Weberian Theory Of Class Inequality

Question 1

What are the four explanations of class inequality?

Answer 1

1. A person’s societal position is based on a combination of their class, status and party- social class is now more fragmented
2. Social class and inequality complex- there are a range of social class categories based on occupations
3. A persons experience of inequality is influenced by the level of respect they receive from others
4. A person’s power or party can influence how much influence they have within society

Question 2

Which two explanations are concepts of class (marketability)?

Answer 2

1. A person’s societal position is based on a combination of their class, status and party- social class is now more fragmented
2. Social class and inequality complex- there are a range of social class categories based on occupations

Question 3

Who said a person’s societal position is based on a combination of their class, status and party- social class is now more fragmented?

Answer 3

• Weber

Question 4

What did Weber say?

Answer 4

• recognised economic factors as sources of conflict
• moved away from Marx’s two class model and instead defines class in terms of position in the economic marketplace consisting of many positions which vary according to source and amount of income, occupational skills and educational qualifications
• there had been the emergence of four different social class groups within capitalist societies
• defined social classes as clusters of occupations with similar life chances and patterns of mobility

Question 5

Who said social class and inequality complex- there are a range of social class categories based on occupations?

Answer 5

• The Hope-Goldthorpe scale

Question 6

What did the Hope-GoldThorpe scale say?

Answer 6

• produced theory that illustrates multi class model known as Hope-Goldthorpe scale based originally on men’s occupations, critiquing the work of Marx
• aimed to construct a scale which we would interpret as a measure of general desirability of occupations
• original scale contained 124 categories and is now collapsed into 24
• has been subjected to criticism as it does not consider women’s occupations however due to high level of detail it is more workable than other scales that have lumped occupations together that are predominantly held by women
• suggests that class structure is always much more fluid and fragmentary

Question 7

Which explanation is concept of status?

Answer 7

3. A person’s experience of inequality is influenced by the level of respect they receive from others

Question 8

Who said a person’s experience of inequality is influenced by the level of respect they receive from others?

Answer 8

• Weber and Parkin

Question 9

What did Weber and Parkin say?

Answer 9

• persons status (social honour) is also important when considering the level of class inequality they will face
• status is initially linked to someone’s social class or occupational background but also a persons lifestyle, ethnicity, religion and gender may influence their position within society
• those with high socio-economic position can hold status but also those linked to legal and public authorities such as the police and teachers
• a person may have a low social class due to their occupation but they can have a higher status if they have achieved numerous sporting achievements or from raising money for charity
• those who lack status can be subjected to prejudice and discrimination form those who do hold status
• Parkin supports and concept of negatively privileged status groups suggests that some hold lower status positions due to a range of characteristics that can keep them from accessing the privileges accessible to the bourgeoisie

Question 10

Which explanation is a concept of party?

Answer 10

4. A person’s power or party can influence how much influence they have within society

Question 11

Who said a person’s power or party can influence how much influence they have within society?

Answer 11

• Weber and Beck

Question 12

What did Weber and Beck say?

Answer 12

• Weber also refers to someone’s status when discussing someone’s class position; in saying party he is referring to the level of power or influence someone has over decision making in relation to legislative change and working conditions
• groups that provide people with more party include trade unions, pressure groups and campaigns
• Webers idea of party goes beyond just political parties
• Beck supports and claims that in contemporary UK, there is now evidence to support the idea that power s separate from class position or economic wealth
• role of political parties, pressure groups, trade unions and new social movements has led to the emergence of new political identities that are separate from a persons social class background