Social class inequalities Flashcards
Marxism
MARX -
Believes we live in a capitalist society which consists of
The mutual dependency theory which is the idea that the bourgeoisie depends on the proletariat for the army of workers and the proletariat depend on the bourgeoisie for survival as the bourgeoisie owns the means of production. He also explains that part of the capitalist society is the infrastructure (the economy) and the superstructure which is the institutions that the ruling class ideology is emitted which also leads to the false class consciousness. Marx strongly believes that society should strive for communism as capitalism is exploitative and causes the alienation and the oppression of the working class as well as them being objectified through the workplace and this only can be achieved by a revolution.
WESTERGAARD - He argues that polarisation is occurring
where the rich are getting richer and the poor are
getting poorer as the top 10% of the population have seen massive increases in their incomes and the bottom 10% have seen no rise.
SCOTT - refers to social closure - If the upper class are exercising social closure, they are able to maintain their wealth.
Neo- Marxism
GRAMSCI - hegemony is the reason that the working class haven’t had a revolution because the ruling class get just enough working class on their ‘side’ to follow their ruling class ideology.
WRIGHT - believes middle class occupy contradictory class positions as the MC are both exploited by the ruling class and also exploit the working class; this is because they often hold managerial roles.
BRAVERMAAN - Refers to the proletarianisation occurring in middle class due to the deskilling of workers as skill content for white collar workers has reduced.
Marxist Feminist
BENSTON - Benefits capitalism as women looking after husband allows the men to have more time to work. Also argues that if women were paid for domestic work it would cause a massive redistribution of wealth
FEELEY -
Argues family teaches children to submit to parental authority that allows the patriarchal and capitalist system to take place. She argues that family is designed to teach “passivity and not rebellion”
ANSLEY - Views women as the ‘takers of shit’ as they soothe the frustrations of their husbands which encourages the false class consciousness and stops a revolution
BEECHEY - Sees women as cheap reserve army of labour as they are bought in during economic booms and thrown out during slumps
Functionalism
DURKHEIM -
Refers to specialised division of labour which people have different skills and abilities, but he agrees that there is a consensus as they all agree with their place in the division of labour and accept legitimacy of stratification as he believes society agrees that the most functional jobs would be the most rewarded.
PARSONS - Ranking of consensus is based on kinship, authority, possessions, personal qualities and achievements.
DAVIS AND MOORE - society is based on sifting and sorting which means that the most important positions based on skills and abilities. They believe in meritocracy and the ‘scarcity of personnel’ which is the shortage of people with innate ability. The stratification system tempts gifted people by guaranteeing them high reward to functional roles.
New right
SAUNDERS - Stratification serves important functions. He also sees a degree of inequality as desirable and functional in order to encourage competition. He believes that economic growth has raised the standards of living for everyone
(social mobility)
MURRAY - Suggests that the underclass promote a ‘dependency culture’ and blames the welfare state for allowing the underclass to emerge
Weberians
WEBER - Explains that the middle class is more fragmented and there are two middle classes; the property-less white collar workers; better market situation due to more skills and qualifications as well as the petty-bourgeoisie; owners of small businesses .
DRAPER - Middle class is so diverse that they are like a dish of herrings and strawberries.
SAVAGE - Identified three different middle class groups known as established middle class (wealthiest. Cultural, work in management, outside urban areas), technical middle class (mix socially, emerging culture, work in research and science, live in suburban locations) and new affluent workers (youthful, economically secure, emerging culture, could be from working class backgrounds)
GIDDENS - The upper class is also fragmented eg. traditional upper class (inherited wealth, ascribed status, aristocratic), entrepreneurial rich (business, maybe from working class backgrounds like Alan Sugar, Jet-set pop aristocracy (super rich, money through popular culture)
ZWEIG - working class have adopted the economic and cultural lifestyle of the middle class which is referred to as Embourgeoisement- differences between middle and working class are disappearing with well-paid manual workers merging into middle class; blurred. Eg. plumbers can afford to buy own homes and liv in middle class areas to buy consumer goods
Postmodernism
PAKULSKI AND WATERS - Globalisation help construct our identity from a wide range of influences therefore we are more likely to base our identities by what we consume and our consumptions become more important than class boundaries.
BECK - Explains that we now live in a risk society as technology developments that we are exposed to ‘risks of the unknown’ despite their social class background, these changes lead to the development of more ‘individualised identities’
FURLONG AND CARTMEL - Discussed the past society as a railway journey as there was only one track for working class students but now postmodern society is like a car as you now have choice where to go. Your class origins do not determine your destination
