Social Class

Question 1

What is subjective social class and who argued this

Answer 1

The class we think we are in ourselves

Marshall et al - many people saw themselves as ‘working class’ despite the fact they were in non-manual or white collar jobs

Question 2

What is objective social class

Answer 2

Using indicators as measurements such as occupation. Several measurements:
Registrar generals scale
NS-SEC

Question 3

What is the registrar generals scale

Answer 3

Ranking was based upon the various occupational groups. Used by government from 1911 until the 1990s

Question 4

What is the NS-SEC

Answer 4

National statistics sociology-economic classification - ranks occupations according to their similarity of qualification, training, skills and experience.
Shows the the status of the different occupations and the employer position.

Question 5

What is the Hope-Goldthorpe classification and is it relevant tot today

Answer 5

It is not relevant to today’s society

He acknowledged the 3 main classes and further sub-divided into seven occupational classes.

Question 6

Who introduced the 3 different types of capital order to measure social class

Answer 6

Pierre Bourdieu

Question 7

Evidence (sociologists) for social class inequality in the media

Answer 7

Jones = Chavtainment shows the working class as aggressive

Price = Benefits street operates ‘poverty porn’ shocking effects

Question 8

Evidence (sociologists) for social class inequality in education

Answer 8

Smith and noble =

• Low income = insufficient funds to pay for resources like uniform, books, school trips and transport
• Children from low income are more likely to suffer from ill health and therefore have low attendance
• Low income = no private tuition or tutoring
• Low income = less technology and resources to do homework
• Class divide in the basis of how established the school is

Callendar and Jackson = Debt Aversion:

• Students who were afraid of debt were 4x less likely to go on to higher education than those with a ‘more relaxed attitude’
• The fear of debt was greatest among those of poor backgrounds
• debt prevented some students from participating in higher education (low income)

Question 9

Evidence (sociologists) for social class inequality in crime

Answer 9

Miller = working class boys have their own values, making them stem to crime and deviant behaviour. The image of working class boys is very important to them to be able to stay macho and tough

Lea and young = crime is closely related to deprivation. The working class will often feel deprived and this can lead to problems resulting in crime

Question 10

What is Functunalism

Answer 10

Functionalism is a structural theory and consensus theory whereby they believe that everyone within society has a function and these functions need to be here for maintaining a healthy cohesion of society.

Question 11

What theory did Durkheim support and what did he argue

Answer 11

Functionalism:
Durkheim believed that levels (strata’s) existed because it is beneficial for social order and in order for society to function properly. People have different occupations and functions in society and there is a common agreement about this theory. He believes that people accept that occupations should be graded in terms of value and should receive greater rewards for their efforts.

Question 12

What theory did Parsons support and what did he argue

Answer 12

Functionalism:
Parsons believes that for society to be functional, their needs to be a hierarchical system to achieve social order and ranking. This is based on consensus, kinship, personal qualities, achievement, possessions and authority. Parsons argues that there is a general agreement about stratification and how roles should be ranked with higher rewards to highly valued jobs.

Question 13

What theory did Davis and Moore support and what did he argue

Answer 13

Functionalism:
They believed that people in society should work to the best of their ability and that social stratification ensures that talented people fill the occupations for them. Talented people who have to work hard with a valued occupation in society will receive higher rewards for their efforts.

Question 14

What is the New Right theory

Answer 14

More modern take on functionalism - They tend to focus on people’s circumstances being the result of the individual’s freedom of choice. their focus is on traditional values which they believe would create a harmonious and successful society; yet they identify different motivations in society which results in society’s flaws.

Question 15

What does Saunders think would make equality possible

Answer 15

To ensure that everyone did their jobs to the best of their ability because they would not be motivated by economic reward. (Only if considerable force were used)

Question 16

What is dependency culture

Answer 16

People given no motivation to better themselves

Dependent on the state

Question 17

What does murray believe is responsible for creating a dependency culture

Answer 17

The underclass not working and relying on the state to help them

Question 18

What did Murray think the Government needed to do in order to overcome the problem with the underclass

Answer 18

Reduction in welfare benefits and less government intervention to reduce poverty (this does more harm than good)

Question 19

Name a few facts about Karl Marx and the theory he was involved with

Answer 19

• Karl Marx was one of the key theorists in the creation of Marxist
• Marx saw society divided into two major parts: infrastructure (economy, capitalism) and superstructure (education, media)
• two major social classes: proletariat and bourgeoisie
• proletariat are the lower labouring workforce in society that are in a sense of false class consciousness from the bourgeoisie. They d this by exploiting and oppressing the proletariat.
• A worker’s revolution would mean the proletariat would be in a class consciousness and overthrow the bourgeoisie leading to a communist society whereby production would be owned by everyone, classes would disappear and exploitation and oppression would end.

Question 20

What did Westergaard say and what theory did he support

Answer 20

Westergaard supported Marxists theory

He argued that the top 10% of the population have seen a massive increase in their incomes whereas those in the lowest part of the population, their incomes have seen virtually no rise. Widening the gap between the rich and the poor

Question 21

What did Braverman say and what theory did he support

Answer 21

Braverman supported the Marxist theory

-Proletarianism of the middle class - it is argued that many middle class jobs are becoming deskilled like administrative and clerical work due to the introduction of technology such as computers. As a result, their pay and status are in decline, and now they have more in common with the woking class.

Question 22

What did Gramsci say and what theory does he support

Answer 22

Gramsci supports Marxist theory

He argues that the ruling class rarely need to use force to exert power because they rule through persuasion. Using cultural and political means to encourage enough of the working class to side with the ruling class and capitalist system to ensure stability (leading to the working class into a false class consciousness)

Question 23

What did Max Weber say and what theory did he support

Answer 23

Max Weber supported the Weberian theory

He argues that the ownership of property and capital were important dimensions of privilege within society, however also argued that social inequality was largely the product of the three dimensions of class (marketability), status (How society views you) and party (How much political power you possess) and each group have different amounts of power in this competition.

Question 24

What are the 4 main social classes Weber identifies

Answer 24

The propertied upper class
The property less white collar workers
The petty Bourgeoisie
The manual working class

Question 25

What do feminists argue about social class inequaities

Answer 25

-Men are all able to get higher paid jobs due to them controlling the services, businesses and means of production.

Question 26

What do some feminists argue about the Hope-Goldthorpe scale

Answer 26

Based on men’s occupations and are not well suited to exploring the class situation of women

Question 27

What is postmodernism

Answer 27

Seeks to explain the rapid social changes associated with industrialisation and urbanisation. Question the relevance of sociological theories that try to explain contemporary society.

Question 28

What theory did Pakuski and Waters support and what did they argue

Answer 28

Postmodernism

• Focus on the place of consumption and style in the contemporary UK which is leading to the decline of the importance of social class
• Class is no longer an important part of an individuals identity

Question 29

What theory did Beck support and what did he argue

Answer 29

Postmodernism

-Argued that the central problem of society is no longer creating and distributing wealth. But of managing the risks created by science and technology such as nuclear energy or environmental polution