social class inequalities theory

Question 1

what did marx say about social class inequalities?

Answer 1

stated that the structure of capitalist society is divided into 2 major parts (the infrastructure and the superstructure) which shape the rest of society , the bourgeoise and the proleteriats

Question 2

what does westergaard say about social inequalities?(marxist)

Answer 2

argues that class differences became stronger in the uk in the late 20th century. the top 10% have massive increases in income whilst on the lowest have seen virtually no rise

Question 3

what does scott say about social inequalities?(marxist)

Answer 3

social closure,if the upper class are exerting social closure, they are able to maintain their wealth

Question 4

what does Gramsci say about social class inequalities?(neo-marxist)

Answer 4

hegemony, refers to the idea that the ruling class get just enough working class people on their ‘side’ to follow their ruling class ideologies

Question 5

what does wright say about social class inequality?(neo-marxist)

Answer 5

contradictory class position,this means that they are both exploited by the ruling class and exploit the working class

Question 6

what does bravermaan say about social class inequalities?(neo-marxist)

Answer 6

proleterianisation, the marxist concept that sees the middle class identifying more with the working class identity in terms of pay and conditions of their employment - partciularly the amount of control and freedom they have with their work

Question 7

what does benston say about social class inequalities?(marxist feminist)

Answer 7

argues that a wife keeps her husband in good running order by feeding and caring for him and that is essential in the smooth running of capitalism. the fact that the husband provides for his wife and kids means that he is less likley to challenge the capitalist system

Question 8

what does feeley say about social class inequality?(marxist feminist)

Answer 8

women emerge from family life preconditioned to accept their place in the capitalist heirarchy - the family is ‘designed to teach positivity not rebellion’

Question 9

what does ansley say about social class inequality?(marxist feminist)

Answer 9

sees womrn as acting as a ‘safety valve’ and talks of women as being the ‘takers of shit’ as husbands return having been exploited at work and take out their frustrations on their wives. ‘ women act as a sponge for mens revolutionary ire’

Question 10

what does beechey say about social class inequality?(marxist feminist)

Answer 10

explains the position of women in the labour market in terms of how capitalism operates. sees women as a cheap reserve army of labour, brought in during economic booms but thrown out during slumps

Question 11

what does durkheim say about social class inequality?(functionalist)

Answer 11

division of labour, in which people have very different functions, skills and avaliabilities. value consensus also means that members of society accept the legitimacy of stratification

Question 12

what does parsons say about social class inequalities?(functionalist)

Answer 12

social inequality and difference are also functional and an inevitable feature of social systems . this ranking is based in a value consensus about what society values, especially with regard to:kinship, personal qualities, achievement, possesions, authority

Question 13

what do davis and more say about social class inequality?(functionalist)

Answer 13

stratification is a permanent and universal feature of human societies and concluded this becuase it is functionally necessary

Question 14

what does sauders say about social class inequality?(new right)

Answer 14

social mobility included a change in your class. hayek belives that inequality is justified because it promotes economic growth

Question 15

what does murray say about social class inequalities?(new right)

Answer 15

argued that the underclass promoted ‘dependancy culture’ meaning they will not take responisbility for their own situations and theyre depending on welfare state to survive

Question 16

what does weber say about social class inequalities?

Answer 16

agreed with marx that the ownership of property and capital were important dimensions of privilidge within society, however he argued that social inequality was largely a product of 3 things: class, status and party

Question 17

what does draper say about social class inequalities?(weberian)

Answer 17

suggested that the middle class is so diverse in lifestyle, occupation and attitudes that they are like a dish of herrings and strawberries

Question 18

what does savage say about social class inequalities?(weberian)

Answer 18

states that there are different types of middle class identities and lifestyles. he claims that the middle class is seperated into public sector professionals and private sector entrepenures whose incomes are considerably higher than their public sector counterparts

Question 19

what does giddens say about social class inequality?(weberian)

Answer 19

acknowledge that the upper class is fragmented in the contemporary uk

Question 20

what does the bbc class calculator do?(used as evidence for weberianism)

Answer 20

calculates new class divisons

Question 21

what does zweig say about social class inequality?(weberian)

Answer 21

argued that a section of the working class adopted the economic and cultural lifestyle of the middle class. embourgeoisement

Question 22

what do pakluski and waters say about social class inequality?(postmodernist)

Answer 22

publsihed a boom called ‘death of class’ which announces the end of social classes in todays post-modern societys. the authors mention that social class is a hsitorical phenominon that occurs in the 19th century

Question 23

what does polhemus say about social class inequalities?(postmodernist)

Answer 23

global media there exists a ‘supermarket of style’ from which young people can pick and chose when constructing their identity

Question 24

what doews beck say about social class inequalities?(postmodernist)

Answer 24

we now live in a risk society where innovation, technological and bilogical developments has meant that we are now exposed to the ‘risks of the unkown’ he states rear risks are now posed to everyone despite their social class backgrouynd. this has led to development of more individual identities

Question 25

what do furlong and cartmel say about social class inequalities?(postmodernist)

Answer 25

metaphor of railway journey to describe how life for young people was shaped by class in a modern society:schools there are different trains for working class and middle class children,in post modern society journey is more likely to be taken by car where young people are constantly faced by choices and have the oppertunity to make a lot of different decsions