The document defines key sociological terms related to social stratification and inequality such as absolute poverty, ascribed status, caste, glass ceiling, institutional racism, relative deprivation, and underclass. It also provides definitions for social class positions like the middle class and working class. The key terms are used to describe different types of social inequalities and hierarchies within a society.

1. Absolute povertyA situation in which someone lacks the money to pay for the food, clothing and housing necessary to maintain a healthy way of life.Achieved statusA social position which individuals are able to gain through, for example, hard work and or educational qualifications.AgeismBeing prejudiced against people because of their age.Ascribed statusA position or social standing given to an individual on the basis of inherited characteristics.CasteA rigid system of stratification in which an individual cannot move from the caste into which they are born.Cycle of deprivationA social process which may lead the children of poor parents to suffer poverty when adults.EmbourgeoisementThe proposition that members of the working class develop middle-class attitudes and patterns of behaviour as they become more affluent. Environmental povertyDeprivation experienced in neighbourhoods that are ugly, dirty, unsafe and which lack adequate services and amenities.Gender discriminationTreating people unfairly because of their gender.Glass ceilingThe informal barrier that makes it difficult for women to achieve high-level positions at work.IncomeThe money received by an individual in a period of time, for example, wages or interest on savings.Institutional racismOccurs when the everyday practices and procedures of an organisation, for example the police, lead to discrimination against ethnic groups either intentionally or unintentionally.Life chancesThe chances that section of society have of achieving the things which are valued by their society.LifestyleThe way in which members of a group use their resources. Lifestyles will reflect the attitudes and priorities of the group.Middle classThe section of society composed of people engaged in non-manual work and professional work.Poverty trapThe particular difficulties that the poor may experience in, for example, finding a job that pays more than is received from benefits.ProletarianisationThe proposition that many non-manual jobs in a modern economy put their workers in situations very similar to that of the manual factory worker.Racial discriminationTreating people unfairly because of their ethnicity.RacismAttitudes to and beliefs about race which usually involve negative stereotypes of another race and lead to discrimination against people of that race.Relative deprivationFelt when people compare their own situation to that of others whom they believe to be unfairly better off.Relative povertyA situation in which someone cannot afford to possess the kind of things and participate in the kind of activities considered by members of their society to be a normal part of life.SexismBeing prejudiced against people because of their gender.SlaveryA form of stratification in which a section f the society has no rights. Individuals in this section of society are items of property which can be bought and sold.Social exclusionWhen people are unable, or feel unable to play a full part in society. This may be owing to the lack of material resources, discrimination by others or a sense that the rest of society neither wants or respects them.Subjective classThe class in which an individual places themselves.Trade unionAn organisation established by employees to protect their economic interests.UnderclassThe group of people at the very bottom of the social structure who either by their economic situation or culture, are cut off from the rest of society.WealthThe assets owned by an individual, for example, house, savings, a business.Welfare scroungerAn individual who makes no contribution to society and exploits the benefits system, claiming as much as they can get away with.Working classThe section of society composed of people engaged in manual work.<br />Key words test<br />Write the definitions of the following terms...<br />Absolute poverty<br />Ageism<br />Poverty trap<br />Relative poverty<br />Subjective class<br />Underclass _<br />Wealth<br />Read the following definitions and give the key term they are describing.<br /> A position or social standing given to an individual on the basis of inherited characteristics.<br /> <br />A rigid system of stratification in which an individual cannot move from the caste into which they are born.<br />A form of stratification in which a section f the society has no rights. Individuals in this section of society are items of property.<br />Treating people unfairly because of their ethnicity.<br />The section of society composed of people engaged in manual work.<br />An individual who makes no contribution to society and exploits the benefits system, claiming as much as they can get away with.<br />The chances that section of society have of achieving the things which are valued by their society.<br />Key words test<br />Write the definitions of the following terms...<br />Absolute poverty<br />Ageism<br />Poverty trap<br />Relative poverty<br />Subjective class<br />Underclass _<br />Wealth<br />Read the following definitions and give the key term they are describing.<br /> A position or social standing given to an individual on the basis of inherited characteristics.<br /> <br />A rigid system of stratification in which an individual cannot move from the caste into which they are born.<br />A form of stratification in which a section f the society has no rights. Individuals in this section of society are items of property.<br />Treating people unfairly because of their ethnicity.<br />The section of society composed of people engaged in manual work.<br />An individual who makes no contribution to society and exploits the benefits system, claiming as much as they can get away with.<br />The chances that section of society have of achieving the things which are valued by their society.<br />