Stratification and Social Class - Theorizing social class

6 important questions on Stratification and Social Class - Theorizing social class

How is the concept of social class described by Karl Marx?

A group of people that have a common relationship to the means of production, by which they gain a living.

What did Karl Marx want to describe with the term "pauperization?"

  • The growing financial gap between the proletariat (working class) and bourgeoise (capitalists).
    • I.e., the increasing relative poverty of the working class.

Can you describe and explain the view of Max Weber on social class?

The social class of an individual is determined by 3 aspects:
  • Market position.
    • Bordieu's 4 types of capital.
    • Not merely economic capital like Marx.
  • Status.
    • Differences between groups of how much social prestige others deem that group has.
    • Expressed through peoples styles of life (e.g., housing, dress, manner of speech, occupation).
  • Party.
    • Political power through membership of a group of people who work together because their common backgrounds, aims or interests.
    • E.g., Political parties, religious groups etc.
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In order to differentiate the positions of people who are in the 'middle class' in his theory, Erik Olin Wright takes two factors into account. Can you describe those factors?

  • Someone's relationship to authority.
  • Someone's possession of skills and expertise.

Apart from social class, there are many other inequalities such as gender inequality or ethnic inequality.
Which concepts is concerned with connecting class with other forms of inequality?

Intersectionality.

There are some problems with intersectionality research. What are the two most pervasive problems?

  • The 'et cetera' problem.
    • How many forms of inequality and identity are there to distinguish?
  • Relative weight afforded to each category.
    • Are some categories (like social class) more important?

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