Welcome to Inequalities: Understanding the Social Ladder
Hello future Sociologists! This chapter is one of the most important—and sometimes frustrating—parts of the course. Why frustrating? Because we look at how society isn't always fair. Inequality means difference, but specifically, differences that lead to unequal outcomes in wealth, power, and opportunities.
Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! We will break down complex ideas like social class and poverty using simple steps and real-world examples. By the end, you’ll be able to explain exactly why some people have massive advantages, and others face huge barriers.
Let’s dive in!
Quick Review Box: The Section Context
We are studying "Differences and Inequalities." Remember, not all differences are inequalities. Being tall versus short is a difference. Having access to excellent education versus no education is an inequality because it affects your life chances (your opportunities for success).
1. The Pillars of Inequality: Wealth, Income, Power, and Status
Sociologists look at four main ways people are unequal. It’s important to know the difference between these:
1.1 Wealth vs. Income (A crucial distinction!)
These two terms are often confused, but they mean very different things.
Income:
This is the money flowing in—what you earn regularly. Think of it like a stream or a monthly salary.
- Wages (from a job)
- Benefits (from the government)
- Pensions
Wealth:
This is the money and assets you already own. Think of it as a giant pond or savings account. Wealth generates more wealth and is usually passed down through generations.
- Savings and investments
- Property (houses, land)
- Valuable items (art, gold)
Analogy: Imagine someone wins the lottery ($10 million). That is a boost to their wealth. If they quit their job, their income is now zero. A famous sports star might have high income, but if they spend it all, they build little wealth.
1.2 Power and Status
Power:
The ability to make decisions and influence the behaviour of others, even if they resist. Power can be held by individuals (like a CEO or President) or groups (like a political party).
- Example: A teacher has power over students in the classroom.
- Example: The government has power over citizens through laws.
Status:
The amount of respect, honour, or prestige a person or group is given by others in society. Status is often linked to occupation.
- High Status occupations: Doctors, judges, professors.
- Low Status occupations: Jobs that pay poorly and require little training.
Did you know? Sometimes, people have high status but relatively low income (e.g., a dedicated charity worker), and sometimes people have high income but relatively low status (e.g., a professional gambler).
Key Takeaway 1:
Inequality isn't just about cash! It’s about wealth (what you own), income (what you earn), power (who you can control), and status (how much respect you get).
2. Social Stratification and Systems of Inequality
Sociologists use the term Social Stratification to describe how people are ranked or layered in society based on the four pillars above. It means society is divided into a hierarchy (a ladder or pyramid).
2.1 Two Major Systems of Stratification
How a society is stratified determines how easy it is for people to change their position.
1. Closed Systems (Caste)
- Definition: Stratification based on ascribed status—your position is fixed at birth and cannot be changed.
- Key Feature: There is virtually no social mobility (moving up or down).
- Example: Historically, the traditional Indian Caste System, where one's family name and birth determined their job, marriage partner, and social interaction for life.
2. Open Systems (Class)
- Definition: Stratification based on achieved status—your position is determined by your effort, talent, and choices (meritocracy).
- Key Feature: There is social mobility (theoretically, you can move up or down the class ladder).
- Example: Modern industrial societies like the UK, USA, or many European countries use a class system, though movement is often restricted by inherited wealth or poverty.
2.2 Understanding Social Class
In modern class systems, sociologists often identify a simplified three-part division:
- Upper Class: Owns significant wealth (inherited or industrial), property, and holds high levels of power and influence.
- Middle Class: Often defined by non-manual jobs (white-collar workers), higher education, and decent incomes, but rarely hold inherited wealth.
- Working Class: Often defined by manual labour (blue-collar workers), lower wages, and less job security.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse "class" with just "money." Class also includes lifestyle, education, dialect, and cultural tastes (sometimes called cultural capital).
Key Takeaway 2:
Stratification means society has layers. A Caste system is closed (position fixed at birth); a Class system is open (position can change).
3. Defining and Measuring Poverty
Poverty is the state of being extremely poor, but sociologists measure it in two very important ways:
3.1 Absolute Poverty (Life-Threatening)
Definition: The lack of resources necessary for survival. This involves not having enough food, clean water, shelter, or basic medical care.
- This definition is usually applied globally and involves threats to physical survival.
- Memory Aid: Absolute = Absolutely necessary for life.
3.2 Relative Poverty (Societal Comparison)
Definition: Being poor compared to the rest of society. It means a lack of resources that prevents a person from participating fully in the normal life of their society.
- If 60% of people in your country can afford a car, and you cannot, you are in relative poverty.
- If you cannot afford internet access or adequate clothing to fit in at school, you are suffering from relative poverty.
- This type of poverty affects life chances by causing shame, exclusion, and lower educational outcomes.
3.3 The Impact on Life Chances
Life Chances (a term popularised by sociologist Max Weber) refers to the opportunities each person has to improve their quality of life.
People in poverty usually have reduced life chances in critical areas:
- Health: Poorer diets, worse housing, lower access to preventative medicine lead to lower life expectancy.
- Education: Lack of resources (books, computers, quiet study space) and school funding gaps often mean lower academic success.
- Employment: Fewer qualifications and networks often mean lower-paid, less secure jobs (known as precarious employment).
Key Takeaway 3:
Absolute poverty is about survival. Relative poverty is about exclusion and disadvantage compared to your neighbours, and it severely limits life chances.
4. Social Mobility: Moving Up and Down the Ladder
Social Mobility is the movement of individuals or groups between social classes or status levels. It tells us how 'open' or 'closed' a society truly is.
4.1 Types of Mobility
There are two main ways sociologists measure movement:
1. Inter-generational Mobility:
Movement that occurs between generations. It compares the social position of children to their parents.
- Example: A child of a factory worker becomes a successful lawyer (Upward mobility).
- Example: A child of a highly-paid doctor becomes unemployed (Downward mobility).
2. Intra-generational Mobility:
Movement that occurs within one person's lifetime.
- Example: Starting as a retail assistant and working your way up to become the store manager.
4.2 Factors Affecting Mobility
Even in theoretically "open" class systems, mobility is not always easy. Key factors include:
- Gender and Ethnicity: Certain groups face systemic barriers (discrimination, prejudice) that limit their movement.
- Education: This is often called the "passport to success," as educational qualifications are critical for accessing higher-status jobs.
- Inheritance: People who inherit wealth (even a small amount for a deposit on a house) start much further up the ladder, making upward mobility easier.
Encouraging Note: While structural factors make movement difficult, sociology shows that hard work and education do increase your chances for upward mobility, especially inter-generationally!
Key Takeaway 4:
Social Mobility measures movement. Inter-generational compares parent to child; Intra-generational compares one person's life stages.
5. Global Inequality: The Rich World and The Poor World
Inequality doesn't stop at national borders; it exists between countries too. Global inequality is the vast difference in wealth, income, and life chances between nations.
5.1 Classifying Global Differences
Sociologists often use broad terms to categorise nations based on economic development and wealth:
- Global North (or High-Income Countries): Industrialised, wealthy nations (e.g., North America, Western Europe, Japan). They have high GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and high standards of living.
- Global South (or Low/Middle-Income Countries): Nations that are industrialising or rely heavily on primary industries (agriculture, resource extraction). They often have lower GDP and widespread poverty.
Did you know? Even within rich countries (Global North), deep poverty exists, and within poor countries (Global South), there are often extremely wealthy elites.
5.2 Understanding the Causes of Global Inequality
Why do some countries stay rich and others remain poor?
1. Historical Factors (Colonialism):
Past exploitation where powerful nations took resources and controlled the economies of weaker nations has lasting negative effects.
2. Debt and Trade:
Many poorer nations owe massive debts to rich nations or international banks. They must spend their limited money paying interest rather than investing in education or health.
3. Internal Conflict and Corruption:
War, political instability, and corrupt governments can prevent economic growth and scare off investment.
4. Technology Gap:
High-income countries have advanced technology that boosts productivity, while low-income countries often lack the resources to access or implement this technology.
Key Takeaway 5:
Global inequality separates the Global North (rich, industrialised) from the Global South (poorer, developing). This gap is maintained by historical factors, trade rules, and internal issues.
Chapter Summary: Quick Review
Remember these five core concepts, and you are ready for the exam!
- The Pillars: Wealth (what you own) and Income (what you earn) are different.
- Stratification: Societies are layered. We mainly study Class systems (open) over Caste systems (closed).
- Poverty: It is defined as Absolute (survival) or Relative (compared to others).
- Mobility: Movement up or down the ladder. Look at Inter-generational vs. Intra-generational.
- Global Scale: Inequality exists between the wealthy Global North and the struggling Global South.
Keep revising these key terms and you will master this chapter!