outline and assess the marxist explanations of social inequality Flashcards
intro
Karl Marx argued that social inequality is not inevitable in all societies, just capitalism, Under capitalism, he argued, there are two major classes: the capitalists (‘bourgeoisie’) who own the means of production and the workers (‘proletariat’) who do not own productive property and so they can survive only by selling their labour power to employers.
point 1
Marxists argue that the working class are less powerful, increasingly alienated, deskilled and less likely to resist their own oppression
evidence 1
Savage argues that the collective confidence of the working class is being undermined in contemporary society. At one time they saw themselves collectively as strong and independent But there has been a cultural shift. Nowadays the working class are no longer in powerful trade unions, and the jobs they have seem somehow less ‘heroic’. Manual labour has suffered a loss in status.
explain 1
This shows that there is high inequality in society as the working class is deteriorating.
eval 1
post modernists argue that class has reduced in importance and that identity is now based on individuals choices. New rights, such as murray argue that the wirking class are weak due to characteristics such as unemployed, work shy, welfare dependent, drug or alcohol dependent, criminal, teenage pregnancies
point 2
Marxists argue that many white collar workers were being deskilled, to such an extent that they could be considered ‘proletarian’ (working class).
evidence 2
Braverman called this process proletarianisation. Their skills were being eroded by automation, computerisation and the fragmentation of work tasks into simpler routines, and this had implications for their pay, status and power. Moreover, Braverman saw this deskilling as a deliberate management strategy. Under capitalism, employers wish to cut their costs and maximise their profits by replacing workers with machines.
eval 2
Braverman neglects the important role of gender. Women’s skill levels tend to be under-rated because of the low value attached to ‘women’s work’.
Research evidence suggests that deskilling is patchy rather than universal. For example, Gallie et al surveyed a large national sample of workers who had been affected by new technologies and managerial strategies. Yet only a small minority reported that their jobs had been deskilled.
point 3
Neo Marxists have put a modern spin on Marxism since marx died over a century ago, they argue capitalists try to convince the working class the system they are in is fair.
evidence 3
Gramsci (1971) explains how capitalists use their superior resources (e.g. control of mass media and education) to win the hearts and minds of workers. They try to convince workers that the capitalist system is legitimate, normal and a matter of commonsense. Gramsci called this ‘hegemony’: dominance by cultural and political means.
eval 3
however it is not conclusively proven that the media are controlled by the bourgeoisie, nor that they intentionally set out to legitimate capitalism. McRobbie argues people are increasingly likely to be sceptical about media messages and use a multitude of media sources to make a sophisticated analysis of their own regarding each story.
conclusion
in conclusion Marxists stressed the fundamental importance of economic processes, since every social group must first satisfy its material needs, and showed how it created inequality between the 2 classes, however some argue Marx attached too much importance to economic factors. He treated the economic ‘base’ as primary in the sense that it shapes the ‘superstructure’ of ideas and culture in society
