Unit 4: Power, Inequality and Social Change
Core concepts
Unit 4 focuses on social inequality and the processes of social change. You must understand social stratification (hierarchical ranking of groups), class, status, power, social mobility (intra- and intergenerational), poverty (absolute and relative), privilege and disadvantage, and the institutions that reproduce or reduce inequality (education, employment, welfare, law). Understand theories of change - evolutionary, conflict-driven and cyclical - and the role of agency versus structure in producing change. Know concepts of globalisation, social movements and resistance, and how governments and organisations respond to inequality. Distinguish quantitative and qualitative evidence and understand ethical research considerations.
Common traps
Students often describe inequality without explaining its structural causes, or confuse social mobility with income alone. A common error is treating absolute and relative poverty as interchangeable. In questions about change, avoid claiming change is always beneficial; analyse intended and unintended consequences. When asked to evaluate a response to inequality, weigh effectiveness, limitations and evidence. Also avoid confusing agency (individual action) with structure (social arrangements constraining action).
Rule of thumb
For any inequality, trace the structure (institutional arrangements), the mechanism (how advantage is transmitted), and the outcome (mobility or entrenched disadvantage).
Worked example
Question: 'Evaluate the role of education in reducing social inequality.' A strong answer defines social mobility, explains how schooling can transmit cultural capital and advantage as well as enable mobility, uses evidence about access and outcomes, considers policy responses, and reaches a balanced judgement about education's potential and limits.