Theories Of Inequality Essay Research Paper In — страница 2

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and are in no way objective (nor does it seem that these aspects can be objectively measured). If the theory requires that society must measure class and power positions in terms of importance, then who will be the measurers? Always, it seems, the power elite will be the ones who really have the control of measuring importance?and doesn?t it seem likely, if not natural, that they would perceive themselves as being the most important people within the whole of society? Surely the underpaid educator would disagree with societies ability to rate importance through income, believing that they are among the most important, since education, it can be argued, is the most important aspect in society (especially for reproducing the system of inequality). Also, these theories assume that

we are all equal in opportunity, when, in fact, there is no such thing as equality in a system which needs to reproduce itself in every aspect of the social realm. By reproducing itself as it does, it generally maintains control to be held by those who have made, and have been born into money?while those without struggle to simply survive, let alone profit. Though few theories of inequality made by non-elitists have been acknowledged, the works of Karl Marx have sustained itself over a century in time. Marx believed that capital produces profit?which accounts for why we have inequality. Because capitalism produces both wealth and poverty, society creates the stratification of social classes. Marx believed there to be two types of classes: the bourgeoisie (the power elite) and the

proletariat (the working class). Though about 90% of the people in a capitalist society are working class, most believe that they are able to become part of the class of capitalists (and are, of course, encouraged to believe this by the capitalists). This can be illustrated today by all of the people pouring their income into the stock market, which ultimately gives the capitalists much greater proportions of wealth than the working class receives. The whole basis of class, Marx believed, is through exploitation?those who have the money, have the control to exploit those who have little or nothing. In this form, the capitalists decide what, when, & how the conditions of labor are to be performed. The working class, on the other hand, are trading their labor for capital?making

them basically products for capitalists to exploit. So, in terms of surplus, the capitalist receives all surplus (and is trying to maximize his surplus) while the working class are providing the capitalist with the means for his end (profit). In this system, Marx believes that these positions of class are maintained by the very structure of the capitalist system. This system is geared to reproduce itself, as it must, in every aspect of the life it provides?socially, ideologically, politically, and so on. Therefore, wealth and material gains become more important than moral and social improvements, and we begin to value our world in terms of efficiency, profitability, and material worth.