Sociology Specific Theories

Question 1

In what 2 ways do Marxists see the capitalist system divided into?

Answer 1

The superstructure and infrastructure:

1.) The superstructure is made up of social institutions such as the family, education system, mass media, politics, religion - they all spread dominant ideology (in the form of ISAs) in order to maintain inequality & oppression in persuading the WC to conform

2.) The infrastructure (or economic system) is comprised of the divide between the social classes of the bourgeoisie and proletariat

The superstructure maintains & legitimises the infrastructure

Question 2

According to Marxists, why does capitalism run society?

Answer 2

Because people need to attain material goods to survive, therefore they’ll exchange their labour to:

-Produce these goods
-To obtain wages to afford these material needs

This creates the division of labour, as this exchange isn’t equal

Question 3

What is the division of labour?

Answer 3

The divide between:

-The labourers themselves
-Those who own the means of production

Those who own the means of production (the bourgeoisie) can exploit the labourers by paying them low wages so that they can’t be socially mobile enough to overthrow the bourgeoisie

Question 4

Criticisms of Marxism

Answer 4

-The RC are in the minority, therefore their ideology may not be coherent or applicable to many

• The proletariat have a dual consciousness : they begin to see through the dominant ideology as they experience everyday poverty & exploitation

-Functionalists argue that Marxist ignore consensus values (e.g work ethic, respecting authority, valuing education & families)

-Marxists ignore gender and ethnic inequalities