Marxism explanations of social inequalities

marx's social inequality

a structuralist theory that says capitalism rules the economic system of modern society. He says the bourgeoisie control the prolitsrjst and feed them ruling class ideologies to keep them in a false class consciousness

milliband social inequality

says the ruling class own the media and therefore control its content. He says the bourgeoisie control what media messages are produced, keeping the proletariat oblivious to their exploitation and in a false class consciousness

Gramsci Class

Argued the ruling class rarely needed to use force to exert power as they rule through persuasion. Used term hegemony to describe their use of political means o encourage enough of the working class to side with the ruling class. Involved media and education system to conrol peoples ideas, values & beliefs to see ruling class powers as natural

Westergaard social inequality

said bourgeouise will become more concerntrated over time, there was little evidence of class division disappearing. Said the gradual process of production being expanded & technology rendering the work force as obsolete will create a polarisation so the rich = richer and poor = poorer

Engles gender

found many exploiters explored relationships in the home, men were required to gain control over woman to eventually pass on private property to legitimate offspring & so wealth can be passed on for generations

Zaretsky gender

workers tolerated powerlessness as they could take out their stress and frustration on their wives. this power excise stopped men from walking away from their jobs as they were dependant on their wages

Benston gender

said women renew men's abilities to go out and work - wives stay and raise the next generation of workers. women are dependant on their husbands wage - he is less likely to challenge capitalism

Bruegel gender

said women are readily available to work outside the home when society needs them to, making them a cheap reserve army of labour that can be used when the bourgeoisie see fit

cox ethnicity

idea that race is itself a human creation. he argued that early capitalism worked with colonialism, and actions were justified through racism

castles and kosack ethnicity

ftreat immigrants as a reserve army of labour. it is necessary to have a surplus of labour, as capitalist economies were inherently unstable. needed to be hired and fired as the fluctuating fortunes of the economy dictated

miles ethnicity

dividing working class along ethnic lines as they weaken potential for unified resistance against exploitation. ethnic descriminatuon is a tool to fragment & discipline the working class. ethnic inequalities are the result of predjudice

hall ethnicity

said moral panic over black criminality creates a diversion from wider economic crisis

phillipson age

youth & elderly are secondary source of labour. claimed the elderly have historically been used as a reserve army of labour

gramsci age

rule through force - used the army, police, prison and courts to force other classes to accept the rule

or rule through consent - ideas and values are used to persuade subordinate classes that its rule is legit

phillipson and townsend age

said elderly are a burden on society. for the capitalism needs to be met, elderly need to be institutionally marginalised.

vincent age

the issue of state pensions is by setting a retirement age. this isn't seen as capitalism. is constructed by capitalism to control the surplus of labour