Marxism - paragraph plan

Theories, terms, and concepts

Marxism is a structural conflict perspective, meaning that…

Social institutions shape our behaviour towards conforming to the capitalist ideology and therefore the inequality between classes

What are the names for the two different classes that Marxists believe in?

The Bourgeoise (wealthy minority)

The proletariat (poor majority)

What do the Bourgeoise own and do to the proletariat?

Own the means of production (private land, factories, natural resources)

They exploit the proletariat for their labour which they're forced to sell to survive - they're paid less than what their labour is worth so the bourgeouse maintain profit

Why do social institutions spread the capitalist ideology?

So it appears fair, normal, and inevitable, shaping society with a false class consciousness (the proletariat are unaware of their exploitation by the bourgeoise)

How do social institutions (education, family, religion) spread the capitalist ideology?

Education teaches us that your achievement is based off hard work, so “poor people are poor because they're too dumb”

The family is a unit of consumption, needing to constantly buy and consume to survive

What does the false class consciousness prevent?

A Communist Revolution from the proletariat, which would create a classless, moneyless society as a result from gaining class consciousness

What are the weaknesses of Marxism?

Only addresses the economic divide in society and ignores other points of conflict, such as racism and gender inequality

Too much emphasis based on the economy to dictate behaviours in society

Oversimplified classes into only two