Weberian Explanations of Inequality

Question 1

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Exam Intro (what is Weberism)

Answer 1

Work of Weber build upon Karl Marx

Society = characterised by conflict over power & resources
- Power = ability to get your own way even when others resist
Society = organised in stratified hierarchy system
- Some more / less able to dominate & resist power

AGREE W/ MARX: Relationships of inequality = central to social life

REJECTS MARX IDEAS: Class inequality is not the most significant form of social inequality
- Status groups & parties can be just as significant a source of social inequality as class membership
SG: groups possessing a certain amount of prestige / social honour
P: organised groups of people possessing certain amounts of political power)

:) - Avoids problem of economic determinism associated with Marxism: adopts multi-dimensional approach to the study of inequality

Question 2

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Key Points & Theorists

Answer 2

Market Situation
Ownership of the means of production - class groupings within capitalism
Status & Party
Status Group
Social Closure
Political parties & pressure groups
Marxist Evaluation

Question 3

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Market Situation - Definition

Answer 3

Class divisions derive form individuals’ capacity to obtain financial rewards for selling their skills within society’s market place

Individuals are able to demand more money / better jobs due to their skills & qualifications

Question 4

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Market Situation - Effects

Answer 4

Individuals are able to demand more money / better jobs due to their skills & qualifications

• Effects type of work / type pay they’re able to earn
  
  • E.g. managerial / white collar occupations generally earn more & have more favourable conditions in work than people in blue collar / manual jobs
  • Qualifications white collar workers have (degrees & skills) makes them more marketable than others without such qualifications

Question 5

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Ownership of the means of production - Overview

Answer 5

Marx explanation - Weber acknowledges

CLASS GROUPS:
- Different classes have different life chances
[Access to things regarded as necessary & desirable in society - access to food / housing / education]

Question 6

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Ownership of the means of production - Class Groupings within Capitalism

Answer 6

Important divisions between each class

1. The propertied upper class
   
   • Mx referred to as the bourgeoise
2. The propertyless white-collar workers
   
   • Middle class professionals & managers
   • Expands rather than retracts as capitalism develops
     
     • Capitalist enterprises require irrational bureaucratic ministration which involves large numbers of white-collar (managerial) staff
3. The petty bourgeoise
   
   • Self-employed
4. The manual working class
   
   • Marx referred to as the working class

Question 7

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Status

Answer 7

Refers to differences between social groups in the amounts of prestige (respect & social honour given by society)

• Unequal distribution of social honour & prestige
• Relationship between class & status isn’t always clear: Status often varies independently to class
  
  • Possession of wealth can infer high status
    
    • Drug dealers = millionaires but not well respected; little prestige
    • Academic working in a uni = modest salary but earn high amounts of respect

Affected by:
- Occupation
- Ethnicity
- Religion
- Lifestyles

Question 8

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Status Group

Answer 8

Group made up of individuals who are rewarded a similar amount of social honour & often share a similar lifestyle & social identity

Question 9

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Social Closure

Answer 9

The exclusion of some people from membership of social groups

• E.g. Elite self-requirement: those who attend private schools often fill certain roles in employment

Question 10

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Party

Answer 10

Any organised group which tried to gain power & influence society
[Political Parties]

Pressure groups who seek to influence government policy
- Often draw their groups from all classes
- May also represent specific status groups (e.g. LGBT+)

Some clearly linked to class interest: many trade unions represent groups within working class

Question 11

Weberian Explanations of Inequality:
Evaluation

Answer 11

:) - Existence of other dimensions to social inequality in addition to social class = more complex than Mx.

:) - Identifies that people may come together & identify with others not purely based n an economic process but on a shared social group interest / shared political goals

:( - Mx. - Focus on multiple dimensions of social inequality obscures the fundamental importance of class divisions within capitalist societies
[Status distinction that exists within the w/c are often simply encouraged as a means of divide and rule by the ruling class]