IN CANADIAN SOCIETY 3. Views on Canadian Society 4. Growing Trends in Canadian Society

You will examine the impact of behaviours, and how ideas are constructed within a Canadian context. Different trends in Canada will be examined through different theoretical perspectives, research, recording data, and using inquiry skills. By the end of this unit, you will learn about ways to become active in your school community.

1. Money and Power 2. Internal Drives 3. The Social Construction of Ideas

Have you ever had a time when someone asked/made you do something that you thought was unfair? The same types of conflict between what people feel they deserve verse what they received can be seen as a distribution of wealth and power in society.

 Karl Marx began looking into the inequalities between classes discovering new things about who we are and the facets of our social situations in society.  According to Karl Marx and his theory, our society is split into two different social groups.  Do you think you know what they are?

Marx believed there was the property owning class known as the BOURGEOISIE and the working-class people known as the PROLETARIAT. He believed there was also a middle class he called PETTY BOURGEOISIE. This class is typically made up of shop owners and small- scale producers. Marx says that where you fall into these classes defines who you are in society and therefore where your opportunities lie.

 The bourgeoisie gained most of it power through controlling and owning the mean of production.  They owned or ran the large-scale operations and corporations that produced the goods and services within society.  They often had the working-class working for them and consuming their products.

 The petty bourgeoisies were the people that often worked for all the large-scale production companies or corporations.  They were also the consumers of the products and services provided by their own labour.

 The proletariat were the lower-class citizens that were often struggle to survive.  They were the lower-working class that often sold their skills for a lower-wage than the middle class.

 The bourgeoisies exploited the woking class and oppressed them through the mechanism of CAPITALISM.  “Capitalism is an economic system where the means of productions is privately owned and profit is earned in competitive conditiions.”

 Marx also believed that the government and legal systems are used as tools by the ruling class to keep the subject class under control while members of the upper class have alternate agendas.  This creates a major conflict between the “haves” and the “have-nots.”

 Do you think that Karl Marx’s theory is still applicable today?  What determines how much we earn or the value of our skill?  Who would be considered the bourgeoisies, petty bourgeoisies, and the proletariat?

 “Marx argued that the value of commodity is related to the cost of production necessary to produce or obtain it.”  The more manufacturing involved in creating the product, the greater the labour cost to produce it, which increase the cost to produce the product.

 With the increase of the product cost, the workers producing the product are now unable to afford their own products  “Alienation refers to the separating of the workers from the final product of his or her work. As workers become alienated, they may take less pride in their work and may not see themselves as a value to the product or company.”

Antonio Gramsci was a Marxist theorist who followed many of the same beliefs of Karl Marx. He believed that a capitalist state controlled society. He divided society into two parts: the “political society” and the “civil society”

 Unlike Marx, Gramsci believed that you could not overturn this societal breakdown but you have to beat it by receiving a good education.  He believed that an early education is key to changing the future. Giving children the knowledge or ideas, values and morals will ensure that the next generation has the revolutionary principles and drive for change.

How do people come into power in a particular society? Do they possess exceptional skills? Are they physically larger? Mentally stronger? Or is it something completely different?

 Gramsci believes that a culturally diverse society can be dominated by one ruling class.  They do this by establishing “social norms” which are expected behaviours that are considered normal.

 “Cultural Hegemony is Gramsci theory that society is dominated by one ruling class and the ruling classes ideas and beliefs are considered the cultural norm.”  Example: The rulling class in Canada and North America could be the rich and powerful including celebrities. It is common practice for women in the ruling class to be very concerned with make-up and anti-aging creams. This makes it the norm for the rest of society pressuring all women to look at themselves different motivating them to purchase expensive anti- aging products

 How has capitalism benefitted Canadian society? What are some of the negative aspects?  Explain how Marx’s ideas of class fit into Canadian society?  Think of an example of an institution, person, or group that has not been influenced by money? Explain