- Members of the aristocracy may have no savings but their title gives them status
- Nurses may lack wealth but have high status
- National Lottery millionaire may be very wealthy but lack status
The official definition however of social classes as of the government’s definition that is having the same social, economic, or educational status; for example the working class and the upper class.
Social inequality is also linked to racial inequality and wealth inequality. The way people behave socially, through racism and other forms of discrimination, tends to trickle down and affect the opportunities and wealth individuals can generate for themselves. One example of this is how a black family was denied a bank loan to use for housing, while a white family was approved. As being a homeowner is an important method in acquiring wealth, this situation created fewer opportunities for the black family to acquire wealth, producing social inequality.
The influence of social class profoundly pressurises ones life chances. The income of people in higher social classes increased more than those in lower classes. For example, between April 1993 and April 1994 the top 10% of earners say their pay increase from 3.4% where as on the contrary, the bottom 10% averaged a increase of only a meagre 1.1%. Also education and health are both aspects which create social class. The higher a child’s social class background, the more chance he or she has of achieving high educational qualifications. For example, in 2001, 81% of university students came from middle class backgrounds. In 1995, men from unskilled manual backgrounds were three times more likely to smoke than those from professional backgrounds.
The aims of the research are to determine the amount of social inequality depending on the issues which enclose it. I also aim to establish an idea of who is affected mostly and how. My final aim is to investigate on the sociologists explanations towards social inequality and if any of them then are alike to my set of results.
Throughout this coursework, I then will prove how social class can affect people’s lives. This has led me to my hypothesis;
“Social inequality is still in existence and effects people’s lives.”
Methodology
These research methods I have chosen is adequate to my investigation as my source can easily go through it with varied options also I can to collect large amounts of data. I have chosen in as my primary research methods; a questionnaire and interview. The methods would be going through a questionnaire, and explore and note people’s views upon this matter.
By choosing an informal type interview, I can get a background idea of what people think without pressurising them into saying their opinion while being still professional. However weaknesses for a questionnaire; it may be ignored or neglected by people. Also it may not always be the truth, especially on sensitive issues, for example, the social issues they may have experienced. Also those who may be impatient may quickly go through it and not get to answer the questions in detail or to show their wider view. Lastly the answers may not contain a participant’s view so they would not have a say in that specific question. Despite its flaws, the actual method is quick and simple and gets to the point in a short matter of time hence is then being useful.
For my sample method I have chosen to do a quota sample. As opposed to random sampling, quota sampling need that representative individuals are chosen out of a specific group depending on their gender, age, race but most importantly class. This method of sampling is suitable for my investigation as it gives a good range of answers from the people who happen to be affected by it and not. Also it will give me large range of answers due to gender, age, race and class opinions and beliefs. However it may be biased as there isn’t a third party who may not have anything to do with the issue to give their views on the contrast to random sampling.
For interviews, by creating a detailed set of questions regarding social inequality; I will then interview a certain set of people. From this I can establish a varied set of results from the most distinguished stratified groups; gender and class. Why I chose this appropriate method is because it gives the interviewee to opportunity to explain to thorough detailed answers, also the choice of answers may accompany the reasons to justify their answer. In depth information can be obtained and avoids oversimplifying multifarious issues.
However this method of interviewing has its imperfections. Often by conducting this interview it consumes the amount of time and the amount of people hence slowing the whole process down. Also for some subjects people may not want to be interviewed on this subject due to their own issues or experiences. Considering also that the interviewer may cast a certain impression upon the interviewee which may increase or decrease the amount of pressure upon them, thus affecting the answers and the whole investigation. So therefore I should therefore In spite of the research method’s flaws, it is still very useful due to its consistent and meticulous answering system as in contrast to questionnaires.
Though the interview itself, I will interview those who are most affected upon the subject. By interviewing different classes, ages, gender and race, I can establish a sense of the whole idea of it from a mixture of the different ends of the social spectrum.
There are many ethical issues which surround the whole investigation and may affect the participants. Many people may feel insecure about answering such a question as it may affect them personal or had affected them in a way. We can safely say the questions will not contain unsuitable or non professional questions. Also the questionnaire will contain a optional type system in which the participant may not have to enter. The only data they will have to add is class and age. These are the two factors that the whole investigation revolves around. Also the information gathered and the identities of the participants will be held in the strictest of confidence. The participants will have to be above a certain age such as 21; it is important to gather information from young people and older people as it may affect them in different ways such as getting a job. If participants are worried with the information they will not need to add their names or addresses only age and occupation.
Questionnaire
Social inequality questionnaire.
Personal speciation; please tick or fill in the details. All are optional questions apart from bold which are compulsory.
Age:
Occupation: ........................................................................
Sex: Male Female
___________________________________________________________________________
Please answer the following questions in order to help us get the detail information we require for our analysis.
1. Do you agree social inequality is still in existence?
Yes No
Other: ……………………………….......................................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................……………………………….........................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................………………………………..........................................................................................
2.
Yes No
If yes: ……………………………….......................................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................……………………………….........................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................………………………………..........................................................................................
3. Do you think the taxing system in Britain today is fair? If no, please explain why.
Yes No
Explain why: ……………………………….......................................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................……………………………….........................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................………………………………..........................................................................................
4. Is the national healthcare prioritizes itself to the upper classes then middle and lower? If so how?
Yes No
Explain how: ……………………………….......................................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................……………………………….........................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................………………………………..........................................................................................
5. Do you believe it is easier for an upper class 21 year old to get a job over the same aged lower class adult considering they have the same education? If so why?
Yes No
Explain why: ……………………………….......................................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................……………………………….........................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................………………………………..........................................................................................
6. In society today, do you think we neglect those who may be less privileged than us? If so how?
Yes No
Explain how: ……………………………….......................................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................……………………………….........................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................………………………………..........................................................................................
7. Do you think the benefit system is a financial safety net for temporarily unemployed citizens?
Please express your opinions about it:
……………………………….......................................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................……………………………….........................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................………………………………..........................................................................................
8. Do you think that Britain will ever become a social utopia?
Yes No
Please express your opinions about it:
……………………………….......................................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................……………………………….........................................................................................................……………………………….....................................................................................................................................………………………………..........................................................................................
9. These five diagrams below show different types of society. Please read the descriptions and look at the diagrams and decide which think best describes modern day Britain today.
a) What type of society is Britain today - which is it today:
A
B
C
D
b) What type of society would you prefer and think should be enforced in Britain?
A
B
C
D
Interview Questions
The questions I have allocated for my interviews will be mostly resemble the questions of the questionnaire however this being an interview, it will enclose the opportunity for the actual interviewee to give a range of reasons why. Firstly I will ask mostly personal questions related to the issue such as age and gender and how they actually recognize the words; social inequality. From there I will then go on to the questions I have chosen for the interview and record related issues and notes;
- Do you think the benefit system is a financial safety net for temporarily unemployed citizens?
- Do you think the taxing system in Britain today is fair?
- In society today, do you think we neglect those who may be less privileged than us?
- Do you think the benefit system is a financial safety net for temporarily unemployed citizens?
- Do you think that Britain will be equal in terms of equal distribution of power and wealth amongst the citizens?
- Do you agree social inequality is still in existence?
Analysis