Explanations of social class inequality by Jessica B

Marxism

Neo-Marxism

Functionslist

New right

Post modernism

Weber

Durkheim

Parsons

Davis and Moore

pay is related to talent, the most important jobs are secured by the most able individuals who are thus paid appropriately high wages

social inequality + difference are inevitable and important to maintain social order and prevent a state of chaos

social inequality and difference are functional an inevitable features of social systems
social systems must be hierarchical to accomplish order and ranking - both key elements of maintaining a healthy functional society

Marx

  • Inequality inevitable in capitalism
  • Bourgeoisie exploit proletariat for labour
  • Keep surplus value
  • Hard to be calss concious due to false consiousness
  • Super-structure controlled by rulling class , promote dominant ideology
  • Believes its a meritocracy

Althusser - ideological state apparatus

  • 'Religion is the opium of the masses

Social action theory / Class, status & party - Sources of power, effect life chances

Class (Market position) - Souce & amount of income, occupational skills, education

Status - Honour/prestige of social groups, share values, use status symbols for membership, social evaluation based on consumption styles (how spend, not make money),can get more from class, use strategies to improve life chances/material resources

Party - Excercise of power by policial parties, trade unions, pressure groups, etc, use to get wealth (but wealth doesn't always mean power), more in politics than production

  • 4 social classes:
  • Manual workers
  • Petty-bourgeoisie
  • White collar workers
  • Privlleged through education/property

Pakulski & Waters - Class distracts from more important areas like identity, race & gender, class gone, society based on status now - cultural symbols, consumer lifestyles, values, ascribed status, identity linked to consumption

Beck - Most people are now not focused on wealth or income as they have enough. We now live in a 'risk society' issues affect both rich and poor

Bowles and Gintis - Hidden curriculum

Middle class are exploited by rich but exploit
the poor

Classes help maintain social order // rewards

Competition = hard work = rewards

Murray - Underclass are lazy due to lack of rewards

Saunders - Inequality helps competition- the talented get
money. Working class children are less talented, but can be socially mobile if talented

Tumin - is it possible to determine functional importance a low paid cleaner just as important as the surgeon.

Marx did not include the middle class.
In western societies there is little sign of class consciousness fewer and fewer workers support socialist parties such as the labour party
Capitalist societies seem to have flourished. Economic crises are normally contained. In western societies working class have enjoyed rising living standards and access to wider consumer goods