Class Inequality: Weberian explanations of Class Inequality Flashcards
What are life chances?
The opportunities people have to improve their lives
Why do Weberians argue class inequality is complex in relation to the amount of classes?
There are too many classes in society
What are the 3 factors Weber say impact life chances?
Class, Status, Party
How many classes did Weber argue there were in society?
4
Who are the propertied upper class?
The wealthy big business owners
Who are the propertyless white collar workers?
The people that are in high-paying jobs that require many qualifications
What did Weber say will impact the class people are in?
Their market situation
Who are the petty bourgeoisie?
The small business owners
Who are the manual working class?
The people that take up jobs that require few qualifications
What is market situation?
The amount of bargaining power an individual has to get a job
Name 2 things that would give people a better market situation
Qualifications, Wealth
What is the market situation for a cleaner?
They will have little bargaining power
Why will cleaners have a poor market situation?
They are in a low status job
Why would a doctor be part of the propertyless upper class?
It is a high paying job where you need lots of qualifications to get the job
How many years of training does it take to become a doctor?
10 years
What would Marxists say about the amount of classes Weberians believe there are?
It makes class inequality too complicated
Which Marxist argued there are only 2 classes?
Marx
What are the two classes according to Marx?
Proletariat, Bourgeoisie
What do the Bourgeoisie want in society?
Want to keep exploiting the proletariat to make more profit
What do the proletariat want in society?
They want to overthrow capitalism and create a classless society
What does Marx argue is the only way to get rid of class inequality?
Have a revolution to overthrow capitalism
What process do Weberians say makes class inequality embedded in society?
Social closure
What does Weber say wealthier people will do in society with each other to protect their wealth?
They will create small communities for themselves
What does Weber say about the ability for working class people to join the close-knit wealthy communities?
They will not be able to join them
What process has occurred if wealthy people make their own exclusive communities?
Social closure
Name a network of wealthy people that show wealthy social closure
The old boys network
What does the old boys network consist of?
Wealthy upper class men who went to the best British private schools
What do the old boys network help each other in doing?
Getting prestigious positions in society
What did the Sutton Trust report show?
39% of people who went to private schools are in elite positions in society
What do Functionalists argue about social closure for young people getting ready to get jobs?
It does not happen
Which Functionalists said all young people will be allocated to the right roles when they become adults?
Davis and Moore
What job would a student be more likely to get if they always did well in maths exams?
They would become an accountant
What do Davis and Moore argue about people who get the highest paid roles in society?
They are qualified enough to get these roles
What does Weber define parties as?
Groups that can influence decisions
Name 2 political parties in Britain
Conservatives, Labour
Name another type of party in Britain that is not strictly political
Trade unions
What is the aim of many parties according to Weberians?
To help working class people
What was the original intention for the formation of the Labour party in 1900?
It was to give working people a voice in Parliament
Why might working class individuals join trade unions?
To try and improve their pay or working conditions
Name an upper class party that has been formed with the word “Leader” in it
The Leader’s Group
What does The Leaders Group possibly do to equality in society?
Reduces inequality
What do people in the Leaders Group have access to?
Have access to dinner with the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers
What are members of the leaders group able to do in the meetings they have?
Influence policies being passed in their favour
How much do Leaders Group members have to pay a year to be in the group?
£50,000 a year
What would Postmodernists argue about Weberians believing parties can increase or reduce inequality?
It is outdated
What form of society does Beck argue postmodern societies are in?
Risk societies
What does Beck say risk societies mean?
Working class and upper class people face the same problems
Name one environmental problem Beck would argue working class and upper class people face
Climate change
What does Beck say is the class situation when people come to bring change due to new issues?
People come from a variety of classes
Name an organisation that wants to create social change for Black people where individuals come from a variety of different class backgrounds
Black Lives Matter
What do Weberians believe about social mobility?
There is social mobility but it is easier to access this if you are an upper class individual
