Outline and Assess Explanations for Ethnic Inequality

Question 1

Cox (1948)

Answer 1

Marxist - Racism helps to maintain a false class consiousness by creating divisions in the ruling class

Question 2

Castles and Kosack (1973)

Answer 2

Racism allowed the dominant class to ‘divide’ those with similar xclass interetss. In that respect this means they treat ethnic minority employees as the ‘reserve army of labour’

Question 3

Marx Criticsim

Answer 3

Too focused on class - Mike Savage et al (01) found most people he interviewed were hesitant about identifying themsleves as members of any class

Question 4

Miles

Answer 4

Neo-Marxist - Said that ethnic minorities are found in all social classes, but because they are of ethnic minority they will be subject to different treatment.

Question 5

Neo-Marx Criticism

Answer 5

Still focuses too much on class. The fact lifestyles are becoming a central feature of people’s lives and a majot source of identity and these are less likely yo be based on class, whows it is difficult to even identify class lines now.

Question 6

Parkin

Answer 6

Weberian - The middle class practice social closure in order to keep people from minority backgrounds out, this socially marginalizes them

Question 7

Rex and Tomlinson

Answer 7

Weberian - The marginalized position of many Black and Asian people in the UK can be understood in terms of an underclass which occupies a disadvntaged position in areas such as employment, housing, education, and power to make decisions.

Question 8

Weberian Criticism

Answer 8

Weberian talks about how ethnic minorities as a group are socially marginalized; however the Chinese make up 11% of the highest socio-economic group in the UK.

Question 9

Parsons (56)

Answer 9

Functionalist - Argues that ethnic inequalities are due to a common value system - where the differences are temporary and based on cultural differences between minority groups and their host nation. After a period of time, ethnic minorities adapt to the majority culutre, through a process called assimilation.

Question 10

Functionalist Criticism

Answer 10

No agreement as to what a ‘common value system’ is - we don’t what perspective it is common from i.e. whether it is a white or a male or a middle class perspective. Aslo there is no evidence for assimilation - Curry is most popular takeaway in the UK e.g. of how the Indians have introduced their own culture.

Question 11

Modood and Berthoud

Answer 11

Postmodernist - Stress the difference and diversity of experience rather than a common identity facing inequality. They were critical of people portraying ethnic groups as victims and they talk about “super diversity” where work is produced, documenting the range of diversity in the UK.

Question 12

Postmodern criticism

Answer 12

Doesn’t take into account the material differences and deprivation as it focuses on culture more instead. Also it lacks evidence for its claims

Question 13

Overcome Postmodern criticism

Answer 13

Not the only theory which lacks evidence to back up its claims and actually has a relatively small amount of criticisms.