Social Class Flashcards
What is subjective social class and who argued this
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
What is objective social class
Using indicators as measurements such as occupation. Several measurements:
Registrar generals scale
NS-SEC
What is the registrar generals scale
Ranking was based upon the various occupational groups. Used by government from 1911 until the 1990s
What is the NS-SEC
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.
What is the Hope-Goldthorpe classification and is it relevant tot today
It is not relevant to today’s society
He acknowledged the 3 main classes and further sub-divided into seven occupational classes.
Who introduced the 3 different types of capital order to measure social class
Pierre Bourdieu
Evidence (sociologists) for social class inequality in the media
Jones = Chavtainment shows the working class as aggressive
Price = Benefits street operates ‘poverty porn’ shocking effects
Evidence (sociologists) for social class inequality in education
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)
Evidence (sociologists) for social class inequality in crime
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
What is Functunalism
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.
What theory did Durkheim support and what did he argue
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.
What theory did Parsons support and what did he argue
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.
What theory did Davis and Moore support and what did he argue
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.
What is the New Right theory
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.
What does Saunders think would make equality possible
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)
What is dependency culture
People given no motivation to better themselves
Dependent on the state
What does murray believe is responsible for creating a dependency culture
The underclass not working and relying on the state to help them
What did Murray think the Government needed to do in order to overcome the problem with the underclass
Reduction in welfare benefits and less government intervention to reduce poverty (this does more harm than good)
Name a few facts about Karl Marx and the theory he was involved with
- 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.
What did Westergaard say and what theory did he support
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
What did Braverman say and what theory did he support
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.
What did Gramsci say and what theory does he support
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)
What did Max Weber say and what theory did he support
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.
What are the 4 main social classes Weber identifies
The propertied upper class
The property less white collar workers
The petty Bourgeoisie
The manual working class
What do feminists argue about social class inequaities
-Men are all able to get higher paid jobs due to them controlling the services, businesses and means of production.
What do some feminists argue about the Hope-Goldthorpe scale
Based on men’s occupations and are not well suited to exploring the class situation of women
What is postmodernism
Seeks to explain the rapid social changes associated with industrialisation and urbanisation. Question the relevance of sociological theories that try to explain contemporary society.
What theory did Pakuski and Waters support and what did they argue
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
What theory did Beck support and what did he argue
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
