explanations of social class inequality

Functionalist
-Durkheim

Inequality is the result of industrialisation. An industrial society needs specialists to run smoothly and that is what causes inequality as different job have different rewards, however people choose their specialism being aware of the rewards and status

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Functionalist
-Parsons

Value consensus. Inequality is the result of jobs having different levels of importance/value in society. This is taught through the process of socialisation. This is fair as we live in a meritocratic society.

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meritocratic society

It is a type of society in which those who have talents and skills will achieve success in life so jobs and pay are allocated based on an individual’s talent and achievements rather than social status.

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Functionalist
-Davis and Moore

Role allocation. Inequality exists in society as we need to pay the hardest jobs the most money. It is important to make sure that the most talented people complete the hardest jobs. Difficult jobs require more training and so receive higher rewards.

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New Right

New right is a political view influenced by Thatcher and Reagan. Believed to not spend lots of money on welfare benefits. They differentiate between the 'deserving' and 'underserving' poor.

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What is the 'deserving' and undeserving' poor?

deserving= deserve government help e.g. widows or disabled.
underserving= do not deserve government help e.g. the long term unemployed

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New Right
-Saunders

Inequality exists because some people are less talented or work less than others. Equality of opportunity exits and society is meritocratic. Working class children must be less intelligent than middle class children.

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New Right
-Charles Murray

Emergence of underclass. Welfare state has created an 'underclass' of people who are welfare dependent. The underclass deviate from the norms and values of society. Inequality is the result of the underclass not understanding the norms and values in socie

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Marxism
-Marx

Marx believes that inequality is the result of the bourgeoisie exploiting the proletariat. They accept this as they are in a state of false consciousness. Once they achieve class consciousness they will start a revolution leading to communism.

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Neo-Marxist
-Althusser

Argues that the bourgeoisie use ideological state apparatus to maintain false consciousness. Includes pop, religion and art. Prevents the poor from reflecting on the exploitation they face.

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Neo-Marxist
-Bowles & Gintis

Believe there is a hidden curriculum in schools. This reinforces the myth of meritocracy and socialises children into accepting capitalism.

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Weberian
-Weber

Life chances are the result of: party, class and status. Social class will impact a persons economic position. People that had more political influence had better life chances. Status changes how people treat you.

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Postmodernist
-Offe

Social class no longer exists in society. There is no longer a shared class experience, technology has allowed us to use other class cultures.

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Postmodernist
-Pakulski & Waters

Believed that production is no longer important and instead consumption is key.

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Postmodernist
-Beck

Class conflict is no longer important as most people have enough to live. Society is faced by technological and scientific risks instead e.g. coronavirus.

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explanations of social class inequality

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