Class Inequality Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 4 explanations of class inequality?
A
- Society has historically faced divisions of power
- The ruling classes uses ideological control to maintain their superior position
- Class inequality is justified through hegemony
- Power is becoming more concentrated in society
2
Q
Who says society has historically faced divisions of power?
A
- Marx
3
Q
Who says the ruling class uses ideological control to maintain their superior position?
A
- Marx
4
Q
Who says class inequality is justified through hegemony?
A
- Gramsci
5
Q
Who says power is becoming more concentrated in society?
A
- westergaard
6
Q
Why has society historically faced divisions of power?
A
- historical materialism, the idea that all human beings have material needs for food and shelter and these are gained through labour
- fundamentally oppressive and exploitative system
- workers experience alienation and ownership of the means of production become more concentrated
7
Q
Why does the ruling class use ideological control to maintain their superior position?
A
- political and legal systems support ruling class power by creating laws that protect the interests of capitalists
- so capitalism will be seen as reasonable and just rather than exploitative and oppressive
8
Q
Why is class inequality justified through hegemony?
A
- ruling class rarely need to use force to exert power as they rule through persuasion
- hegemony that the ruling class built is never complete as many of the working class have dual consciousness (they work within capitalism and contribute to it but they are also aware of the inequalities and injustice it creates)
9
Q
Why is power becoming more concentrated in society?
A
- there is little evidence of class divisions disappearing due to the way the capitalist system works
- gradual process of production being expanded and technology rendering the workforce obsolete will create a polarisation of the classes; the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer
