weberian explanations for ethnic inequality

status, party, power

Barron and Norris

Davidson

rex and tomlinson

therefore making it difficult for ethnic minority groups to compete equally for jobs, housing etc.

status divides class groups - e.g. ethnic minority manual workers may have lower status than white manual workers

means status and power are in the hands of majority ethnic groups

trade unions often dominated by white members, leading to ethnic minorities voices not being heard

status groups can be competitive and aim to achieve 'social closure'

ethnic minorities tend to be concentrated in secondary labour market because many employers subscribe to racist beliefs about unsuitability of black and Asian people

even practise discrimination against them by not employing them or by denying them responsibility or promotion

reported that white men dominated primary labour market while ethnic minorities concentrated in secondary labour market

legal and political framework supporting black and Asian people is weak

DLM demonstrates how racial prejudice and discrimination can be seen in distribution of ethnic minorities in the labour force

trade unions are white dominated and have been accused of favouring white workers and being less interested in protecting the rights of black workers

describes the embedded discrimination

prevents ethnic minority women being promoted

concrete ceiling

concrete ceiling is impenetrable unlike glass ceiling

a black underclass may be created which is marginalised and feels alienated and frustrated

Sometimes these feelings may erupt in the form of inner-city riots if young blacks feel they are being harassed by the police and socially excluded

ethnic minority experience of both class and status inequality can lead to poverty, which is made more severe by racism