soci paper 2

• Conflict theory - A view of society that sees a struggle between different groups for control. E.g Marxism & Feminism
• Consensus theory - the idea that the people in society share a set of beliefs and aims. Functionalist believe that the parts of society can work together in harmony
• stratification - grouping of people into layers of a social hierarchy (often by power, status or class)
• differentiation - the differences that exist between social groups in the strata of society
• ageism - prejudice and discrimination based on a persons age
• disability - a person who is disabled is classed as disabled when they are unable long term to do everyday tasks as well other people due to physical or mental impairment
• discrimination - treating groups unfavourably usually based on prejudice because of their appearance or a social group they belong too
• inequality - the situation where some people have more wealth & better opportunities and might be seen as more important than others
• Moral panic -the media exaggerating a problem to appear as a threat to the whole society
• power - the ability of a person or group to get what they want & influence decisions
• prejudice - a view of a person based on their physical characteristics rather than knowing them as an individual. An example would be expecting a young person wearing a hoodie to be a trouble maker
• scapegoating - a person or group blamed for society’s problem. scapegoating diverts attention from real causes
• stereotype - an exaggerated simplified view of a group of people that can cause prejudice and discrimination
• functionalist on stratification

  • stratification is needed for society to be functional & fair it should be meritocratic
  • poverty is functional for society as it motivates people into working harder, without inequality, society wouldn’t be based on meritocracy
• functionalist on stratification

  • davis & moore presented the idea of role allocation in which the best jobs are given to those who work the harders
  • in which they get the best reward e.g best jobs, good salarys etc
• new right on stratification

  • Peter Saunders says society needs stratification to make it work as well as possible
  • we need to give unequal rewards (high salaries) to those who get to the top as they have workerd the hardest to get there
  • everyone should strive for the top paying jobs
• Marxist on stratification

  • society is stratified by class the bourgeoise & proletrait
  • the middle class own property
  • the working class dont own anything but sell their labour (by working) for the middle class
• Marxist on stratification

  • the middle class own means of production & exploit the working class, maximising profit for themselves at the expense of the poor
  • their position in society allowed them to control ideas & justify inequality in other parts of society
• class inequalities have become much worse under capitalism
• weber on stratification

  • he believes people gain their position in society due to their identity : class, status & power
• weber on stratification - class

  • part of the middle class who own means of production or working class who sell their labour to the means of production
• weber on stratification - class

  • market position is your earning potential
  • you may not earn that much money now but will in the future e.g studying law atm but not making money but potentially will in the future
• weber on stratification - status

  • how important your occupation is seen society
  • some jobs have highest status than others, but does not mean it comes with rewards/higher pay
• weber on stratification - power (party)

  • is the ability to influence things
  • Power can be obtained by belonging to groups outside of your job
  • e.g member of political party, school governor or trustee
• social control - the means by which order is kept in society
• formal agents of social control - police, courts, or government those who break the law get sanctioned with going to prison
• Informal agents of social control - family, peer groups, education system those whole break the rules get informal sanctions e.g being kicked out of the friend group or having a detention at school
• Authority - is having the power to give orders or make decisions
• Weber theory of authority

  • traditional - based on a long established custom e.g the royal family
• weber theory on authority

  • charismatic - has authority due to your personalities & ideas
  • People follow their charisma ideas
  • e.g Martin Luther King
• weber theory on authority

  • rational - legal authority - authority gained through going through a particular system in which you have been chosen for the role which gives authority
  • e.g prime minister
• power - the ability to influence things or get things done, power can be used formally or informally depending on the situation
• Fiona Devine

  • affluent workers a way to describe the way working classes people are becoming gradually riches due to higher wages etc
• Prejudice & discrimination

  • prejudice is seen as a pre judgement of somebody, you come up with an idea based on your pre - conceptions of that person e.g stereotype
  • discrimination is acting in that prejudice
• moral panic - the media exaggerating a problem making it seem like a threat to the whole of society e.g worry about the behaviour of young people in gangs
• media representation - the ways that groups are shown by society & the media e.g how disabled people are shown
• status - your position in society based on how your seen or your occupation
• gender & differentiation

  • patriarchy, men have more power & control over women in various social institutions (family, education & crime)
  • walby said men are able to control women in several different ways, men domniate paid work & women are paid less
• gender & differentiation

  • the glass ceiling in which is a invisible barrier stopping women from reaching the top workplaces/society
• gender & differentiation

  • the idea that men no longer have an established identity or “purpose“ in society like they use to
  • e.g men use to be breadwinner not so much anynore due to position of women changing