they are poor.
• Underclass


  The class of those who are poor, seldom employed, and caught in long-term deprivation that results from low levels of education and income and high rates of unemployment
• unemployment


  Not being in a job or in education/ training.
• Universal Credit

  A single monthly payment for people in or out of work.
• Wealth


  Ownership of assets such as property, land and works of art, as well as money held in savings accounts and shares in companies.
• Welfare state


  The government taking responsibility for the health and financial well-being of the population.