WJEC Eduqas GCSE Sociology sample

Inequality Inequality is at the heart of sociology. This chapter will present different views of inequality. All of the major theories of sociology have something to say about the subject of inequality. Life-chances Knowledge At its simplest, inequality means that some people have more wealth and better opportunities than others and might be seen as more important than others. When sociologists talk about equality they are usually talking about life-chances . These are the opportunities people have of enjoying the good things in life and avoiding the unpleasant things. Life-chances include, on the positive side, becoming wealthy and having a good job that pays well. They also include: enjoying a good lifestyle , for example being healthy and having a long life expectancy , taking holidays, living in a large house, having leisure and culture opportunities, retiring early and having a good quality of life . Things good life-chances would help you avoid include: poor exam results, poor health, low-paid work, unemployment, poverty , being a victim of crime, and prison. Inequality and society Theory Some sociologists believe that inequality and the rewards of better life-chances are needed to help society run smoothly. Not everyone can be rich and enjoy all the best things in life. These sociologists agree with the functionalist view. Marxists would want to see much greater equality. Social differentiation and stratification 122 Chapter 4 WHAT AM I GOING TO LEARN? To find out about different types of inequality and why they are important for sociology. Starter ... List 5 to 10 ways that people are unequal in your school. Think about power , privilege , rewards, opportunities. Why is this so? Would the school system work if everyone was equal? What would school be like? What do you notice about the picture? What does it suggest?