Weber & Additional Theory Concepts

Weber's Three Dimensions of Stratification

Class (economic position in markets), status (social prestige and lifestyle), and party (political power and influence).

Status Group (Weber)

A social community bound by shared prestige, lifestyle, values, and patterns of association; stratified by consumption of goods as represented by special styles of life.

Life Chances (Weber)

The fundamental aspects of an individual's future possibilities shaped by class membership; the extent to which economic position shapes one's chance at good things in life.

Class (Weber)

All those sharing similar life chances based on their economic interests, such as ownership of capital or occupational decisions; property and lack of property are the basic categories.

Status (Weber)

Every typical component of life determined by a specific, positive or negative social estimation of honor. It is based on how society perceives, respects, or values an individual or group, rather than just how much money they have; both propertied and propertyless can be in the same status group.

Party (Weber)

Groups residing within spheres of power; goal-oriented towards influencing social action and the existing polity; the polity is an autonomous agent (not part of the superstructure).

Enclosure (Weberian concept)

When occupational groups organize and close off access to the occupation to raise income and obtain other benefits and rewards.

Conservative Thesis of Inequality

Inequality is just and inevitable.

Progressive Thesis of Inequality

Inequality is unjust and unnecessary.

Nested Model of Social Life

Agency (individual decision making), structure (stable patterns of relationships), and culture (meanings, values, beliefs) are nested within historical conditions (politics, economy, religion, education, law, etc.).

Stratification

The distribution of resources in a society (income, wealth, occupation, education, power) that are allocated unequally in structured ways.