weber and ethnic inequalities

Question 1

what does weber argue about stratification in society?

Answer 1

stratification stems from class, status, and party - not just class alone

Question 2

how does weber define class?

Answer 2

class refers to market situation - knowledge/skills - and work situation (autonomy at work) which together affects life chances

Question 3

how do status groups achieve social closure?

Answer 3

by monopolizing privilege and excluding others, often making it harder for minority groups to compete for resources

Question 4

how does weber define party?

Answer 4

party refers to groups that form to gain power and promote their interests e,g, trade unions

Question 5

how does Weber’s theory apply to ethnic minorities?

Answer 5

ethnic minorities often lack status and power, which are concentrated in the hands of the majority group, even within the same economic class

Question 6

what are the primary and secondary sector in the labour market?

Answer 6

primary sector: high pay, job security, promotion prospects - dominated by white workers.
secondary sector; low pay, job insecurity, poor promotion prospects - disproportionately ethnic minorities.

Question 7

according to Barron and Norris, why do employees discriminate against ethnic minorities?

Answer 7

Employers hold racist beliefs, limiting hiring and promotion opportunities for minorities.

Question 8

what criticism do Barron and Norris highlight about frameworks for ethnic equality?

Answer 8

legal protections - the race relations act 1976 - are weak, and trade union often prioritise white workers

Question 9

what are some criticisms of Barron and Norris dual labour market theory?

Answer 9

• fails to account for ethnic minority successes
• it overlooks barriers faced by minority women - concrete ceiling

Question 10

what did rex and Tomlinson find in the hands worth area?

Answer 10

ethnic minorities faced material deprivation, forming a separate underclass beneath white working class.

Question 11

what difficulties contributed to the formation of a black under class?

Answer 11

marginalisation, alienation, status inequality and police harassments, leading to feelings of frustration and potential riots e.g, 2011 London riots

Question 12

what are criticisms of rex and Tomlinson’s underclass theory?

Answer 12

• it is dated and lacks nuance about the difference’s among ethnic minorities
• it ignores economic progress and growing multiculturalism

Question 13

how do symbolic interactionists view racial prejudice?

Answer 13

prejudice forms through interactions within dominant groups, where symbols of race shape identity and stereotypes

Question 14

what did Blumer argue about the origins of racial prejudice?

Answer 14

prejudice is formed and reinforced through interactions within dominant groups, which sustain the status quo

Question 15

how do dominant group beliefs about race get reinforced?

Answer 15

through media images, anecdotes and myths, which dominate the narrative when individuals lack direct contact with subordinate groups.

Question 16

what are some strengths of social action theory/

Answer 16

it highlights the collective and interactive nature of prejudice, making it applicable across different types of discrimination.

Question 17

weaknesses of social action theory?

Answer 17

it lacks empirical evidence, overlooks structural causes of inequality and doesn’t fully address the reality of subordinate groups.

Question 18

example - against Barron and Norris idea

Answer 18

Gopi Hinduja and family
- worth 37.2 billion
- Gopi is an Indian British billionaire
- he fits into the primary labour market - goes barron and norris ideas as he is the richest man in Britain and doesn’t come from a white British background

Question 19

Example - for barron and norris idea

Answer 19

official government stats found that in 22/23 relative poverty rates were highest for those with Pakistani or Bangladeshi heads of house and lowest for those from white ethnic groups.