What is social stratification? » Life chances affected by ethnicity - education and employment

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The concept of social stratification and how it creates inequality
How ethnicity affects life chances in education
Ethnic inequalities in employment and the workplace
Explanations for ethnic disparities in education and employment
Real-world examples and case studies of ethnic inequality in the UK

Understanding Social Stratification

Social stratification refers to the way society is divided into different layers or strata based on factors like wealth, power and status. Think of it like a layer cake – some groups are positioned higher than others, with more advantages and opportunities.

Key Definitions:

Social stratification: The ranking of individuals or groups into social layers based on factors like wealth, power and status.
Life chances: The opportunities individuals have to improve their quality of life, including access to education, healthcare, housing and employment.
Ethnicity: A social group that shares a common cultural identity, including shared heritage, language, or religion.

★ Why Ethnicity Matters

Ethnicity can significantly impact how people experience society. In the UK, ethnic minorities often face barriers that the white majority population doesn't encounter. These barriers can affect education, job prospects, income and overall quality of life.

★ Intersectionality

Ethnicity doesn't exist in isolation. It often intersects with other factors like social class and gender. For example, a working-class Black woman might face different challenges than a middle-class Black man or a working-class white woman.

Ethnicity and Education

Education is often seen as the key to improving life chances, but not all ethnic groups have equal educational experiences or outcomes in the UK.

Educational Achievement Gaps

GCSE results show persistent differences between ethnic groups, though these patterns are complex:

↑ Higher Achievement

Chinese and Indian students consistently achieve the highest GCSE results among all ethnic groups in the UK, often outperforming the white British majority.

↔ Mixed Picture

Bangladeshi and Pakistani students have seen significant improvements in recent years, with some groups now performing at or above the national average.

↓ Lower Achievement

Black Caribbean students, particularly boys and white working-class students often have lower average attainment at GCSE level.

Barriers in Education

Several factors can create educational disadvantages for ethnic minority students:

Teacher expectations: Studies show some teachers may have lower expectations of certain ethnic groups, which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Curriculum representation: Many ethnic minority students don't see their history and culture reflected in what they learn.
School exclusions: Black Caribbean boys are nearly three times more likely to be permanently excluded from school than the school population as a whole.
Language barriers: Students with English as an additional language may need extra support, especially when they first enter the education system.

Case Study Focus: The Ethnicity Attainment Gap

In 2019, the UK government's Race Disparity Audit found that while 75% of Indian students achieved grades 9-4 (A*-C) in English and Maths at GCSE, only 59% of Black Caribbean students achieved the same. However, when controlling for socioeconomic factors, many of these gaps narrowed significantly, showing how class and ethnicity intersect.

Ethnicity and Employment

Even with the same qualifications, people from different ethnic backgrounds often have very different experiences in the job market.

Employment Inequalities

Several key inequalities exist in employment:

Unemployment rates: People from Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Black backgrounds have consistently higher unemployment rates than white British people.
Pay gaps: Most ethnic minority groups earn less on average than white British workers, even with the same qualifications.
Progression barriers: Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in senior positions across most sectors – often called the "glass ceiling" effect.
Types of work: Some ethnic groups are concentrated in particular sectors or types of employment, which can limit opportunities.

! The CV Test

Research has repeatedly shown that job applicants with ethnic-sounding names need to send more CVs to get an interview than those with traditionally British names, even when the qualifications are identical. One study found that applicants with white-sounding names received a callback for every 9 applications, while those with ethnic minority names needed to send 16 applications for one callback.

! Ethnic Penalty

The "ethnic penalty" refers to the disadvantage experienced by ethnic minorities in the labour market that can't be explained by factors like education or skills. It suggests discrimination may be a significant factor in employment disparities.

Explaining Ethnic Inequalities

Sociologists offer several explanations for these persistent inequalities:

⊕ Cultural Factors

Some argue that cultural values and family priorities among different ethnic groups can influence educational and career choices. For example, some communities may place particularly high value on education or certain professions.

⊕ Structural Factors

Institutional racism refers to how organisations' policies and practices can disadvantage ethnic minorities, even without individual prejudice. This includes recruitment practices that favour existing networks or "cultural fit".

⊕ Historical Factors

Historical patterns of migration, settlement and discrimination have shaped where different ethnic groups live and work, creating long-lasting patterns of advantage and disadvantage.

Case Study Focus: The McGregor-Smith Review

In 2017, the McGregor-Smith Review found that people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds were underrepresented at senior levels across UK businesses. The review estimated that full representation of BME individuals across the labour market would be worth £24 billion annually to the UK economy. The report recommended unconscious bias training, diverse interview panels and mentoring programmes to address these inequalities.

Addressing Ethnic Inequalities

Various approaches have been developed to tackle ethnic inequalities:

Legislation: The Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal to discriminate based on ethnicity in education and employment.
Positive action: Some organisations use targeted mentoring, internships, or training for underrepresented groups.
Blind recruitment: Removing names and other identifying information from job applications to reduce unconscious bias.
Diverse curriculum: Making school subjects more representative of different cultures and histories.
Data collection: Many organisations now monitor ethnic representation to identify and address gaps.

The Debate Continues

While there's broad agreement that ethnic inequalities exist, there's ongoing debate about their causes and solutions:

Some argue that class differences are more significant than ethnic differences.
Others suggest that cultural factors within communities play a major role.
Many point to institutional and structural racism as the primary cause.
Most sociologists recognise that multiple factors interact in complex ways.

What's clear is that ethnicity continues to shape life chances in significant ways in the UK, affecting educational outcomes and employment opportunities. Understanding these patterns is the first step toward creating a more equal society.

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!