Component 3: Social Class Inequalities

Question 1

What are the 3 functionalist explanations of class inequality

Answer 1

1. Social class stratification reflects society’s value consensus
2. Social class inequality is functional, inevitable and necessary
3. Social class inequality is a product of role allocation

Question 2

Who argues that social class stratification reflects society’s value consensus?

Answer 2

Functionalist Parsons

Question 3

Who argues that social class inequality is functional, inevitable and necessary?

Answer 3

Durkheim

Question 4

Who argues that social class inequality is a product of role allocation?

Answer 4

Davis and Moore

Question 5

Would functionalists argue that there is social mobility in the contemporary UK?

Answer 5

Yes, society is meritocratic

Question 6

What are the 3 new right explanations of class inequality?

Answer 6

1. Social class inequality is functional and necessary
2. Consumption cleavage and dependency culture
3. The underclass and the deserving and the undeserving poor

Question 7

Who argues that social class inequality is functional and necessary

Answer 7

New right - Saunders

Question 8

Who argues ‘consumption cleavage’ and ‘dependency culture’?

Answer 8

New right - Saunders

Question 9

What does Saunders argue?

Answer 9

That Britain has a good level of social mobility and that those who remain poor do so because they lack motivation and personal character

Question 10

Who argues the underclass and the deserving and undeserving poor?

Answer 10

New right - Murray

Question 11

What are the 3 classical Marxist explanations of class inequality?

Answer 11

1. Social class inequality is caused by capitalism
2. Reserve army of Labour keeps wages low
3. False class consciousness and revolution

Question 12

Would the new right argue that these is social mobility in the contemporary UK?

Answer 12

Yes, but some people choose not to climb up the ladder and rely on benefits instead

Question 13

Would classical Marxists argue that there is social mobility in the contemporary UK?

Answer 13

No

Question 14

What are the 3 weberian factors of class inequality?

Answer 14

1. Class
2. Party
3. Status

Question 15

What are the two feminist explanations of class inequality?

Answer 15

1. Marxist feminism: women meet the needs of capitalism

2. Women soothe the stresses and frustrations of proletariat men after a hard day at work

Question 16

Who argues that women meet the needs of capitalism?

Answer 16

Marxist feminist - Bruegel and Benston

Question 17

Who argues the women soothe the stresses and frustrations of proletariat men after a hard day at work?

Answer 17

Ansley

Question 18

Would Marxist feminists argue that there is social mobility in the contemporary UK?

Answer 18

No

Question 19

What are the 3 postmodernist explanations of class inequality?

Answer 19

1. Class has lost its significance (fragmentation and rejection of meta narratives)
2. Individualised identities and consumer culture
3. Risk society

Question 20

Who argues that class has lost its significance (fragmentation and rejection of meta narratives) ?

Answer 20

Lyotard

Question 21

What does postmodernist Beck argue?

Answer 21

That social class is a ‘zombie category’

Question 22

Would postmodernists argue that there is social mobility in the contemporary UK?

Answer 22

Yes and no, there is stratification so people can earn as much or little as they choose to

Question 23

Who argues individualised identities and consumer culture?

Answer 23

Baudrillard

Question 24

What is the neo weberian explanation of class inequality?

Answer 24

Dual labour market

Question 25

Who argues the dual labour market?

Answer 25

Barron and Norris