Patterns and trends: social class inequality: Weberian theory

Question 1

What was Max Weber’s basic views ?

Answer 1

• inequalities in society are based on power and status
• Criticised marx’s view - thinks that communism is just as oppressive as capitalism

Question 2

What 3 dimensions to stratification are there ? (Weber)

Answer 2

1. social class
2. status
3. party

Question 3

What is the first dimension to social stratification ? (Weber)

Answer 3

Social class
- Weber argues that social class = a market situation
- This means that members of the same social class receive similar economic rewards and life chances
- Agrees with marxist view = society is divided into two groups - business owners and workers
- Each group can be further divided

Question 4

What are the 4 main social classes in society ? (Weber)

Answer 4

1. The propertied upper class
2. The property - less white collar workers
3. The petty bourgeoise
4. The manual working class

Question 5

What is the second dimension of social stratification ?(Weber)

Answer 5

Status
- Says the distribution of social honour us how much respect a person receives from others
- Our status can not only be affected by class position but also through religion, lifestyle and ethnicity
- Status can affect our identity because we identify with others of a similar status to us
- Status distinction are important, for example the difference between the landed aristocracy and the nouveaux riches

Question 6

What is the third dimension of social stratification (Weber)

Answer 6

Party
- groups who have power can influence decision making
- Broader than political parties - includes trade unions and pressure groups
- Trade unions = represent the working class workers (e.g industrial workers)
- Pressure groups include all social classes

Question 7

What are the evaluations of the Weberian theory ?

Answer 7

Strength = used by sociologists to create multi-dimensional models of society

Strength = explains how people come together because of shared status position

Limitation = Marxists say that status distinctions are encouraged by the working class

Strength = Influence on modern sociologists ( E.g. Hope-Goldthorpe class scale)