Social Inequality - Essay Example

Of the three Weber's stratification theory appears to be the most accurate prediction while Marx's class theory could not prove itself in modern society. Durkheim's functionalist theory also had predicted somewhat similar characteristics and problems that exist in our society today. . Marx visualized that the historical change would be identical to the changes in relation to class conflicts. He overemphasized the fact that there will be no progress if there are no class conflicts. Due to the industrial revolution, all social order, i.e., master craftsmen, journeymen, and apprentices were abolished.

Marx argues that class struggle between oppressing and oppressed classes is essential for a modern social change. Apparently he could not devote much time to analyze and describe the life of the middle class (the class between bourgeoisie and proletariat) and said that 'they are small part of the ruling class but later join proletariat, the revolutionary class.' That appears to be contrary to the existing social dimensions, where the middle class has become one of the dominant one. Over the years many of Marx's predictions were proved wrong, for example: class polarization, instead of conflicts between two main classes like what Marx argued, today our society doesn't appear to be a complex one with the emergence of middle class population in the absence of class conflicts.

Another failed prediction of Marx's prediction was concentration of capital. Capital is not confined to capitalists only, but with growing numbers of ambitious smaller to medium sized entrepreneurs, the property ownership has spread to different segments of the society. Anyone having some starting money can invest it in their own business. Weber's stratification theory, on the other hand, presents multidimensional causes of social inequality in relation to several conflicting groups. He argues that there are various stratified social group in society based on class, status and party.

And these different groups create a kind of social inequality. Class is determined by economic order whereas status is determined by styles of life. The party consisted of people have political power. Like Marx, Weber also recognizes the significance of class struggle that is related to market exchange. Therefore, class does not comprise of just one group but virtually consisted of various kinds of economic class. According to Weber, the economic classes tend to be confined to four different social classes in capitalist society.

There are propertied classes, property-less non manual class, petty bourgeoisie and manual working class. As compared to Marx's class theory there are two middle classes in Weber's kind of society. The property-less non manual class and the petty bourgeoisie form the middle class in Weber's theory. Petty bourgeoisie are people who own their own production such as small manufacture, business, or farm. The non manual working class i.e, the so called white-collar worker, are people who had education and trained to become professional worker receiving wages in return of their work.

The status groups consisted of people who have social honor or authority. They have a tendency to distinguish themselves from outside of their status groups. Lastly party is designed to achieve communal action. Weber's stratification theory represents today's social inequality by introducing various stratified