Essay

TMA01

Part 1: Written exercise

In your own words, define difference and inequality, and provide an example of each on City Road.

Inequality happens when people within a society do not have equal access to resources and opportunities, such as education, housing, employment etc. Good examples of inequality are the people that use the food bank (The Open University, 2014). These people have fallen into difficulty with employment, benefits, housing and so on and as a result of no longer able to provide for themselves and their families. This gives them have no choice but to use the food bank. Unlike others that have options over the kind of food that they consume, people at the food bank have no choice on the food that they are given.

Differences are the variations between groups of people based on gender, age, race, ethnic background etc. differences do not create inequality as long as they are not used as a way to discriminate against the group of people. A place that demonstrates this is the Taste Buds café. ‘The life and times of the street’ describes how this is not just a place about selling food but a place that is seen as a sort of a community centre and it attracts mostly older people (The Open University, 2014) . They go there because they feel welcome and happy to socialise with people of their own age. The café does not exclude other groups but it is mostly projected as a place where older people come to feel safe.

Word count: 235 words

Part 2: Self-reflection

What have you enjoyed and what have you found challenging about starting this module?

I have enjoyed learning that as a social scientist you have to look deeper into situation and issues and how things that people take for granted have a bigger impact on society.

I have found challenging managing my time for study. It has been difficult to settle in a routine with my other commitments.

Word count: 54 words

Part 3: Forum posting

Write no more than 100 words...