Ethnic Inequality- Weberian Theory

Question 1

Who discusses Weberian theory for ethnic inequality?

Answer 1

• Weber:
• Rex & Tomlinson: material disadvantage.
• Barron & Norris: the dual labour market theory.

Question 2

Who talked about the dual labour market?

Answer 2

Barron & Norris

Question 3

What is the dual labour market?

Answer 3

• Primary labour market consisted of well paid secure jobs and the secondary labour market were poorly paid, poor conditions and insecure.
• They found white men dominated the primary labour market and ethnic minorities were concentrated in the secondary labour market due to their lower cultural status.

Question 4

What does Barron & Norris’ theory acknowledge?

Answer 4

• Cultural discrimination exists and stratification isn’t purely economic.
• Status groups based on ethnicity show stratification can also occur on the basis of cultural factors.

Question 5

Why are ethnic minorities concentrated in the secondary labour market?

Answer 5

• Employers subscribe to racist beliefs about their unsuitability. They may practise discrimination by not employing them or by denying them responsibility and promotion.
• The legal and political frame work supporting them is weak. Trade unions are white dominated and the Race relations act hasn’t worked as efficiently as it could have.

Question 6

How can Barron & Norris be criticised?

Answer 6

• Some ethnic minorities are in crucial market positions. the current richest person in the UK comes from an ethnic minority background evident in the rich 100 list.
• They fail to recognise the situation for ethnic minority women is worse as they experience the concrete ceiling too. (Davidson)

Question 7

What did Rex & Tomlinson find?

Answer 7

• The material disadvantage of ethnic minorities in the West Midlands cut them off from the white working-class group.
• They formed a separate black underclass where they experienced disadvantages through housing, education, the labour market, and the hostility directed at them by white society.
• This created feelings of marginalisation, frustration, and alienation which erupted in inner-city riots.
• They concluded in a capitalist society, the underclass are the ultimate victims, and ethnic minorities dominate the underclass.

Question 8

How are Rex & Tomlinson criticised?

Answer 8

• Overemphasise ethnic minorities as passive victims of racism.
• The position for some is changing like for Chinese and Indian people who outperform other ethnicities in school and doing well in the labour market too.
• The new right would blame the culture of ethnic minority groups for the poverty and unemployment they experience.

Question 9

What did Weber find?

Answer 9

• Modern societies are characterised by status inequality.
• Status groups try to achieve social closure, meaning they try to monopolise privilege and exclude others from their position.
• This could mean status and power are in the hands of the majority ethnic group, making it difficult for ethnic minorities to compete equally for jobs and housing.
• Status can cut across class differences as middle-class ethnic minorities may experience status inequality in the form of prejudiced views held by the white population.

Question 10

What did Weber say about parties?

Answer 10

Trade unions are dominated by white members which often leads to ethnic minority voices not being heard.

Question 11

How can Weber be evaluated?

Answer 11

• Does not see the relative importance of different types of inequality.
• Suggests there are other sources of power other than economic power like status derived from culture.