1c — Marxist explanations of class inequalities

Question 1

Marx’s theory of capitalist exploitation

Answer 1

bourgeoisie exploit proletariat

Marx predicted polarisation and eventually revolution

Question 2

bourgeoisie (marx)

Answer 2

• own means of production
• highly privileged, powerful
• OXFAM 2017: worlds 8 richest men had same amount as world’s 50% poorest, especially men who own IT systems (Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg)
• UK: 50% of land owned by 1% of population
• Facebook paid only 1% tax in 2020 using dubious but legal

Question 3

proletariat

Answer 3

• no ownership of means of production
• survive by selling their labour power to employers
• their surplus value is seized by bourgeoisie
• conflict of interests (high wages vs high profits)

Question 4

criticisms of Marx’s capitalist exploitation theory

Answer 4

WEBER: 2 class model = oversimplification
e.g. teachers and students are proletariat according to Marx but have huge differences in power
Ignores fundamental differences between workers based on status/power/market position

SAVAGE: Social Class in the 21st century: 8-class system in UK

Marx fails to recognise success of capitalism: higher living standards, consumer goods, freedom (Saunders),

Question 5

False class consciousness (Gramsci)

Answer 5

proletariat struggle to become class conscious bc ruling class ideologies support myth of meritocracy.
Ideological superstructure 🔺 (schools, religion, media) controlled by bourgeoisie who teach dominant ideologies to prevent rebellion

Half the world gets their news from Facebook which is controlled by one man. (boyle, media convergence)

Hegemony: dominance by cultural and political means
—> Owen Jones media demonised working class calling them ‘chavs’
—> Adorno: “hypnotic power of the mass media deprives us of the capacity for critical thought” e.g. TikTok

Question 6

Criticisms of Gramsci’s false class consciousness

Answer 6

PARSONS: system is accepted bc of VALUE CONSENSUS, not hegemonic control of our minds. Media reflects society’s views, it doesn’t control them.

POSTMODERNISM: class differences ain’t as rigid as before. Free to construct their own independent identities.

Question 7

Reserve army of labour CASTLES AND KOSSACK 1973

Answer 7

Bourgeoisie use proletariat workforce as a reserve army of labour to prevent other workers from demanding high wages

the more workers available, the weaker the workers’ bargaining position
lower demand for workers, lower wages, higher profits
workers become disposable
Uber is MASSIVE but makes their drivers use their own cars so higher profits

Bourgoisie encourage competition: divide and rule strategy
Owen Jones: media divides “deserving” and “undeserving” poor.

Question 8

Criticisms of Castles 🏰 and Kossack reserve army of labour

Answer 8

functionalism like davis and moore: lower paid jobs are bc of lower skills, not to make workers disposable. Role allocation theory. Poverty is bc of the individual, not structural forces.

Feminists: Marxists fail to see patriarchy. Women more likely to be reserve army of labour than men.

Question 9

Cultural capital: BOURDIEU

Answer 9

High capital —> maintaining privilege —> high capital
(social, cultural, material)

SOCIAL: old boy network, sutton trust, roberts
CULTURAL: Bernstein elaborated/restricted code, Gillies
MATERIAL: LSE

Question 10

criticisms of Bourdieu

Answer 10

Marxist-feminist FREEDMAN: too much emphasis on cultural capital. ignores women’s exploitation. Triple shift, Ann Oakley