Sociological Perspectives on Stratification, Class, and Inequality

Vocabulary flashcards covering key sociological theorists, theoretical perspectives, research methods, and core findings on social stratification, poverty, class, authority, and gender inequality.

Davis and Moore (1945) - Role Allocation and Stratification

A Functionalist theory arguing that stratification is universal and functionally necessary, ensuring that the most important roles are filled by the most capable people through high rewards (income and status).

Role Allocation

A functionalist concept formulated by Davis and Moore referring to the process of matching individuals to social and occupational positions based on their abilities and talents.

Marxist Theory of Social Class

Karl Marx's conflict theory positing that capitalist society is polarised into two main conflicting classes—the bourgeoisie and the proletariat—defined by ownership of the means of production.

Bourgeoisie

In Marxist sociology, the ruling class who own the means of production and exploit the labour of the working class.

Proletariat

In Marxist sociology, the working class who do not own the means of production and must sell their labour power to survive, experiencing exploitation and alienation.

Polarisation of Classes

The Marxist concept describing how capitalist society increasingly splits into two opposing camps: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

False Class Consciousness

A state in Marxist theory in which the proletariat remain unaware of their true exploitation and class interests until developing true class consciousness and pursuing revolution.

Weber's Theory of Social Class

A multidimensional Weberian model arguing that classes are formed in the labour market based on individuals' economic position and life chances, identifying four main classes: property owners, professionals, petty bourgeoisie, and the working class.

Class, Status, and Party

Max Weber's three distinct dimensions of social stratification: Class (economic position and market situation), Status (social prestige and honour), and Party (political power and influence).

Power vs. Authority (Weber)

Weber defined power as the ability to impose one's will despite resistance, whereas authority is legitimate power willingly accepted and obeyed by those subject to it.

Traditional Authority

One of Weber's three types of authority, where legitimacy is rooted in long-established customs, traditions, and hereditary status.

Charismatic Authority

One of Weber's three types of authority, derived from devotion to the extraordinary character, heroism, or perceived exemplary qualities of an individual leader.

Rational-Legal Authority

One of Weber's three types of authority, based on a clear system of codified rules and laws that forms the foundation of modern bureaucracy.

Devine's Affluent Worker Revisited (1992)

A sociological study using $62$ semi-structured interviews in Luton that found affluent working-class individuals had not become purely home-centred or privatised as Goldthorpe claimed, but retained working-class solidarity and traditional attitudes to work.

Townsend's (1979) Relative Deprivation Theory

A study using a face-to-face survey of $2{,}050$ households that established a relative deprivation index, finding that approximately $23\%$ of the population lived in poverty—a rate much higher than official state measures.

Deprivation Index

Peter Townsend's operationalised measure composed of multiple indicators of material and social deprivation used to define and calculate relative poverty.

Murray's New Right Perspective on Poverty (1984)

A New Right sociological perspective using secondary sources and statistics, arguing that generous welfare benefits create dependency, discourage work, and foster poverty.

Underclass (Murray)

Charles Murray's term for a sub-group below the working class who depend on state welfare benefits, do not participate in paid work, and are associated with rising crime and single-parent families.

Walby's (1990) Theory of Patriarchy

A Feminist perspective defining patriarchy as a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress, and exploit women.

Six Patriarchal Structures (Walby)

Sylvia Walby's framework identifying six interconnected structures that reproduce male domination: paid employment, household production, culture, sexuality, male violence against women, and the state.