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Lesson 23 Theories of Social Class and Stratification - Ii

Max Weber built upon Marx's theory of social class and stratification by developing a more multidimensional view. According to Weber, social stratification is determined by status, power, and class. Class is based not just on ownership of means of production but also economic differences like skills, credentials, and qualifications that affect one's job and market position. Those with higher skills and qualifications have better life chances in terms of income, benefits, and job security. Weber also introduced status as a social rank based on honor and prestige, which can vary independently of class. Power, the third dimension, is the ability to control others and can derive from property ownership as well as political and organizational means. Weber anticipated the growth of a new

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74 views

Lesson 23 Theories of Social Class and Stratification - Ii

Max Weber built upon Marx's theory of social class and stratification by developing a more multidimensional view. According to Weber, social stratification is determined by status, power, and class. Class is based not just on ownership of means of production but also economic differences like skills, credentials, and qualifications that affect one's job and market position. Those with higher skills and qualifications have better life chances in terms of income, benefits, and job security. Weber also introduced status as a social rank based on honor and prestige, which can vary independently of class. Power, the third dimension, is the ability to control others and can derive from property ownership as well as political and organizational means. Weber anticipated the growth of a new

Uploaded by

Ayesha Jabeen
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Lesson 23

THEORIES OF SOCIAL CLASS AND STRATIFICATION – II


Max Weber (1864-1920) built his approach to stratification on the analysis developed by Marx,
but he modified and elaborated it. Like Marx, Weber regarded society as characterized by
conflicts over power and resources. Yet where Marx saw polarized class relations and
economic issues at the heart of all conflict, Weber developed a more complex, multidimensional
view of society.

According to Weber social stratification is a matter of


 Status
 Power
 Class

According to Weber class divisions derive not only from control or lack of control of the
means of production, but from economic differences, which have nothing directly to do with
property. Such resources include especially the skills and credentials, or qualifications, which
affect the types of job people, are able to obtain.

Class

Weber believed that an individual’s market position strongly influences his or her ‘life chances’.
The market positions (capacities) people have in terms of the skills they bring to the labor
market as employees, explains the rewards they will receive. Where people have good market
capacity they will have very good life chances: these chances include income, perks, and
pensions together with less tangible benefits such as security of job, pleasant working
environment and considerable autonomy at work. Those in managerial or professional
occupations earn more, and have more favorable conditions of work, for example, than people in
blue-collar jobs. The qualifications they possess, such as degrees, diplomas and the skills they
have acquired, make them more ‘marketable’ than others without such qualifications. Managers
of corporations control the means of production although they do not own them. If managers can
control property for their own benefit – awarding themselves huge bonuses and magnificent
perks – it makes no practical difference that they do not own the property that they so generously
use for their own benefit.

Status
Weber’s theory refers to differences between social groups in the social honor or prestige they
are accorded by others. Presently status is being expressed through people’s styles of life.
Markers and symbols of status—such as housing, dress, manner of speech, occupation – all
help to shape an individual’s social standing in the eyes of others. People sharing the same
status form a community in which there is a sense of shared identity.While Marx believed that
status distinctions are the result of class divisions in society, Weber argued that status often
varies independently of class divisions. Possession of wealth normally tends to confer high
status, but there are many exceptions. Olympic gold medalists, for example, may not own
property, yet they may have very high prestige. Property and prestige is not one way street:
although property can bring prestige, prestige can also bring property.
Power
The third element of social class, is the ability to control others, even against their wishes.
Weber agreed with Marx that property is a major source of power, but he added that it is not the
only source. With time, industrial societies witness the growth of the bureaucratic state. This
expansion of government and other types of formal organizations means that power gains
importance in the stratification system.
Party formation is an important aspect of power, and can influence stratification independently of
class and status. Party defines a group of individuals who work together because they have
common backgrounds, aims or interests. Party can be influenced by class but can also
influence the economic circumstance of party members and thereby their class. Party
membership cuts across class differences. There are parties based on religious affiliations
and nationalist ideals and may include the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’. There could also be
groups possessing effective political power without economic leverage (military, trade union).
Therefore inequality could there due to political power.
In Weberian perspective society can be divided in 2+ classes as below:

Upper class UPPER CLASS


Upper middle class MIDDLE CLASS
Middle-middle class
Lower middle class

Skilled manual workers WORKING CLASS


Semi-skilled workers.
Unskilled manual workers.
The poor THE POOR

Weber’s theory comes closer to explaining the dynamics of stratification in modern societies.
Weber anticipated the proliferation of classes, with a new class of white-collar employees,
administrators, technicians and civil servants, who are growing in number and importance.
Property relations are important (Marx) but the market position and marketability is decisive in
determining an individual’s class position.
Weber rejected Marx’s view that the workers (or employees) have nothing but their labor to sell
to the highest bidder. The reality is that:
• Workers possess skills.
• The distribution of skills can be controlled (keep it scarce).
• Increase skill marketability.
•
Comparative picture of the conflict approach by Marx and Weber

MARX WEBER
Relationship to means of production is all Focused more on the market position of those
important in employment.

Increasing polarity between classes and Growth of white-collar class that would
revolution mitigate against the collapse of capitalism
Class all embracing Separate political status factors
fact of life to come into play.

..

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