Why are some people poor, and how does it affect their lives?
Life chances and poverty, including the definition of life chances, absolute and relative poverty, the groups most at risk, and explanations of poverty.
A focused answer to the Eduqas GCSE Sociology stratification topic, covering life chances, absolute and relative poverty, the groups most at risk, and the main explanations of poverty including Townsend.
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What this dot point is asking
Eduqas wants you to explain life chances and poverty: what life chances are, the difference between absolute and relative poverty, which groups are most at risk, and how sociologists explain why poverty exists. Poverty is a core part of the stratification topic on Component 2 and connects directly to the forms of differentiation.
Life chances
The concept is powerful because it links stratification to real outcomes. Saying someone has "poor life chances" captures how being in a lower stratum makes a good education, good health and a long life less likely, through no fault of the individual.
Absolute and relative poverty
The distinction matters for how poverty is measured and understood. Someone in Britain may not be in absolute poverty (they can survive) but may be in relative poverty (they cannot afford what most people take for granted, such as heating, school trips or a holiday). Sociologists such as Townsend argued that relative poverty, including the inability to take part in normal social life, is the right way to measure poverty in a developed society.
Who is at risk, and why
Some groups are much more likely to experience poverty than others:
- The unemployed and the low-paid, who lack a reliable income.
- Lone-parent families, who often rely on one income and face childcare costs.
- Older people, especially those reliant on a state pension.
- Some ethnic minority groups, linked to discrimination and unequal opportunities.
Sociologists explain poverty in two broad ways. Individual explanations blame the poor themselves or their culture, such as the idea of a "culture of poverty" or benefit dependency, suggesting the poor lack the values or effort to escape. Structural explanations, which most sociologists prefer, blame the structure of society: low wages, unemployment, inadequate benefits and the unequal life chances built into the stratification system. Marxists link poverty to the inequality built into capitalism. A strong answer sets these explanations against each other and reaches a judgement.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 20194 marksExplain the difference between absolute poverty and relative poverty.Show worked answer →
A four-mark explain item: define both and bring out the contrast.
Absolute poverty is when people cannot afford the basic necessities needed to survive, such as food, clean water, shelter and clothing. Relative poverty is when people cannot afford the standard of living considered normal in their society, so they are poor compared with others around them.
Develop the contrast: absolute poverty is a fixed, survival-based measure that is the same everywhere, while relative poverty changes with the society's living standards, so someone could be in relative poverty in Britain while not being in absolute poverty. Markers reward clear definitions of both and an explicit statement of how they differ.
Eduqas 202112 marksDiscuss the view that poverty is caused mainly by the failings of individuals.Show worked answer →
A twelve-mark discuss item assessing AO1, AO2 and AO3. Use individual explanations on one side, structural on the other, then judge.
For the view: some explanations blame the individual or their culture, for example the idea of a culture of poverty or dependency on benefits, suggesting the poor lack the values or effort to escape poverty.
Against the view: most sociologists argue poverty is caused by the structure of society, not individual failings. Townsend showed poverty is widespread and linked to low wages, unemployment, inadequate benefits and unequal life chances, which are beyond the individual's control. Marxists link it to inequality built into capitalism.
Judgement: blaming individuals ignores the strong evidence that poverty is structural, linked to the economy and to inequality, so the structural explanation is more convincing. Markers reward both sides, named evidence such as Townsend, and a supported conclusion.
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Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas GCSE Sociology (C200) specification — WJEC Eduqas (2017)