Sociological perspectives on class inequality Flashcards
Social stratification
Refers to a system by which society ranks social groups in a hierarchy. Individuals and social groups at the top of the hierarchy have more power/status/wealth/income than those below them
Stratification by class creates an open society where status and hard work can be achieved
Functionalism
Parsons:
- In a society stratified by class, meritocracy exists (and is functional), where status is achieved through hard work and effort
- There is equality of opportunity- everyone has the chance to succeed and enter senior jobs as long as they work hard and are talented (e.g. Alan Sugar- w/c background)
- Education system operates on meritocracy- success in exams based on merit
- Talented and hard workers are rewarded with better grades> qualifications> selected for high status and income jobs
The stratification by class gives an incentive to talented individuals to compete for the most functionally important jobs
Functionalism
Davis and Moore:
- Strata is essential to ensure effective role allocation in society: the most talented and hard working individuals should fill for senior and imporant positions for society to function well. Positions are more highly rewarded so there is an incentive (status/income)
- E.g: doctors- allow society to function, high qualifications and training for high rewards
- We can tell which positions are most functionally important by: functional uniqueness (small number of people carry out the role- surgeons), the degree of dependence of others (business owners- others rely on their hard work- shareholders, employees, customers)
Functionalists and social stratification
Functionalism
- Social stratification is a feature of all human societies, so must be functionally necessary within society
New Right views on class inequality focus on blaming inequality in outcomes on the inadequate norms and values at the bottom of the social structure (the underclass)
New Right
Murray:
- The US government that provides welfare benefits for groups (unemployed and lone-parent families) create a dependency culture- some people given no motivation to work as they depend on the state
- This led to the creation of the underclass: a drain on taxpayers and poorly socialised their children (under achieved and turned to crime)
- Face restricted life chances, as explained by their lack of commitment to norms, values and benefits of society
Class inequality is beneficial for society as economic incentives are necessary to encourage talented people to work hard and innovate
New Right
Saunders:
- People will be motivated to innocate and develop new products/services if they know they will be highly rewarded (e.g. James Dyson- finanical motivation)
- Economies with a high degree of class inequality are competitive and dynamic; leading to more economic growth which raises living standards of society (money for schools/hospitals)
The stratification of society based on social class leads to the exploitation of the working class
Marxist
Marx: believed the capitalist economy created 2 classes (bourgeoise and proletariat). There was inevitable conflict between classes, with bourgeoise exploiting the proletariat and paying them the lowest possible wage to keep the profit for themselves
Westergaard and Resler: Marx’s analysis is still relevant (1970s). Little evidence of class divisions in UK disappearring. Class inequality can only be explained as a result of the way the capitalist system operates (e.g: low pay of Amazon factory workers vs Jeff Bezos’s income of $120 billion)
Marxists argue that society is not a meritocracy as the working class face many obstacles to success
Marxist
- Social Mobility Commission: those from a non-professional background are 2.5x less likely to have a professional jobs than those from professional backgrounds. This is a result of barriers faced by the working class rather than differences in talent, effort or capability
- Bourdieau: lower economic, social and cultural capital of the working class makes it harder to secure a well paid professional job (e.g. Smith and Noble- w/c have a lack of funds= less resources)
Marxists argue that even though society is not a meritocracy, we are duped into believing that it is
Marxist
- W/C unaware of their exploitation- experience a false consciousness (e.g. Chomsky- people are duped by distractions into the belief that inequality is fair/non-existent). Marx- workers duped into a false consciousness by the superstructure (by education, media, etc)
Althusser- function of the superstructure is to legitimise class inequality by convincing workers taht society is a meritocracy. Institutions of the superstructure as ‘state apparatus’ are described as: the repressive state apparatus (RSA- involved government and criminal justice system- direct and obvious control) and the ideological state apparatus (ISA- education and media- socialises w/c into accepting that class inequality is fair)
Bowles and Gintis- education system promotes a ‘myth of meritocracy’. Function of education is to legitimise the success of middle and upper class children whilst w/c children taught to blame themselves for academic failure. Educational achievement is based on social class background, not hard work, effort, talent (private school tutor, resources)
Weber’s views on class differing from Marx
Weberianism
- Agreed that there are 2 classes
- Further subdivisions (8 classes) based on market situation (level of skill and level of demand for that skill)
Differences in life chances exist between different classes
Weberianism
- Within broad social classes, there are groups with different life chances
- E.g: tradespeople (skilled and in demand work)- higher income and job security vs unskilled individuals
- Class defined as: an individual’s relationship to the means of production and their market situation
Weberianism definition of party
Weberianism
- Power gained through membership of certain groups
The ‘old boy’s network’ shows that class and party are closely linked
- Private school members may be part of the ‘old boy’s network’
- More access to professional/well-paid jobs
- (Sutton Trust- top professions (i.e. judge) linked to private school)
Mackintosh and Mooney’s concept of social closure show that class and party are closely linked
Weberianism
- Those in powerful groups may exclude others, allowing themselves to maintain power/advantage
- Upper class operate on social closure- seperating leisure time/daily lives from the rest of society- prevents others from joining their exclusive group
Weberianism definition of status
Weberianism
- Refers to social standing- how people are ranked by society in terms of prestige/importance
