Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
marxist explanations of class inequality - Coggle Diagram
marxist explanations of class inequality
infrastructure + exploitation
inequalities rooted in capital infrastructure because it's in the interests of r/c to keep wages low + profits high
r/c exploits labour power of the w/c by controlling organisation of work + appropriating surplus value of worker's labour power
made up of means of production + the social relations of production (refers to the relationship between r/c + w/c - r/c hire out to w/c for wage)
class stratification + inequality = exploitation of workers by r/c
capitalist societies are stratified by social class - a product of the infrastructure of production
false class consciousness
created and reinforced by the superstructure (institutions; education, religion)
inequalities in society are fair + natural
mistaken awareness experienced by w/c
ideology
RSA - govt, CJS - directly + obviously controls proletariat
ISA - media, education - controls us into accepting capitalist ideology
Althusser - repressive state apparatus + ideological state apparatus
ideological control is key to maintaining power of r/c
argues the function of superstructure is the reproduction + legitimisation of class inequality through spread of r/c ideology
Bowles and Gintis (1976)
function of education is to legitimise success of r/c children while w/c children are taught by schools to accept academic failure + develop the qualities required by capitalist societies (e.g. obedience + respect)
'myth of meritocracy' - promoted by education system in capitalist societies
Bourdieu (1984)
w/c kids rarely blame capitalist system for their 'failure' because ideology of meritocracy ensures they blame themselves
organisation of capitalism is rarely challenged + class stratification + inequality are reproduced generation after generation
w/c children lack cultural capital + are condemned to a lie of manual work due to achieving few qualifications
suggests children of the upper + middle classes are ensured education + economic success because of cultural + economic capital