Topic Summaries

Social class inequality

A-Level > Sociology > AQA > A Level Sociology Topic Summaries > Stratification and differentiation > Social class inequality
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Exam overview
  • Two-class model: (👤 Marx, 1867)
    • Capitalism creates the bourgeoisie (who own the means of production) and proletariat (who sell their own labour).
    • Exploitation occurs through surplus value extraction.
    • Class conflict will end with revolution.
      • Over-simplifies class structure and ignores middle-class growth.
  • Class, status, and power: (👤 Weber, 1922)
    • Class is market position, status is social honour, power is the ability to impose will.
    • These dimensions overlap but are distinct.
      • Recognises non-economic inequality but lacks focus on structural exploitation.
  • Forms of capital: (👤 Bourdieu, 1979)
    • Economic, cultural, and social capital reproduce class inequality.
    • Cultural capital includes tastes, knowledge, and credentials that advantage the middle class.
      • Hard to measure cultural capital objectively.
  • Class schema: (👤 Goldthorpe, 1992)
    • Uses occupation to classify class positions, distinguishing between employers, professionals, routine workers.
      • Critics argue it underplays wealth and assets.

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