How are people treated differently by gender, ethnicity, age and disability?
Forms of social differentiation and inequality beyond class: gender, ethnicity, age and disability, the meaning of prejudice and discrimination, and how the law seeks to promote equality.
A focused answer on other forms of inequality for WJEC GCSE Sociology: differentiation by gender, ethnicity, age and disability, the meaning of prejudice and discrimination, and equality law.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Have a quick question? Jump to the Q&A page
Jump to a section
What this dot point is asking
This dot point covers forms of inequality beyond class: gender, ethnicity, age and disability. You need to describe how each group can face unequal treatment as a general pattern, define prejudice (an unfair attitude) and discrimination (unfair treatment), and explain how the law seeks to promote equality. Present every group neutrally and even-handedly, describing patterns that sociologists study rather than making judgements about people.
Forms of inequality beyond class
Prejudice and discrimination
The law and equality
Try this
Q1. Identify three forms of inequality other than social class. [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Any three of: gender, ethnicity, age and disability.
Q2. Explain the difference between prejudice and discrimination. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Prejudice is an unfair attitude or opinion about a group held without good reason, while discrimination is the unfair treatment of a group in practice, such as refusing someone a job because of their background, so prejudice is an attitude and discrimination is an action.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC (Component 2)2 marksExplain the difference between prejudice and discrimination.Show worked answer →
A short knowledge question (AO1). Reward a clear contrast.
Prejudice. Prejudice is an unfair attitude or opinion about a group, held without good reason.
Discrimination. Discrimination is unfair treatment of a group in practice, such as refusing someone a job because of their background.
Top marks. A clear definition of each, showing prejudice is an attitude and discrimination is an action.
WJEC (Component 2)6 marksDescribe forms of inequality other than social class.Show worked answer →
A describe question (AO1). Reward several forms, each developed.
Gender. On average, women can face inequality such as the gender pay gap and under-representation in senior roles.
Ethnicity. Some ethnic groups can face discrimination and unequal treatment in areas such as work and policing.
Age and disability. Older and younger people, and disabled people, can also face unequal treatment and barriers.
Top band. Several clearly described forms of inequality, presented as general patterns.
Related dot points
- The concept of social stratification, the main systems of stratification including the class system, and how social class is defined and measured in modern Britain.
A focused answer on social stratification for WJEC GCSE Sociology: the concept of stratification, systems such as the class system, slavery, caste and feudalism, and how social class is defined and measured.
- The link between social class and life chances, the difference between wealth and income, and the meaning, measurement and causes of poverty in modern Britain.
A focused answer on social class and life chances for WJEC GCSE Sociology: how class shapes life chances, the difference between wealth and income, and the meaning, measurement and causes of poverty.
- The concepts of power and authority, the difference between power and authority, and the three types of authority: traditional, charismatic and legal rational.
A focused answer on power and authority for WJEC GCSE Sociology: the difference between power and authority, coercion versus consent, and Weber's three types of authority - traditional, charismatic and legal rational.
- The concept of social mobility, the difference between open and closed systems and between upward and downward mobility, and the factors that help or hinder movement between classes.
A focused answer on social mobility for WJEC GCSE Sociology: open and closed systems, upward and downward mobility, intergenerational and intragenerational mobility, and the factors that help or hinder it.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Sociology (Wales) specification (C200QS) — WJEC (2017)