sociology paper 2 ethnic inequality perspectives

Cox - Marxist

• Cox developed a theory of racism based on his Marxist perspectives: racism is a product of capitalism.

• it was made by the ruling class exploiters to exploit certain races, seen in history with racism

• the aim of racism is to divide and rule, turning people against each other which therefore stops the proletariat from coming together as a homogenous group

the Birmingham centre of contemporary cultural studies - Marxist

• racism is connected to colonialism as it is connected to the exploitation of migrant labour in capitalist societies

• while some people resist racism, the use of British nationalism appealed to the white working class

• this period saw the emergence of a new racism which stressed the cultural differences between ethnic groups

Weber - Weberian

there are 3 types of stratification in society which negatively affect ethnic minorities:

1. class - white people have better market and work situations, which means higher wages, skills and bonuses and respect in their jobs

2. status - ethnic minorities tend to have a lower status, meaning that they become easier to exclude from jobs and housing etc

3. party - trade unions have dominantly white members, meaning ethnics lack political power

Miles - Weberian

ethnic minorities are members of racialized class fractions - the working class splits white working class and ethnic minorities separately, making them have less power and status

more ethnic minorities have entered the middle class, causing white fight - the middle white class are not accepting of ethnic minorities having the same status and position as them

Murray - new right

like the US, the UK has a black underclass who are distinct from their working class by their behaviour and desire not to work

they result in the use of the welfare state, as well as men not supporting families leading to lazier and less adequate children

this is a threat to society as the children will turn to a life of crime and deviance due to lack of male role models

Sewell

• 57% of African Caribbean families are lone parent families, compared to the 25% of white families  

• As a result many boys lack the male role model of discipline of a father figure. Theya re not socialised into cultural norms and values 

• this therefore makes them more drawn to gangs, which is also reflected in the media with gangster rap and hip hop fashion