New right view of stratification Flashcards
what do Herrnstein and Murray argue
The bell curve :
- intelligence is influenced by genetics and environment
- those who rise through society are more intelligent than those at the bottom
- those who are unintelligent are breeding quicker and frequently than the high achievers so society is becoming stupider
- they argue the poor should not be encouraged to have children
what does Saunders argue
Consumption change :
- it’s the benefits system that created inequality
- capitalism is improving the living standards of everyone and the welfare system disincentives the poor and lazy from working
- consumption cleavage refers to the significance of social division based on spending power on goods and services
- consumption cleavage is more significant than class as a source of social division
what does marsland argue
Loss of self resilience / reliance :
- poverty and inequality in the uk are overstated by the agencies such as the Joseph Rowntree foundation
- relative poverty does not exist in the uk because benefits provide a safety net for the poor
- people on benefits have made a conscious decision to remain poor because it’s easier than working
- the welfare state cannot solve these problems
what does murray argue
underclass :
- uk is developing an underclass of people with culture characterised by crime , unemployment and illegitimacy
- women who aren’t married are unable to control their children
- lack of a father figure causes children to be badly socialised
- this results in poor educational attainment and criminality
- defined by being on benefits with no intention of working which becomes a vicious cycle passed on through generations
• and entire class of people were dependent on welfare benefits and excluded from jobs , opportunities and political life
what does Spencer argue
poverty was no good for society because it encouraged people to work harder - they deserved poverty as they had no morality
what does lewis and sugarman argue
cultural deprivation theories
what does O’Brien state
New right thinkers applied concepts which were common in Victorian times to an understanding of poverty and inequality:
- deserving poor people , who are poor for reasons beyond their control and who struggle to work their way out of poverty
- undeserving poor people , who live by crime . They spend their money on drinks and drugs
what does Jencks say
the new right tend to see people on welfare as undeserving poor because they’re criminal , refuse to attend school / uneducated , unwilling to work
