Sociological perspectives on ethnic inequality

Question 1

Immigrants are exploited by the bourgeoise for economic gain

Marxism

Answer 1

• Undocumented immigrants may be forced into low-wage work, in poor conditions, with little opportunity to challenge employers (deportation)
• E.g: Boohoo 2020= scandal surrounding conditions in factories= exploitation of undocumented immigrants
• Human Rights Pulse= Boohoo is an example of modern day slavery- 20% of managerial level workers are paid close to national minimum wage, workers= £3 an hour
• Morecambe Bay tragedy 2004= Chinese cockle pickers drowned when they were trapped by sweeping tides, 21 bodies recovered= all illegeal workers

Question 2

Immigrants are blamed for problems in society caused by capitalism

Marxism

Answer 2

• Castles and Kosack= scapegoating of immigrants. 1970s immigrant workers- mostly concentrated in low-skill, low-pay, manual jobs, in poor working conditions. Ethnic tensions within w/c between white British majority and immigrants benefitted bourgeoise as immigrants could be scapegoated for problems (i.e. unemployment, housing shortages)- diverts attention

Question 3

Racism originated because of capitalism

Marxism

Answer 3

• Cox= racism is socially constructed by the ruling class, to justify exploitation of ethnic groups for economic gain. As European nations conquered other areas of the world, they exploited the workforce and justified actions through racism- claiming White Europeans were superior
  Miles= by the end of colonalisation, the type of racism that saw biological grouping as superior was replaced with nationalism. Status/class explains racism and racial inequality- class position of ethnic minority= complicated by the fact they are treated as culturally/socially different. Cultural uniqueness sets some ethnic minorities apart