Inequalities Based on Other Factors (AQA GCSE Sociology): Revision Note

Other factors affecting life chances

• The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination based on characteristics such as disability, religion or belief and sexuality

  • However, life chances can still be influenced by these characteristics

• People's sexuality can affect their life chances when they experience homophobia within education or the workplace

• People's religion or beliefs can affect their life chances; for example, if they experience Islamophobia

• Disabilities can affect people's life chances when they experience disablism within education or the workplace

Disability and life chances

• Individuals with health issues are more likely to suffer from material deprivation and social exclusion

• Social barriers make it difficult for people with disabilities to participate fully in society, which affects their life chances

• Social barriers include:

  • prejudiced attitudes and stereotypes held by some people

  • discriminatory practices towards people with disabilities

  • facing stigma relating to whether they are capable of working, reinforced by Work Capability Assessment

  • the educational underachievement of children with disabilities

• People with disabilities are at risk of poverty. This is because:

  • some forms of disability create extra expenses that other people on low incomes don't face (such as special diet, equipment and transport)

  • people with disabilities may have relatively low incomes because they are disadvantaged in the labour market

    • They are more likely to be unemployed or work in low-paid jobs

Hate crime

• Some people become victims of a crime that is motivated by hostility or prejudice related to characteristics such as their sexual orientation, disability, religion or transgender identity

  • It is possible to view hate crime victims as scapegoats who are blamed for society's social and economic issues

  • Hate crimes are an example of how power is used to try to control certain groups

  • Social inequality generates resentment

• People like Muslim youth, gay men, and disabled women are now protected from hate crimes by legislation

Health inequalities

• The Marmot Review (2010) found that people in higher socio-economic positions have better life chances and better health

  • For example, people with university degrees have better health and live longer than those without

• Every year people die prematurely in England due to serious health inequalities

• The Marmot Review argued that health inequalities are a result of avoidable inequalities in society

  • For example in education, housing, working conditions, income and standards of living