Ethnicity: Weberian

Question 1

How does Weber define class ?

Answer 1

Market situation = some workers have more knowledge and skills which affect their wages
Work situation: Some workers have more authority which affects their level of autonomy in jobs
- White British people in the UK are more likely to have superior market and work situations compared to ethnic minorities

Question 2

What did Weber say about status inequality ?

Answer 2

• status groups aim to achieve ‘social closure’ - monopolise privilege and exclude other groups from having this privilege
• Status and power are in the hands if the majority ethnic groups
• Party = a group that forms in order to gain power e.g. trade unions
• However, these groups are often dominated by white members - ethnic voices are often not heard

Question 2

What was Barron and Norris’ study ?

Answer 2

The dual labour market
- Primary labour market = well-paid, secure, promotion jobs
- Secondary labour market = low pay, bad conditions, least job security
- White men dominate the primary jobs and ethnic minorities dominate the secondary jobs
- Cultural discrimination exists - employers give into racist beliefs that black and asian groups are suitable for certain jobs
- Legal and political framework supporting black and asian people is weak
- Trade unions are white dominated and have been accused of favouring white workers

Question 3

What are the evaluations of Barron and Norris ?

Answer 3

• ignores the fact that there are ethnic minorities in primary labour market positions
• fails to recognise that the situation for ethnic minority women is worse

Question 4

What is Rex and Tomlinsons study ?

Answer 4

• In Birmingham
• found ethnic minorities formed a separate underclass beneath the white working class
• The black underclass were made up of people who felt marginalised, alienated and frustrated
• They concluded that in capitalist society, the underclass are the ultimate victims which is made up of mainly ethnic minorities

Question 5

What are the evaluations of Rex and Tomlinson’s study ?

Answer 5

• overemphasis on ethnic groups as victims of racism
• position of ethnic minority groups is changing - Chinese and Indian children do better at school than white children
• New right = blame culture of ethnic minorities for poverty and unemployment, welfare dependency is an issue in their culture