marxism Flashcards
what are the 4 points for marxist theory of class inequality + sociologist
- society has historically faced divisions of power- Marx
- the ruling class uses idiological control to maintain their superior position- Marx
- class inequality is justified through hegamony- gramsci
- power is becomingmore concentrated in society- westergard
who supports the explaination: society has historically faced divisions of power. + their ideas
class
MARX
- idea of historical materialisms and all material goods being earnt through labour (forces of production)
- a capitalist society exploit wage laberours and sell the proletariats labour to the bourgeousie for profits
- suggested 4 modes of production: primitive communism, ancient mode of production, feudalism and the 2 class system
who supports the explaination: the ruling class uses idealogical control to maintain their superior position + their ideas
class
MARX
* all other institutions in society make up the superstructure
* this reinforces and supports the base (economy)
* the institutions of the superstructure support & reflect rulingclass ideology
* capitalism will be seen as reasonable and justifable rather than exploitative
* these beliefs and values disguise the true nature of society and class inequality will continue.
who supports the explaination: class inequality is justified through hegemony + their ideas
class
GRAMSCI
* rejected economic determinism and idiological domination of marx’s work and took on a neomarxist approach
* suggested that in order to create change, individuals need more than just economic reason to improverishement
* the working class must generate ideas amongst themselfs to counter the ruling class
* the ruling class dominate through persuasion and hegemony
* using systems to control peoples minds
* so many of the working class have dual consciousness- work in capitalism but are aware of the inequalities it creates.
who supports the explaination: power is becoming more concentrated in society + their ideas
class
WESTERGAARD
* suggests that the bourgeousie will become more concentrated over time
* there is little evidence of class divisions dissapearing but widening
* this is due to the way the capitalist system operates
* so the rich will get richer and the poor poorer
* unequal distribution of wealth within the capitalist system
what are the 4 points for marxist theory of age inequality + sociologist
- the elderly act as a reserve army of labour in a capitalist society (philipson)
- individuals are kept in a false cosciousness about their exploited position (gramsci)
- the elderly are forced to become dependent to create space in the labour market for young, productive workers (phillipson & Jacobson)
- the capitalist class manipulates the elderly into rertiring and uses them as a scapegoat for societal isses (vincent)
who supports the explaination: the young and the elderly act as a reserve army of labour in a capitalist society + their ideas
age
PHILLIPSON
* stated that a reserve army of labour was necessary part of capitalism
* young and elderly were often put into zero hour contracts as temporary or flexable labour
* age inequality can be seen as something conctructed by the Bourgeoisie.
who supports the explaination: individuals are kept in a false consciousness about their exploited position + their ideas
age
GRAMSCI
* neomarxist- states importance of maintaining ruling class dominance within a capitalist system
capitalist state is made up of two overlapping systems:
* rule through force- army police and prison ect
* rule through consent- ideas and values to persuade subordinate classes
* false consciousness created of their exploitation.
who supports the explaination: the elderly are forced to become dependent to create space in the labour market for the young, productive workers + their ideas
age
PHILLIPSON AND TOWNSEND
* economy places the elderly in a negative position as a burden on the economy
* economy constantly needs to renew the workforce to employ more productive, young workers
* * the elderly are institutionally marginalised- through a process of institutional dependency (e.g. elderly being forced to retire becuase they arent seen as valuable to the economy )
who supports the explaination: the capitalist class manipulates the elderly into retiring and uses them as a scapegoat for societal issues + their ideas
marxist theory
VINCENT
sees state pensions as creating disadvantage becuase they are too low
* the issue of state pensions is made worse by setting a retirement age.
* this has been constructed by capitalism becuase of the need to control a surplus of labour and allows companies to sell private pensions.
* to justify this inequality, created a moral panic over the ageing population
* suggested this is a social construct
* ageing is presented as an ideological distraction, elderly act as a scapegoat for economic issues
what are the 4 points for marxist theory of ethnic inequality + sociologist
- there is a direct relationship between capitalism and racism (cox)
- immigrants act as a reserve army of labour in a capitalist society (castles and kosack)
- The ruling class divide the working class for ideological purposes (castles and kosack)
- the ruling class uses the media to detract attention away from the capitalist failings (Hall)
who supports the explaination: there is a direct relationship between capitalism and racism + their ideas
ethnic
COX
* cox suggested that idea of ‘race’ is itself just a human creation
* racism is somethind developed by exploiters against the exploited to justify exploitation.
* cox argues that early capitalism goes in hand with colonialism
* colonies justified their actions through racism
who supports the explaination: immigrants act as a reserve army of labour in a capitalist society + their ideas
ethnic
**CASTLES AND KOSACK **
* studied immigrant work in Britain and found tha most immigrants were concentrated in low-skilled and low-paid manual jobs and carried out in poor working conditions.
* capitalists used them for a reserve army of labour
* a surplus of labour keeps wage costs down
* capitalist economies were inherently unstable
* immigrants were needed to be fired and hired as the economy fluctuates.
* e.g. covid 19- BME In high risk jobs no one wanted
who supports the explaination: the ruling class divide the working class for ideological purposes + their ideas
ethnic
CASTLES AND KOSACK (the superstructure)
* countries after WW2 turned to immigrant labour to provide a necessary cheap pool of workers who could profitably exploited
* argued that this was through the divide and rule tactic- beneficial to the ruling class becuase immigrants were scapegoated
* allowed the capitalist class to divert the white working class’ attention from the real cause of inequality- capitalism.
who supports the explaination: the ruling class uses the media to detract attention away from capitalist failings + their ideas
ethnic
HALL
* neo-marxism
* moral panics over black criminality in the 70s, creating a diversion away from the wider economic crisis
the stages:
1. major economic recession in 70s causing unemployment and cilil unrest- so government needed a scapegoat to divert attention away from capitalist system
2. media picked up robberies and created a moral panic
3. more police in areas- leading to more arrests
4. public attention was on black criminality rather than deeper problem of the capitalist sytsem.
what are the 4 points for marxist theory of gender inequality + sociologist
- women must be submissive wives to ensure a pure bloodline- Engels
- men need to exersise their control in the home if they do not have control of other areas in their life (zaretsky)
- women do unpaid labour in the home and this is essential to the smooth running of capitalism (Benston)
- women act as disposable and cheap part of the workforce which benifits a capitalist society (Bruegel)
who supports the explaination: women must besubmissive to wives to ensure a pure bloodline + their ideas
gender
ENGLES
* a womans subordinate position is a result of the ownership of private property and the development of nuclear families.
* the exploitation in the workplace was reflected in the home and within relationships.
* ruling class men were required to gain control over women so they could pass down wealth to biological offspring
* the nuclear family restricted womens sexuality and enforced monogamy.
* SUPPORT WITH ANSLEY- women are the ‘takers of shit’
who supports the explaination: women do unpaid labour in the home and this is essential to the smooth running of capitalism + their ideas
gender
BENSTON
* the unpaid domestic labour of women helps support the capitalist system
* women renew men’s ability to go out and work and create profits for the ruling class
* e.g. cooking, cleaning and caring for children
* women also socialise children, reproducing the next generation of workers at no cost to capitalist employers
* if a man has to provide for his family, he is less likely to challenge capitalism.
who supports the explaination: women act as a disposable and cheap part of the workforce which benifits a capitalist society + their ideas
gender
Bruegel
* argues that because of womens unpaid labour, they are readily available to work outside of the home when society requires them to do so
* ruling class use women for when they are needed during econcomic booms
* then send them back to full time housewife when not required
* highlights how the family is central to womens opression
* they are prepared to work for** less money** as their wage is a second income.
