Social Inequality: Class

Question 1

What is class inequality?

Answer 1

The unequal rewards and opportunities that an individual receives depending on their class status.

Question 2

Developed by:

Answer 2

Marxist: Karl Marx and Max Weber

Neo-Marxist: Erik Olin

Question 3

For Karl Marx:

Answer 3

Class inequality was influenced by the industrial capitalists which created an exploitative system of class relations. The bourgeoises oppressing the proletariats.

Question 4

Key Points:

Answer 4

• Workers produce more than what is actually needed to pay back the cost of hiring them.
• The surplus value is the source of the profit, which capitalists are able to put their own use.

Question 5

Pauperization:

Answer 5

Used by Marx to describe the process by which the working class grows increasingly impoverished in relation to the capitalist class.

Question 6

Social straification:

Answer 6

Refers to the inequalities between individuals and groups in a society.

Question 7

Strata:

Answer 7

A level or class to which people are assigned.

Question 8

Social inequalities:

Answer 8

Differences of wealth, status and power. For example, based on gender, social class and ethnicity.

Question 9

Party:

Answer 9

Social divisions based on political power.

Question 10

For Max Weber

Answer 10

Social stratification is shaped by two further aspects: status and party.
-Based on a built analysis developed by Marx. Like Marx, he argued that society was characterised by conflict over power and resources.