MARXISM

Proletariat

The working class who produce goods and labor

Bourgeoisie

The class that owns the means of production and holds economic and social power

Alienation

A condition where workers feel isolated and dissatisfied due to capitalist control, propaganda, and consumerism that prevent them from getting ahead

Propaganda

Methods used by capitalism to promote consumerism and encourage people to buy into false needs and values

Exploitation

The act of using workers’ labor for profit while paying them less than the value they produce

Social Mobility

The ability of an individual to move up or down within social classes

False Consciousness

Shared, constructed beliefs that keep the bourgeoisie in power by shaping how people view work, wealth, and worth

Class Consciousness

Awareness by workers of their exploited and subordinate position within the capitalist system

Social Revolution

The belief that the working class must collectively seize political power to overthrow capitalist systems