2.2 Marxists & Weber on Class Inequality

Question 1

(Marxists) which two social classes is society divided into?

Answer 1

Bourgeoisie owning means of production

Proletariat workers selling their labour

Question 2

(Marxists) Bourgeoisie owning means of production gives them what?

Answer 2

power and control over institutions e.g. politics, education to instill their ideology

Question 3

(Marxists) what is their between the bourgeoisie and proletariat?

Answer 3

conflict of interests

Question 4

(Marxists) the workers create wealth but what happens to it?

Answer 4

only a fraction is repaid in the form of surplus value

Question 5

(Marxists) the bourgeoisie aim to do what?

Answer 5

drive wages down and keep profits high

Question 6

(Marxists) what did Marx say would happen to capitalism?

Answer 6

it would suffer a series of contradictions which would lead to it’s downfall

Question 7

(Marxists) what contradictions did Marx say capitalism would suffer?

Answer 7

polarisation of social classes
alienation
economic crisis

Question 8

(Marxists) what is polarisation of social classes?

Answer 8

Growing divide between the bourgeoisie and proletariat as they tried to drive down wages and increase profits

Question 9

(Marxists) what is alienation?

Answer 9

Workers would be dissatisfied having no control over their work
Encouraged to find satisfaction in consumer goods

Question 10

(Marxists) in the economic crisis what would lead to the collapse of the capitalist system?

Answer 10

Series of booms and busts

Question 11

(Marxists) for the capitalist system to collapse what do the proletariat have to develop?

Answer 11

Class consciousness and act as a revolutionary force to overthrow capitalism

Question 12

(Marxists) what prevents the proletariat overthrowing the bourgeoisie?

Answer 12

False class consciousness 
Ruling class ideology justifying capitalism and its inequality

Question 13

(Marxists - criticisms) who did Marx ignore?

Answer 13

A middle class
He focused on the B and P

Question 14

(Marxists - criticisms) what had happened to the middle class?

Answer 14

It has expanded in size and importance

Question 15

(Marxists - criticisms) what is their little sign of in western societies?

Answer 15

Class consciousness

There are fewer strikes, trade union memberships are declining

Question 16

(Marxists - criticisms) Marx proposed capitalism would eventually collapse, but what has actually happened?

Answer 16

In most western societies the working class enjoy rising living standards and more access to consumer goods

Question 17

(Marxists - strengths) what did westertgaard argue there was little evidence of?

Answer 17

Class divisions disappearing there are still a bourgeoisie owning most of the wealth and the divide has grown

Question 18

(Marxists - strengths) What has happened to the middle class?

Answer 18

Proletarianisation

Question 19

(Marxists - strengths) braverman argues what has happened to middle class workers?

Answer 19

They have been deskilled - their skills have been programmed into machines

Question 20

(Marxists - strengths) the deskilling of the middle class reduces their control and leads to what?

Answer 20

Lower wages

Question 21

(Neo-Marxism) what concept did Gramsci develop?

Answer 21

Hegemony

Question 22

(Neo-Marxism) what does hegemony explain?

Answer 22

Why the proletariat have not developed class consciousness and revolted

Question 23

(Neo-Marxism) what is hegemony?

Answer 23

The point at which ruling class ideology is seen as common sense

Question 24

(Neo-Marxism) what do the ruling class rule by?

Answer 24

Persuasion

Question 25

(Neo-Marxism) how do institutions help rule by persuasion?

Answer 25

Education and the media persuade the proletariat that capitalism is just and fair and inequality is inevitable

Question 26

(Neo-Marxism) why did Gramsci argue hegemony is never complete?

Answer 26

``` The working class experience exploitation and alienation Many have dual consciousness they are to some degree aware of the inequalities of capitalism ```

Question 27

(Marxism - evaluation) how does the fall of communism and removal of the stature of Lenin suggest Marxism doesn't have relevance?

Answer 27

Removal of statue of leader of communist revolution implies we don't want revolution and more equal society

Question 28

(Marxism - evaluation) how is Marxism still relevant in relation to garment workers in Bangladesh?

Answer 28

They earn far below the living wage and work in appalling conditions for up to 16 hours a day Demonstrating polarisation

Question 29

(Weber) what did Weber argue the 3 dimensions to stratification were?

Answer 29

Social class Status Party

Question 30

(Weber) how did Weber define class?

Answer 30

Group sharing a similar market situation sharing similar life chances

Question 31

(Weber) what did Weber agree with Marx on? But what else did he identify?

Answer 31

Agreed there was a major division between owners of factories and workers but he said there were other social classes

Question 32

(Weber) what were the 4 social classes identified?

Answer 32

Propertied upper class Property less white collar workers Petty bourgeoisie Manual working class

Question 33

(Weber) who are the propertied upper class?

Answer 33

Wealthy owners of big business

Question 34

(Weber) who are the property less white collar workers?

Answer 34

``` Middle class Those with educational qualifications putting them in a better market situation than manual workers ```

Question 35

(Weber) who are the petty bourgeoisie?

Answer 35

Owners of small businesses

Question 36

(Weber) who are the manual working class?

Answer 36

Those with poorest market situation | No wealth of educational qualifications

Question 37

(Weber) what is status?

Answer 37

Social honour | How much respect a person receives from others seen as inferior

Question 38

(Weber) in capitalist societies what is closely linked?

Answer 38

Class and status | Wealth is a major source of status

Question 39

(Weber) Weber suggested in some cases an individual might develop an identity based on what?

Answer 39

Status rather than class

Question 40

(Weber) how might some with low class achieve high status?

Answer 40

Sporting achievements or charity work

Question 41

(Weber) Weber said although people may not be class conscious what are they usually aware of?

Answer 41

Their status situation | They usually identify with those of a similar status

Question 42

(Weber) what are parties?

Answer 42

Groups concerned with exercising power or influencing decision making

Question 43

(Weber) give examples of parties:

Answer 43

Political parties Trade unions Pressure groups e.g. Greenpeace Status groups e.g. Stonewall

Question 44

(Weber - criticisms) what do marxists say focusing on multiple classes does?

Answer 44

Obscures the main division between the bourgeoisie and proletariat

Question 45

(Weber - criticisms) marxists argue status divisions between members of the proletariat are encouraged as what?

Answer 45

A means of divide and rule

Question 46

(Weber - strength) how have webers ideas influenced classification?

Answer 46

Many sociologists adopt a multi class model rather than a Marxist 2 class model

Question 47

(Weber - criticisms) how have Weber a ideas influenced research?

Answer 47

Ideas of social class and life chances has influenced much research

Question 48

(Weber - criticisms) how have Weber's ideas influenced new social movements?

Answer 48

Social class has become less important and movements have arisen such as the women's movement and environmentalism

Question 49

(Postmodernism) argue what is happening to class?

Answer 49

Losing its significance

Question 50

(Postmodernism) Marx and Weber's theories are what?

Answer 50

Meta narratives No longer relevant People now see themselves as individuals

Question 51

(Postmodernism) beck argues in society most people have enough to do what?

Answer 51

Satisfy material needs e.g. Food and clothing

Question 52

(Postmodernism) beck says this leads to focus on what?

Answer 52

New problems/ risks | E.h. Global warming which affects people of all classes