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Conflict Theories (FEMINISM (argue that in most societies, women have been…
Conflict Theories
FEMINISM
argue that in most societies, women have been disadvantaged compared to men
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MARXISM
Marx (1818-83)
historically all societies, are based on class divisions between those who benefit from the economic system and those who don't
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based on ruling class of capitalist, people who own capital or wealth and invest it in running businesses to make profit
working class compromising the majority of people who have little or no wealth - have to work for wages
marx argued = this is a unequal and exploitative system in which the money created by workers benefit the ruling
he said = eventually the working class will be aware of their exploited position and would overthrow capitalism = create a communist society - business run to benefit everyone
role of ideology
modern marxists argue that capitalist societies have survived by developing ideology state apparatus
ideology state apparatus = transmit ideas that justify the capitalist system and inequalities = education, mass media, family
for ex; media helps to entertain the wokrers and make thei rlives more bearable and see the consumption of goods created by capitalist businesses
false consciousness = diverts attention from real inequalities = working class cannot see any alternative existing system
EVALUATION
criticisms: the idea that working class are brainwashed into false consciousness = people are not conscious o their own interests though???
argued that most o working class still enjoy a much higher standard of living under capitalism than in societies that preceded it
other sociologists argue that other forms of inequality may also create divisions and conflicts in society = gender, ethnicity, religion
WEBERIAN
argued that differences of status and power were important and were not always linked to economic or class inequalities
for example, ethnic groups, black and asian people in uk - may be treated less favourably in the workplace - thus ethnicity can be seen to be linked to status rather than social class
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- observation that in most societies there are social inequalities between different social groups
- in these circumstances it is difficult to achieve consensus in society, as what serves the interests of the powerful may go directly against the groups lower down in society
- consensus is only due to subordinate groups being socialised into accepting their inferiority within the system
- use ideology to describe how powerful groups put across ideas that justify their own position and help to make the existing social system seem fair and legit
- in a society with inequalities, there will always be conflicts
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