SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK Lecture 4: Theories of inequality

L3: Classical theories of Stratification When? –Early 19 th Century –The beginning of industrialization What happen? –Economical change Huge increase in productivity Production: in factories –Social change: The labour moved from country side to cities

L3: Karl Marx ( ) Industrial Society –Increased productivity and economic surplus Class 1.Capitalist class: own factories, buy labour 2.Working class: sell their labour Main Concern –Class Polarization: richer get richer, poor become poorer –Accumulation and Exploitation

L3: Max Weber ( ) Industrial Society –Different form of organizations –Rational-legal authority Social Inequality –Multi-dimensional: Class: economic dimension, Status: cultural and social dimension, Power: political dimension

L3: Modern Theories of Stratification: Functionalist Approach –Division of labour e.g. gender division of labour e.g. international division of labour

L3: Functionalist Approach –Allocation and selection function allocate people into different positions/ jobs Select the most able and suitable people to important positions –Distributive function Problem of motivation Distribute the resources and services according to the importance of positions

L3: Functionalist Approach Major Arguments: 1.Different importance of positions in society 2.Limited number of talented people 3.Sacrifice for training 4.Differential reward as attraction 5.Reward is attached to the positions 6.Social inequality is positively functional and inevitable

L3: Suggested Readings: Hurst C. (2004) Social Inequality: Forms, causes and consequences (5/e), New York: Westview, ch.9, 10