Class and Inequality

what is the Marxist approach to class inequality

• the power of the ruling class comes from controlling the means of production

• Capitalism is exploitative and the proletariat (working class) are kept down by the ruling class’ exploitation of owning the means of production.

• The only way to allow the working class to be free is to overthrow the class system.

• False class consciousness stops the working class from being aware of the inequality of society.

what is the Weberian approach to class inequality

• Social inequality is the source of inequality, but believed that as well as class, status and party also played a part in shaping society.

• A person’s class position is also their position in the market situation

• Property ownership and desirable skills are key factors in shaping one’s market situation.

• Status groups are groups who share the same social honour – Weber argues status groups share more similarities than class groups.

• Party is any kind of group who share similar political goals. They often represent the interests of classes.

• He thinks people shape their own life chances.

what is the feminist approach to class inequality

• Class inequalities can not be seen in isolation from other inequalities, such as gender inequalities

• Marxist feminists were concerned with the way that women’s roles as carers and housewives helped sustain capitalism and led economic inequality for women

what is the functionalist approach to class inequality

• Believes in a meritocracy and inequality exists as a result of not everyone has the talent to reach the top.

• Davis and Moore argue that inequality is necessary to attract the most talented people to the top.

• Davis and Moore also argue that social stratification (breaking people down into classes) is important for role allocation. People’s position in society depends on their functional uniqueness and degree of dependence on others

what is the postmodernist approach to class inequality

Pakulski and Waters

Class is now a dead concept, which is outdated and not applicable, instead many other factors shape identity and therefore inequality

Goldthorpe class scheme

a 10-tier system that gave very specific descriptions of how ones job determined their class

NS-SEC scheme

a more ambiguous scheme where general descriptions based on occupation are given so people are put in a class based on their job

objective and subjective class

objective - class based on occupation or economic position

subjective - how people perceive their own social status

BBC class survey

7 social classes

who said about changing class structures

Pakulski and Waters

argued that while inequality still exists, class isn’t relevant to contemporary society

how could you argue that the upper class still exists

there is still a wealthy group at the top of society who are closed of to everyone else while having a large influence on society

how could you argue that the upper class no longer exists

the upper class are fragmented and divided and the old aristocratic class do not have as much influence as they used to

what is different about the super rich to upper class

they don’t rely on inheritance and private education for status

they are wealthier than the upper class and can be seen as a threat to traditional class structure based on occupation and to the upper class identity

the middle class

due to social mobility the middle class has grown

more concerned with status and cultural capital than money alone

the working class

• decline in the industry means the working class has declined significantly

• deindustrialisation has caused higher levels of poverty in some communities and broken up large working class communities

the new working class

• the new working class is more focused on individualism

• how we spend money is more important than how we earn it - linked to consumerism

who came up with the concept of the underclass

Murray

what did Roberts say the underclass were characterised by

• long term unemployment

• being economically excluded

• particular social and cultural outlooks

who is Murray and what did he argue

a New Right theorist

argued a group existed at the bottom of society due to laziness and poor life choices not inequality

he said this problem is created by single parenthood

what does economic rationality mean

it makes financial sense to use the benefit system if you can’t earn more money by working

key concept of in the underclass

what would the New Right argue about what inequality actually is

say there isn’t inequality but active choices to exploit the benefit system