1. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
GCSE Sociology
Social IssuesWorkbook
Poverty
Unemployment
Discrimination
Power Relationships
Name:
To be completed by:
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

2. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
Unit 19 – Poverty
How does Davies 2002 define a “social problem”?
What is social policy?
How do the main political parties differ in their view of how poverty should be
addressed?
Conservative view Labour view
Define these terms:
Universal benefit:
Means tested benefit:
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

3. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
What is the advantage of means tested benefits?
What are the disadvantages of means tested benefits?
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What is the main advantage of universal benefits? Give an example.
What are the criticisms of the way that the Labour government’s actions to
reduce poverty?
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

4. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
Unit 20 – Unemployment
What is the official definition of unemployment?
How has the unemployment rate changed over the past 40 years?
Why is unemployment seen as a social problem? – refer to the work of Deacon
2008 in your answer.
Why do governments need high rates of employment?
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GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

5. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
What does the tern “economically inactive” mean?
Why might people be economically inactive?
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How has the government attempted to solve the problem of economic
inactivity?
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Research activity
Using the internet find one current government programme designed to
reduce unemployment and explain briefly what the programme involves. A
good starting point would be www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

6. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
Unit 21 – Discrimination
How do we define discrimination and victimisation?
Here are some examples of anti-discrimination laws
Use the internet to find out what these laws ensure.
Equal Pay Act 1970
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Race Relations Act 1976
Civil Partnership Act 2004
Disability Discrimination act 2005
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

7. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
Discrimination and Age
What is Age Discrimination?
Give an example of age discrimination?
How have governments tried to reduce age discrimination?
Many laws have been passed over the past40 years to tackle the problem of
discrimination in our society. Do you think that discrimination is still a social
problem? Give reasons for your answer.
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

8. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
Unit 22 – 24 Power Relationships
What is a power relationship?
Give some examples of power relationships in modern British Society>
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Power relationships between parents, children and guardians.
How are parents and guardians expected to exercise their authority over their
children?
Give an example of how a parent can exercise their authority.
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

9. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
How have power relationships in families changed in Britain over the past 50
years?
Key issue – Should smacking children be banned?
Think about these questions…
Is smacking based on authority or coercion?
Should parents have the power to smack their children to enforce discipline?
Should smacking be a criminal offence?
Summary question – Identify two ways that parents exercise authority over
their children.
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

10. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
Power relationships in classrooms and schools
Describe the type of authority exercised by teachers in schools.
What gives them this authority?
What are the limits to a teacher’s authority?
Can teachers have charismatic authority? Give reasons for your answer
How has the relationship between teachers and their students changed over
time?
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

11. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
One key change in the relationship between teachers and students is that the
students have been more active in the decision process in school.
Which areas of school life should students be directly involved in the decision
making process. Give three examples and reasons for your answers.
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Power relationships between the public and the police.
What type of authority do the police have?
What powers do the police have?
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

12. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
Source Activity – The police and young people
Read the extract on page 274.
How might young people view dispersal orders?
Under what circumstances may the use of dispersal orders damage
relationships between and police and young people and provoke further
defiant behaviour?
Do you think that the police should have these powers? Explain your answer.
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

13. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
Power relationships in the workplace.
What type of authority does an employer have?
Give two examples showing different opinions.
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How can employees exercise power at work?
How are the actions of trade unions limited by law and other circumstances?
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

14. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues

15. GCSE Sociology – Mrs H Green
GCSE Sociology Power – Social Issues