Weberianism and Inequality www.educationforum.co.uk

Max Weber Max Weber was writing just after Marx – much of his writing was in response to Marx. Weber criticised Marx’s conception of class saying that the working class does not become more homogenous or conscious as capitalism develops. Weber agrees that class or property ownership is a massive factor in inequality but recognised big class divisions within social classes particularly what Marx might have lumped together as the proletariat or working class. Weber suggested that the cause of inequalities within occupational groups were based on what he called ‘party’. This refers to any organisation which gives the worker an advantageous position in the market place … e.g. a trade union or professional association

Weber and Class Weber said 2 things were as important as ownership in understanding inequality Status – some jobs have lots of status due to a favourable ‘market situation’ and therefore higher pay, better lifestyles etc. Party – some groups have greater political influence through the membership of influential groups and organisation – professional associations, unions, the Masons, the golf club etc. The power of Secret Societies

Definition of Class Weber therefore defined social class by references to clusters of occupations with similar status, lifestyle and influence – the influence of this approach can be seen in the various occupations schemas used today e.g. RG and NS-SEC

Weber’s Four Classes Using his definition Weber identified 4 social classes The privileged by virtue of property and/or education The petit-bourgeoisie – shopkeepers and small businessmen White collar workers – technicians, clerks, managers Blue collar workers – the manual working class

Inequality Weber’s different groupings therefore have different levels of wealth, status and power due to favourable or unfavourable ‘market situation’. Weber introduces the concept of ‘life chances’ which refers to the opportunities for good health, education, employment, housing etc. Those with better market situations have better life chances In contrast to Marx, Weber argued that society would become more complex as the economy evolves to require and value different skills.

Neo Weberianism Neo Weberians such as Goldthorpe and Lockwood have applied Weber concepts to studies of the working class in late twentieth century Britain identifying ‘affluent workers’ with between life chances than the rest of the working class

Evaluation Introduced new important sociological concepts of ‘life chances’, ‘market situation’ Highly influential for modern measurements of social class such as RG classification Status and Party (though hard to define) are useful tools for understanding real and changing inequalities between social groups as the economy evolves. Underestimates the importance of property ownership Doesn’t address the importance of gender or ethnicity on inequality although later sociologists have used Weberian concepts to investigate this