Marxism Flashcards
Class - Trad
Karl Marx
Saw society as a structure divided into two parts:
Infrastructure - economic base…this shapes the…
Superstructure - political, legal and education systems, beliefs and ideas
Ruling Class Ideology – Ideologies of the ruling class that are passed on to the proletariat - These reinforce their position of power without us realising!
This produces a False Consciousness which prevents people from seeing the reality of their situation.
The relationship between the Bourgeoisie and Proletariat is one built on exploitation and mutual dependence…
Marx predicted a revolution would occur when the proletariat become aware of their exploited position.
Class - Change - underclass
Marx
‘lumpen proletariat’ lack necessary engagement with work because of the way society is structured.
Class - change - divide by rich and poor = Poo
Westergaard
says polarisation is occurring where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Class differences became stronger in the UK in the late 20th Century.
The top 10% of the population have seen massive increases in their incomes whilst those on the lowest incomes have seen virtually no rise.
Class - change - ineq of life chances
Scott
Social closure of the upper class
Gender
Engles
The exploiter - exploited relationship of capitalism is reflected within the home -
Exploiter = men , Exploited = women
Gender - Marx Feminist
Feeley
Women emerge from family life preconditioned to accept their place in the capitalist hierarchy – the family is: ‘designed to teach passivity not rebellion’. It socialises family members to accept traditional roles and the view that it is ‘natural’ for them to take responsibilities for different roles.
Gender - Marx Feminist
Benston
Women are used to benefitting the operation of the capitalist economy by carrying out unpaid work in the home
Gender - Marx feminist
Beechy
Women are a cheap ‘reserve army of labour’ brought in during economic booms but thrown out during slumps. Women are often not members of trade unions and are prepared to work for less money as their wage could be a second income.
Gender
World Health Organisation (2013)
the incidence of women who had experienced physical of sexual abuse from an intimate partner in their lifetime was 30% globally and 25% in Europe.
Ethnicity
Oliver Cox
- There is a distinct relationship between capitalism and racism.
- Racism would not have developed if capitalism did not exist.
- ‘If capitalism had not developed then the world may never have experienced racial prejudice.’ Slavery justified racism and was key to the growth of capitalism
Ethnicity
Castles and Kosack
Studied immigrant workers in Europe.
These groups were concentrated in low paid and low status work.
Discrimination in British society meant that there was an inability for ethnic minorities to get good jobs.
Ethnic minority workers formed a reserve army of labour
Ethnic minorities are the most disadvantaged group in the working class and do not form a separate underclass.
Racism was fostered and encouraged to divide the proletariat and weaken their power.
3 ideological reasons for this are
To legitimise
To divide and rule
To scapegoat
Age
Bond et al
‘The Political Economy of Old Age’
Those from lower social classes are more likely to suffer poverty in old age because during their working lives their incomes are too low to save for retirement and they are less likely to have private pensions.
Government state pensions are inadequate and therefore those who are elderly and from lower social classes are discriminated against.
Age
Phillipson
The elderly are forced to retire and therefore institutionally marginalised. The elderly then become dependent on society however as they are denied access to work.
Age
Vincent
argues that age is another aspect of stratification - one that all members of society will pass through in life course. Disadvantage is tied up with the needs of the economy.
Inequality is specifically suffered by the elderly- Working class women in particular suffer discrimination. The young and the old are more vulnerable to being part of the Reserve army of Labour.
In Western society age divisions are often blamed on biological ageing – they argue many people over 65 are not capable of working.
The state greatly over estimates ‘the problem’ of an ageing population – if the state effectively redistributed income from the wealthy and businesses it could easily pay for the elderly. Ageism exacerbates the problems for the elderly.
Age
Jones
says the elderly are the new reserve army of labour as they face childcare and the financial burdens to support their grandchildren
