Outline and Assess Explanations for Ethnic Inequality Flashcards
Cox (1948)
Marxist - Racism helps to maintain a false class consiousness by creating divisions in the ruling class
Castles and Kosack (1973)
Racism allowed the dominant class to ‘divide’ those with similar xclass interetss. In that respect this means they treat ethnic minority employees as the ‘reserve army of labour’
Marx Criticsim
Too focused on class - Mike Savage et al (01) found most people he interviewed were hesitant about identifying themsleves as members of any class
Miles
Neo-Marxist - Said that ethnic minorities are found in all social classes, but because they are of ethnic minority they will be subject to different treatment.
Neo-Marx Criticism
Still focuses too much on class. The fact lifestyles are becoming a central feature of people’s lives and a majot source of identity and these are less likely yo be based on class, whows it is difficult to even identify class lines now.
Parkin
Weberian - The middle class practice social closure in order to keep people from minority backgrounds out, this socially marginalizes them
Rex and Tomlinson
Weberian - The marginalized position of many Black and Asian people in the UK can be understood in terms of an underclass which occupies a disadvntaged position in areas such as employment, housing, education, and power to make decisions.
Weberian Criticism
Weberian talks about how ethnic minorities as a group are socially marginalized; however the Chinese make up 11% of the highest socio-economic group in the UK.
Parsons (56)
Functionalist - Argues that ethnic inequalities are due to a common value system - where the differences are temporary and based on cultural differences between minority groups and their host nation. After a period of time, ethnic minorities adapt to the majority culutre, through a process called assimilation.
Functionalist Criticism
No agreement as to what a ‘common value system’ is - we don’t what perspective it is common from i.e. whether it is a white or a male or a middle class perspective. Aslo there is no evidence for assimilation - Curry is most popular takeaway in the UK e.g. of how the Indians have introduced their own culture.
Modood and Berthoud
Postmodernist - Stress the difference and diversity of experience rather than a common identity facing inequality. They were critical of people portraying ethnic groups as victims and they talk about “super diversity” where work is produced, documenting the range of diversity in the UK.
Postmodern criticism
Doesn’t take into account the material differences and deprivation as it focuses on culture more instead. Also it lacks evidence for its claims
Overcome Postmodern criticism
Not the only theory which lacks evidence to back up its claims and actually has a relatively small amount of criticisms.