Sociological Theories on Class

Question 1

What did Durkheim suggest?

Functionalism

Answer 1

There is a specialised division of labour

Question 2

What did Parsons think?

Functionalism

Answer 2

Education provides role allocation; there is agreement/consensus about stratification

Question 3

What did Davis and Moore suggest?

Functionalism

Answer 3

Stratification (and social inequality) is necessary and functional

Question 4

What did Merton add?

Functionalism

Answer 4

The idea of strain

Question 5

What is a positive evaluation of Functionalism?

Answer 5

In general there is agreement - people do accept the may given to certain jobs and aspire to them
It is useful to explain anomie
Educational opportunities = social mobility

Question 6

What did Durkheim think of inherited wealth (Functionalism)?

Answer 6

Inherited wealth was unfair and should be abolished

Question 7

What is a negative evaluation of Functionalism?

Answer 7

Some essential obs are poorly paid (eg nurses) and there is outrage against ‘fat cat’ salaries
Social closure and private schools - Functionalists ignore power differences
Merton - some aspects of society are dysfunctional (internal critique)
Davis and Moore ignore the damaging effects of stratification
Overly deterministic

Question 8

What did Tumin say about university?

Answer 8

It is used by wealthier groups to maintain power

Question 9

What did Saunders suggest? (New Right)

Answer 9

Capitalism and stratification leads to innovation and higher living standards; education represents equal opportunities; the poor see poverty as a ‘choice’

Question 10

What did Murray suggest? (New Right)

Answer 10

Underclass are the ‘new rabble’, with distinct cultural values such as welfare dependency and crime; top salaries are justified and deserves; class has declined in importance due to higher equality

Question 11

What is a positive evaluation of the New Right?

Answer 11

NR views are useful to consider progress made in equality

Question 12

What is a negative evaluation of the New Right?

Answer 12

Ignores structral barriers created by poverty
Coates and Silburn - found the cycle of deprivation and poverty is cumulative
Marxists - the underclass are NOT a distinctive group, capitalism creates poverty

Question 13

What did Coates and Silburn find?

Answer 13

The cycle of deprivation - poverty is cumulative

Question 14

What do Bowles and Gintis find? (Marxism)

Answer 14

Institutions such as educatio work on behalf of the ruling class to create passive conformity

Question 15

What is a positive evalutation of Marxism?

Answer 15

Braverman - proletarianization (the deskilling of workers)

Question 16

What is a negative evaluation of Marxism?

Answer 16

It is economically deterministic
Marx did not predict the growth in the middle class
Postmodernism - it is a dated metanarrative

Question 17

What does Neo-Marxism consider?

Answer 17

The role of culture and ideology (ISA/RSA and hegemony) and the growth of the middle class, adds action theory

Question 18

What did Harvey find (Neo-Marxism)?

Answer 18

Globalization has allowed the expansion of capitalism

Question 19

What did Bourdieu suggest?

Answer 19

‘Cultural capital’ - class boundaries are more than just a relationship to the economy

Question 20

What did Gramsci say? (Neo-Marxist)

Answer 20

‘Hegemony’ is how the powerful manipulate institutions

Question 21

What did Hall find (Neo-Marxism)

Answer 21

The moral panic about black muggers showed the influence of the media

Question 22

What did Marcuse add (Neo-Marxism)

Answer 22

The idea of advertising creating false needs

Question 23

How did Althusser explain the lack of a revolution (Neo-Marxism)?

Answer 23

Education reinforces hegemonic identity through the hidden curriculum

Question 24

What does Zaretsky suggest (Neo-Marxism)?

Answer 24

Family reinforces hegemonic identity

Question 25

What did Bravermen suggest (Neo-Marxism)?

Answer 25

Proletarianization disempowers workers

Question 26

What did Guy Standing find?

Answer 26

The ‘precariat’

Question 27

What did Wright find? (neo-Marxism)

Answer 27

There are 4 layers of power - full, partial, minimal, or none
Adds middle class to N-M

Question 28

Name three Weberian theorists and their view on class

Answer 28

Scott - unified upper class who practice social closure
Rex and Tomlinson - identify an underclass which lacks status and party
Barron and Norris - dual labour market

Question 29

What are the three aspects of inequality identified by Weber?

Answer 29

Status
Class
Party

Question 30

What is a positive evaluation of Weberian theory?

Answer 30

It explains the growth in/fragmentation of the middle class
Influenced postmodern ideas about consumption choices
Explains the lack of revolution
Seeing class and status as separate explains social closure
Explains non-class inequality (Gender/age/ethnicity)
Party - considers the importance of social contacts

Question 31

What is a negative evaluation of Weberian theory?

Answer 31

Marxists see the smaller divisions as unimportant, the main division is between the working and ruling classes, also think status and class correlate so see no need to study them separately
Feminists think it underestimates gender inequality
Postmodernists see it as a ‘metanarrative’

Question 32

What does Lyotard (postmod) say?

Answer 32

All other theories are metanarratives - each individual will have a different experience

Question 33

What does Modood say (postmod)?

Answer 33

Hybrid identities are based on negotiation, not just class

Question 34

What does Hall suggest (postmod)?

Answer 34

Class is no longer a ‘master identity’

Question 35

What is a positive evaluation of Postmodernism?

Answer 35

Savage - showed most people do not identify with a class

Question 36

What is a negative evaluation of Postmodernism

Answer 36

Savage said class is now MORE important
Overestimates freedom to choose - ignoring the structural constraints
Research is not a 'pointless metanarrative', policy changes can improve lives