In this section, we will look at social stratification from the perspectives of each of the major schools of thought within sociology. We start with classical conflict and Weberian theories and structural functionalism, and then consider postmodern and symbolic interactionist theories. Each perspective The Theory Of Social Class different ideas about what determines social class, with the macro theorists focusing on larger-scale social structures and the postmodern and micro theorists focusing more on meaning, interpretation, and interactions in everyday life. Karl Marx formed his social theories at a time when monumental changes were occurring in the stratification The Importance Of that characterized nineteenth-century Europe. The feudal systemwhich consisted of a hierarchy of privileged nobles who were responsible for and served by a lower stratum of serfs forced laborerswas breaking down.
Cities were growing larger as more people moved from rural areas to take part in the new forms of industry that were emerging there. Marx was concerned about a new kind of social inequality that he saw emerging—between the capitalists bourgeoisiewho owned the means of production, and the workers proletariatwho owned only their own labor. Marx argued that economic relationships were quickly becoming the only social relationships that mattered: The impersonal forces of the market were creating a new, rigid system of social The Theory Of Social Class in which capitalists had every economic advantage and workers had none.
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He believed that the classes would remain divided and social inequality would grow; The Theory Of Social Class wealth and privilege would be concentrated among a small group of capitalists and that workers would continue to be exploited. Contemporary conflict theorists continue to understand social class in a similar way. Max Weber noted that owning the means of production was not the only way of achieving upper-class status; a person could also accumulate wealth consisting of income and property. As a contemporary example, Microsoft and Facebook are both publicly traded companies on the stock market, which means that they are owned by thousands of individual shareholders who benefit when the Thory turns a profit.
Weberian Theory
But the people who started those companies have amassed far click fortunes. Although they may not own their corporations, executives can exert influence over the marketplace, consumers, and the work lives of their employees. And they can use their wealth to support various causes and campaigns. Weber believed that another important element in social class has to do with prestigethe social honor granted to people because of their membership in certain groups. Take note that athletes rank higher than sociologists in Table 7.
Conflict Theory
Wealth by itself can also be a source of prestige, though not always. For Weber, wealth, power, and prestige are interrelated because they often come together, but it is also possible to convert one to the other. The Kardashian sisters, for example, whose father Robert was a wealthy attorney most memorably in the O. They did little themselves to gain their prestige besides Cima E3 born into wealth and being willing to participate in the reality shows that now bear their names. TABLE 7. Functionalism emphasizes social order and solidarity based on commonly shared values about what is good and worthwhile.
In this view, the system of stratification that has emerged over time, though not egalitarian, is still functional for society in a number of ways. Because there are a variety of roles to perform source the maintenance and good of the whole, there must be incentives to ensure that individuals will occupy those roles that are most necessary or important.]
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