Chapter 9 Flashcards
Describe SOCIAL INEQUALITY
SOCIAL INEQUALITY is LONG TERM existence of significant DIFFERENCES in ACCESS to goods and services AMONG social GROUPS.
Describe the notions of KARL MARX
KARL MARX defined CLASS as RELATIONAL—meaning it REFLECTS a RELATIONSHIP to the MEANS OF PRODUCTION, or resources required to produce wealth.
Land is the key m.o.p. and it generates Wealth to earn CAPITAL: MONEY needed to buy stuff and hire workers.
To Marx there existed only 2 relationships to the means of production: a person either OWNED them, OR WORKED for someone who does. The oppressor and the oppressed, and their class struggles.
Describe KARL MARX’s Class Terminology
Marx also identified 2 sub-classes: the PETTY BOURGEOISIE (small-scale owners with little capital) and the LUMPENProletariat (small-time CRIMINALS, BEGGARS, and the UNEMPLOYED)
In industrialized Europe, Marx categorized people as either CAPITALISTS or workers (whom he called BOURGEOISIE and the PROLETARIAT).
Before the I.R. the rich were called the ARISTOCRATS and the workers the PEASANTS.
Describe CORPORATE IDENTITY
A class has a CORPORATE or ORGANIC IDENTITY, meaning that there is a CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS, or SENSE OF COMMON PURPOSE among members of each class which presents the best interests of a class.
Describe the Aspects of
CLASS CONSCIENCE and Social Classes
One aspect of corporate identity is CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS, an AWARENESS OF what is in the BEST INTERESTS of one’s class.
Marx believed that THE OWNING CLASS had always HAS CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS.
e.g. the Scottish HIGHLAND CLEARANCES when the landowners evicted farmers to make room for more sheep in the textile industry.
While the WORKING class often had FALSE CONSCIOUSNESS, the belief that something is in its best interest when actually it is not.
Describe MAX WEBER and SOCIAL CLASS
Like Marx, WEBER believed that society was divided into distinct classes. But he believed that MARX’S APPROACH IS TOO SIMPLISTIC.
WEBER focused on WEALTH, PRESTIGE, POWER as elements that contributed to SOCIAL INEQUALITY. In Weber’s view, WEALTH did not just include capital, but ALSO INCLUDES RESPECTED QUALITIES by society, such as good looks and personal trophies.
PRESTIGE is the degree of RESPECT people see you with, based on your social positions and helps establish social power despite opposing social forces. Class is definitely not the main factor!
Describe MARX’S ideas applied to CANADIAN society
The classical Marxist model of class does not neatly map modern Canadian society, as there are many wealthy people who are technically employees and many small-business owners who do not have the income or control typically associated with capitalists.
But Marx’s class paradigm can still be applied to the Canadian context by dividing people into three classes instead of two:
a DOMINANT CAPITALIST class (who own or control LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTION),
a MIDDLE CLASS (who are SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS and SALARIED EMPLOYEES with credentials, training, and skills),
and a WORKING CLASS
(who ONLY have LABOUR as a RESOURCE).
Describe IDEOLOGY
An IDEOLOGY is a SET OF BELIEFS about society and the PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP SOCIETY.
Describe DOMINANT Ideology
A DOMINANT ideology is PROMOTED by, and REFLECTS the INTERESTS of, the RULING class in Marx's words. Used to defend or justify status quo. ie. Trickle-down theory
Describe COUNTER Ideology
A COUNTER ideology is one that critiques and CHALLENGES the DOMINANT ideology and is PROMOTED by those seeking SOCIAL CHANGE.
ie. Communism, Occupy Movement and Idle no More.
Describe LIBERAL Ideology
LIBERAL ideology IS a DOMINANT ideology that FOCUSES on the INDIVIDUAL as an INDEPENDENT PLAYER in society. Liberal ideology BELIEVES IN:
SOCIAL MOBILITY that with EFFORT, any individual can move from one class to another, achieving the American dream. This ideology MINIMIZES CRITICISM of social INEQUALITY and IGNORES social FACTORS related to CLASS.
BLAMING THE VICTIM involves attributing FAILURE to ACHIEVE SUCCESS ENTIRELY on the INDIVIDUAL, despite broader social causes.
C. WRIGHT MILLS CRITIQUED American LIBERAL ideologies that separate middle and upper classes through the ideas of “WHITE COLLAR.”
Describe HEGEMONY
ANTONIO GRAMSCI
Political theorist ANTONIO GRAMSCI developed the concept of
HEGEMONY, which he described as a set of NON-VIOLENT METHODS the DOMINANT CLASS USES to ENFORCE POWER (dominant ideology). Hegemony can be reflected in education, media, and the legal system. People can be influenced to accept dominant ideologies through these institutions.
In most societies, the RULING class DOES NOT RELY on MILITARY or POLICE force ALONE to maintain control
The power relations underpinning various forms of inequality that are produced and reproduced.
Describe CLASS REDUCTIONISM
Class REDUCTIONISM is an important concept to consider in sociological research. This occurs when an INDIVIDUAL studying a situation of inequality ATTRIBUTES ALL forms of OPPRESSION to CLASS, by ignoring or MINIMIZING the IMPACT of OTHER SOCIAL FACTORS such as ethnicity, “race,” age, and gender.
This is enforced through people blindly ignoring the words of affected people, making rhetoric accusations and listening too often to the dominants.
Describe CASTES / VARNAS
VARNA means COLOR
A different form of social stratification is the caste system of HINDU societies in south Asia.
CASTES are RANKED CLASSES that individuals are BORN INTO. Each of the five castes is associated with specific ASCRIBED OCCUPATIONS, religious practices, colours of clothing, and rights to certain foods.
The caste system has been criticized by various individuals throughout history, including the founders of Buddhism and Jainism.
VARNA means COLOR
Describe MAHATMA GHANDHI
More recently, MAHATMA GHANDHI OPPOSED OPPRESSION of the CASTE system and advocated for the rights of DALITS (or “Untouchables”), the LOWEST-RANKED CASTE. He lead India to its independence.
The Caste system in India was abolished in 1950, but many continue to behave as though it is still in place, and crimes against Dalits are common.
