What does the Eduqas GCSE Sociology stratification topic cover?

Examined on Component 2, the social differentiation and stratification topic covers the definition of stratification and social class, the theories that explain it (the functionalist view of Davis and Moore, the Marxist view, and Weber's class, status and party), the forms of differentiation (class, gender, ethnicity and age), life chances and poverty (absolute and relative, and Townsend), and power and inequality, including authority, social mobility and the reproduction of inequality.

What are the main theories of stratification?

Functionalists Davis and Moore argue stratification is necessary and beneficial, motivating talented people into important jobs. Marxists argue it is exploitation, dividing the bourgeoisie who own the means of production from the exploited proletariat. Weber agreed class matters but added status (social honour) and party (power), giving a more complex picture than Marx's two classes.

What is the difference between absolute and relative poverty?

Absolute poverty is when people cannot afford the basic necessities needed to survive, such as food, shelter and clothing, a fixed survival measure. Relative poverty is when people cannot afford the standard of living considered normal in their society, so they are poor compared with others. Relative poverty, associated with Townsend, is the measure usually used in a wealthy country like Britain.

How is the stratification topic assessed in Eduqas GCSE Sociology?

Stratification is examined on Component 2, Understanding Social Structures, alongside crime and deviance and applied methods. Questions range from short describe and explain items worth two to eight marks to extended discuss questions worth up to fifteen marks that reward applying and evaluating the perspectives, naming thinkers and reaching a supported judgement.

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Eduqas GCSE Sociology: Social differentiation and stratification overview

A complete overview of the Eduqas GCSE Sociology social differentiation and stratification topic. Covers defining stratification, the theories (Davis and Moore, Marx and Weber), class, gender, ethnicity and age, life chances and poverty, and power and inequality, with the key thinkers and exam technique.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.813 min readC200Updated 2026-06-02

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

Jump to a section

Defining stratification
Theories of stratification
Class, gender, ethnicity and age
Life chances and poverty
Power and inequality
How to revise the stratification topic

Social differentiation and stratification is one of the topics on Component 2 of Eduqas GCSE Sociology (C200), alongside crime and deviance and applied methods. It asks how society is divided into unequal layers, how the perspectives explain that inequality, how class, gender, ethnicity and age shape opportunity, and how poverty and power work. This overview maps the topic and links to the dot-point answer pages.

Defining stratification

Social differentiation divides people into groups; social stratification ranks those groups into a hierarchy of unequal layers (strata). Social class is the main form in Britain. Status can be ascribed (given at birth) or achieved (earned through effort). See defining stratification.

Theories of stratification

Davis and Moore (functionalists) argue stratification is necessary and beneficial; Marxists argue it is exploitation; Weber added status and party to class, giving a more complex model. See theories of stratification.

Class, gender, ethnicity and age

Society is differentiated by class (income, health, life expectancy), gender (the pay gap and glass ceiling), ethnicity (discrimination and unequal life chances) and age (disadvantages for the young and old). These overlap. See class, gender, ethnicity and age.

Life chances and poverty

Life chances are opportunities for a good life, shaped by stratification. Poverty can be absolute (unable to afford the basics) or relative (below the normal standard of living). Townsend showed poverty is widespread and structural. See life chances and poverty.

Power and inequality

Power rests on authority (legitimate) or coercion (force). It operates in the workplace and home. Social mobility is movement up or down the hierarchy, but inequality is often reproduced across generations. See power and inequality.

How to revise the stratification topic

Attach a thinker to every idea. Davis and Moore, Marx, Weber and Townsend should appear in your answers.
Master the necessity debate. Whether stratification is necessary and beneficial is a favourite for the longer questions; learn both sides.
Use the absolute/relative distinction. Poverty questions reward defining both clearly.
Practise evaluation. Set functionalism against Marxism and Weber and reach a judgement.

Test yourself with the stratification quiz.

Sources & how we know this

Eduqas GCSE Sociology (C200) specification — WJEC Eduqas (2017)