Introduction: What is a class? The term “class” has been interpreted in many ways by sociologists. One popular interpretation comes from Karl Marx, who explained “class” in a relatively narrower economic perspective. According to Marx (1966), classes exist with “the identity of revenues and sources of revenues” (p. 5), and the differences in revenues lead to the formation of a ruling class which owns the means of production and an opposing class which do not (Bendix & Lipset, Pp.6-11). Hence, to Marx, economic factor is, and only it can be, a cause of the formation of classes. Another interpretation was made by Max Weber. Weber (1966) agreed with Marx that the ownership of property would lead to the formation of classes. Yet, apart from it, power and prestige also play vital roles in constituting a class. With property, power or prestige, one group of people enjoy higher status than the others, and this thus form different classes. Because of so many interpretations of “class”, Ossowski (1966) generalized different conceptions of social class into four characteristics: (1) the vertical order of social class; (2) distinctness of permanent class interests; (3) class consciousness; and (4) class boundaries and social intercourse barriers (P. 92). Given the four characteristics of classes, this essay will first discuss the importance of social classes in terms of its impact on life chances, and then analyze how the kind of social stratification is reinforced in different ways. Part I. Why is class important? Class has no doubt been critical in affecting our life chances. According to Weber (as cited in Henslin, 2010, P. 238), class position can determine life chances in the sense that an individual’s life will follow a certain ... ... middle of paper ... ... class works (Pp.100-116). New York, NY: Routledge. J. M. Henslin. (2010). Global stratification. Sociology: a down-to-earth approach (Pp. 228-259). Lareau, A. (2008). Watching, waiting, and deciding when to intervene. In L.Weis (Ed. ), The way class works (Pp. 117-133). New York, NY: Routledge. Marx, K. (1966). A note on classes. In R. Bendix, & S. M. Lipset, (2nd Eds. ), Class, status and power (Pp. 5-6). United States: The Free Press. (Original work published 1962). Max, W. (1966). Class, status and party. In R. Bendix, & S. M. Lipset, (2nd Eds. ), Class, status and power (Pp. 21-28). United States: The Free Press. (Original work published 1946). Ossowski, S. (1966). Different conceptions of social classes. In R. Bendix, & S. M. Lipset, (2nd Eds. ), Class, status and power (Pp. 86-96). United States: The Free Press. (Original work published 1963).
Social and economic class is something we as Americans like to push into the back of our minds. Sometimes recognizing our class either socially or economically can almost be crippling. When individuals recognize class, limitations and judgment confront us. Instead, we should know it is important to recognize our class, but not let it define and limit us. In the essay, “Class in America”, Gregory Mantsios, founder and director of the Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education at the School of Professional Studies, brings to light the fact that Americans don’t talk about class and class mobility. He describes the classes in extremes, mainly focusing on the very sharp divide between the extremely wealthy and extremely poor. In contrast, George
Allen supports her claims about hierarchies and power dynamics in her chapter “Social Class Matters.” She dives into the structures of society by examining power and social class in various contexts. In this chapter, she explains that people are categorized according to themes of class difference and struggle. Social class is associated with the relationship between power and the distribution of resources. Because this stratification system of social class is one of the biggest predictors of school achievement, social identity plays a large role in the social reproduction of inequality in the education system.
In this paper, Gregory Mantsios compares and contrasts class in America. He uses facts to support his point that things are getting better for the upper class, while things are increasingly getting worse for the middle and lower classes. Throughout the paper, he demonstrates comparing and contrasting by using “myth” versus “reality”.
The rapid development of global economy with the opening of new markets worldwide gave way to the development of new means of production and also to the change of ideologies across the world. Alongside with that, the division between different groups or classes within societies became more apparent as some people got richer and other poorer. These two phenomena, the worldwide development of industries and consequent class struggles, have been analyzed by two major thinkers of their times, Karl Marx and Robert Reich. Their essays have been influential and are similar in sense that they analyze existing conditions of societies and give projections on future fates of people, or more specifically, fates of classes. In this paper, the main focus will be on the fate of the wealthiest people; these are the bourgeois for Marx and symbolic analysts for Reich. More specifically, it will be argued that the rich people will be in the worst position according to Marx and this position will cover two aspects: material aspect, which is how well the rich will eventually manage their properties, and the inherent antagonism of classes and its consequences for the wealthy.
(p1) Broadly speaking, class is about economic and social inequality… (p6) We have a tendency for groups of advanced people to congregate together, and groups of disadvantaged people to congregate so that inequalities persist from generation to generation.
This review can be seen in the example of someone who owns a small, local business not being seen as belonging to the same class as someone who owns a nationwide corporation, despite both people owning property. They are not seen as belonging to the same class because the large corporation makes a greater impact on society than the small, local business, and generates a larger income. Those who do not own property are differentiated in the same way by Weber, except this time he analyzes them based upon what kinds of services they offer and if they themselves participate in receiving services. In his final piece about class, Weber mentions class struggle. Class struggles are where people in the same class situation react, in large numbers, in ways that are an advantageous way to materialize and achieve their interests. Weber calls the factors that bring about class struggles, and determine class situations, markets. There are three types of markets that he mentions; the labor market, the commodities market, and the capitalistic market. The labor market is where people sell labor for money, the commodities
Fussel, Paul. "People Like Us: Social Class in America." PBS. PBS, Web. 14 Mar 2014.
The decline of aristocracy in The Communist Manifesto began with Karl Marx’s statement, “The history of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggles.”1 Marx recognized the ideals of the social rank, which has influenced every society throughout history. The two social classes described by Marx were the Bourgeoisie, or the upper class, and the Proletariats, or the lower class. Before the Bourgeoisie came to social power, landowners and corporate organizations ran the society. Marx believed that the severe separation of the two classes greatly troubled society and that the two classes must coexist as one with each other.2
Warner, W. Lloyd. "What Social Class is in America." In Social Class in America, pp.3-44.
Paul Fussell wrote; Class a Guide through the American Status System in 1983. Fussell introduces interesting points that suggests how we, as Americans are viewed through social class. This book will have you contemplate about where you fall in line in terms of the social hierarchy system. As I read, the book I analyzed how our social status is revealed not only in terms of money, but other significant characteristics that define our habitas. As humans we are social beings, and we all make assumptions about the people around us or label them. Fussell argues that social class and social status can be defined in many ways. In fact, he enlists the nine American class structures that according to his opinion American society are comprised. He investigates
While Marxist ideology dismisses the individual’s role in society and contends that the economic superstructure governs everything, Weber and Simmel each present a more nuanced interpretation of the social world. The work of these two theorists acknowledges individual agency and examines forces outside of the economy that impact individuals. In the following paper, I discuss how the social forces described by Weber and Simmel complicate Marx’s conception of the class structure. Moreover, I contend that the theories of Weber and Simmel illustrate how distinctions and divisions can arise within Marx’s broadly defined social classes. Ultimately, these divides within the proletariat impede the development of class consciousness and prevent the overthrow of capitalism.
Gregory Mantsios advocates more on the struggle to proceed from one class to another in his essay-“Class in America”. Mantsios states that, “Class standing has a significant impact on our chances for survival....
In his essay “Land of Opportunity” James W. Loewen details the ignorance that most American students have towards class structure. He bemoans the fact that most textbooks completely ignore the issue of class, and when it does it is usually only mentions middle class in order to make the point that America is a “middle class country. This is particularly grievous to Loewen because he believes, “Social class is probably the single most important variable in society. From womb to tomb, it correlates with almost all other social characteristics of people that we can measure.” Loewen simply believes that social class usually determine the paths that a person will take in life. (Loewen 203)
Torkildsen (2011) stated that the nature and definition of 'social class' is generally regarded as being problematic, as class not only relates to income or occupation but also upbringing and family background. "social class is often regarded as grouping on the basis of occupation, which is 'socioeconomic class' rather than social class" (Torkildsen, 2011 p.49). divine
Kerbo, H. R. (2012). Social stratification and inequality: class conflict in historical, comparative, and global perspective (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.