Meritocracy (AQA A-Level Sociology): Flashcards
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Practise the cards
15 cards from this deck
Meritocracy definition
Meritocracy definition
A system where rewards based on talent, effort & achievement, not inheritance
Social mobility definition
Social mobility definition
Movement up/down class structure between/within generations
Social mobility indicates
Social mobility indicates
How meritocratic a society truly is
Functionalist view on inequality
Functionalist view on inequality
Motivates people to work harder & develop talents
Marxist critique: what matters more than ability
Marxist critique: what matters more than ability
Cultural capital & social connections
Postmodernist view: blue vs white-collar work
Postmodernist view: blue vs white-collar work
Boundary between manual & professional work now blurred
Glass ceiling
Glass ceiling
Limits advancement for women & ethnic minorities
Weber: workplace reward determinants
Weber: workplace reward determinants
Individual skills & market value
New international division of labour (Frobel 1981)
New international division of labour (Frobel 1981)
Globalisation; corps seek cheapest labour globally
Secondary labour market (Priore 1995)
Secondary labour market (Priore 1995)
Low wages, poor conditions, limited security & promotion
Reserve army of labour
Reserve army of labour
Pool of unemployed keeping wages low & workers compliant
Zero-hours contracts feature
Zero-hours contracts feature
No guaranteed work hours
Post-Fordist production emphasis
Post-Fordist production emphasis
Flexibility over security
2011 UK social mobility strategy name
2011 UK social mobility strategy name
Opening Doors, Breaking Barriers
Life cycle approach (govt policy)
Life cycle approach (govt policy)
Addresses barriers at each stage where mobility can change