PO1GRC: Gender, Race, and Class: Social Differentiation and Stratification

Module code: PO1GRC

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Amanda Hall , email: amanda.hall@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to the key theories which underpin the study of social differentiation and stratification (e.g. Marxism, functionalism, Weber, and feminism).  It examines some of the key dimensions on which social differentiation and inequality are mapped, in particular gender, race/ethnicity, and social class, and also considers the inequalities associated with age, education, disability, and religion.  It thereby supports students to reflect on how particular groups come to occupy privileged positions within contemporary societies and how and why these inequalities endure.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the key theories underpinning the study of social differentiation and classification
2. Articulate the bases for differentiation/stratification in relation to key factors such as gender, race and ethnicity, social class, age, disability, education, and religion.
3. Provide an account of how inequalities arise and endure.
4. Reflect on their own position within social hierarchies.

Module content

The study of social differentiation and stratification is broad and occupies a central role in sociology, encompassing studies of income and wealth inequality, occupational and class hierarchies, inequality of educational opportunity, poverty, and social mobility between and within generations.  This module will introduce student to the key theories including Marxism, Functionalism (Davis and Moore), Weber and Feminism.  It will then explore how these ideas can be applied to topics such as gender and race as well as age, education, disability, religion.  It will also touch on the life course perspective on stratification, exploring how experiences in early life can influence later events and choices in education, relationships, health, and more.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered principally through lectures which provide core information and seminars in which the issues are explored and discussed in more detail.   Both lectures and seminars will require preparatory reading.

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs