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.
• Asylum seeker

  A person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another.
• 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
• Environmental poverty

  Deprivation experienced in neighbourhoods that are ugly, unsafe and dirty and lack adequate services.
• Ethnic diversity

  A range of ethnic backgrounds.
• Ethnic group

  Distinct cultural, religious, traditional practices that identify a group.
• 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.
• Means testing

  A state test that determines if someone is in need of state benefits and assistance.
• Patriarchy


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

  Not being able to break out of poverty
• Racial discrimination

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

  Treating people of different ethnicities equally.
• Racial prejudice


  A negative attitude towards those of a different ethnic background.
• Racism


  The idea that some ethnic groups are superior or inferior.
• 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.
• Selective benefits

  These are provided on the basis of a claimant's income and circumstance. An example of a selective benefit is the Child Tax Credit.
• Sex/Gender Discrimination

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


  The idea 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.
• Social security

  Monetary assistance from the state for those with limited income.
• 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


  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.
• Voluntary sector

  The duty of social activity undertaken by organisations that are not-for-profit. Often these are charities.
• Wealth


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