The Marxist Perspective on Social Inequality

Present throughout history Marxists see social stratification as a divisive structure, in all societies throughout history there has been a division between two classes, and this is a relationship of exploitation. In all stratified societies there are two major classes – a ruling class, and a subject class; and the ruling class exploits the subject class. So there is conflict. The institutions of society are instruments of ruling class domination and serve to further its interests.

People accept as the natural order Ruling class ideology produces false class-consciousness, so people accept the status quo as normal and natural and are largely unaware of the true nature of exploitation and oppression. (you know all about the Marxist view of things now, and should be able to explain it a bit by now)

Marxists believe that all inequality is based on class, and a person’s class is defined by their relationship to the means of production. In the capitalist system, the proletariat are exploited by the bourgeoisie Marxists claim that class origin affects people’s life chances, for example, life expectancy is higher for the bourgeoisie than the proletariat. You could back all of this up with the Dr Harry work on the biology of poverty, and how chronic stress has an adverse effect on health.

Socialised into inequality Marxists also claim the bourgeoisie control the superstructure and are therefore able to disseminate their ideology through institutions such as education. This means they can justify inequalities in society through the myth of meritocracy. The hidden curriculum in schools teaches children their place within the system, and indoctrinates them with the dominant ideology. Primary socialisation which takes place in the family, teaches children about inequality between men and women and the different power relations in the family. Secondary socialisation takes place through institutions like religion and the media. Christian religion (as promulgated by the Protestant faith which is dominant in developed capitalist societies) teaches that inequality is natural, and is an incentive to work harder. There is also the idea that if you suffer on earth you will be rewarded in Heaven.

Marx believed that inequality would naturally continue to get worse under capitalism. The polarisation of the classes would hasten the downfall of capitalism, the gap between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat would increase caused by the increased use of machinery which gradually de-skills workers. Although the wages of workers may well increase, they will not increase as quickly as the incomes of the bourgeoisie, and so therefore inequality increases – this is referred to as pauperisation. Big businesses will drive small businesses out, and so capital will be concentrated in fewer and fewer hands of the increasingly mega-rich.

Criticisms of the Marxist position However, Marxists are often criticised for not considering inequalities based on gender for instance, woman only make up less than 25% of MPs. There is also the criticism that Marxists do not consider inequalities that can be based on other factors such as ethnicity or disability. Furthermore Marxism could be criticised for not acknowledging the personal agency that people have – in a Marxist world people don’t seem to be able to take independent decisions, and this can remove any sense of responsibility.

The Marxist view is based on the economic division between a working class and the bourgeoisie, which some argue is too narrow. Weber pointed out the inequality in society could be linked to symbolic power and status – some people have power despite the fact that they are not very wealthy.