The Working Class - Essay Example

Running Head: THE WORKING THE WORKING in APA Style by The term "working is loosely used in everyday conversation. The common conception of the society of the working class usually depends on the context and speaker, and is strongly linked to education, occupation, culture and income. When used conventionally, the working class is often a description of the segment of society who uses their physical labor in order to earn a decent living. In academic sociology, however, this definition of this term is much more complicated. It should be noted that social scientists strive to clearly separate social classes in into specific strata; consensus regarding this issue remains unreached. One reason for this is the fact that even though taken as a whole, the working class is, irrefutably, a monolithic entity comprised of groups with different aspirations, beliefs, values, and ways of life. Also, definitions of social classes strongly reflect a number of sociological perspectives including anthropology, psychology, economics, and sociology. This paper will explore one of the most controversial definitions of the working class; one which was put forward by Karl Marx and has became the main tenet of the struggle towards socialism. For the sake of clarity and accuracy, this report will also look at the strengths and flaws of the given definition. Recognizing the struggle between social classes in the 19th century, Marx asserts the creation of a classless society to be triggered by the revolution of the proletariat (Marx and Engels 1848). Proletariat is the term which Marx used in order to refer to the working class. According to him, this class constitutes "those who do not own the means of production, distribution, and exchange and must sell their labor in order to live" (Marx and Engels 1848). It should be noted that in Marx's description of the capitalist society, proletariat is an important segment in the dynamic of capitalism alongside with the bourgeoisie. Even though he recognized the existence of other social classes like the landlords, petty bourgeoisie, peasants, and lumpenproletariat, these two classes are in the limelight being in a constant struggle because of their different interests. In defining the working class, it is irrefutable that Marx has primarily used an economic perspective. The proletariat is portrayed as a utility maximizing entity because he seeks to maximize the value of his resource, his labor power, in return for higher wages. The bourgeoisie, on the other hand, is a profit maximizing entity because he seeks to minimize the cost of production by keeping wages for workers low. It should be noted that in Marx society, costs of production are allocated to fixed costs such as rent and interest. Wages, being the most variable and controllable, is kept at minimum. The bourgeoisie also aims to generate the most efficient productivity from the proletariat as this will also increase his profits. In this case, we see an antagonistic and contradictory relationship between the working class and the owners of capital. Therefore, in Marx's definition of proletariat, we see that the working class is portrayed as an exploited segment of the society. The relationship between the two major classes also documents that power is concentrated on the hands of those who own the means of production. The working class, as implied by the definition of Marx (1948), is seen by the bourgeoisie as a factor of production together with land and capital: "He becomes an appendage of the machine, and it is only the most simple, the most monotonous, and most easily acquired knack, that is required of him." So, who exactly constitutes the working class The proletariat, as described above, is the segment who doesn't have ownership the means of production and who solely relies on his physical labor to earn a living. Marx referred to them as "masses of laborers, crowded in the factory" which indicates an industrial setting. Proletariats are those who build bridges, crafts furniture, fix cars, and grow foods without owning the machines and land used in the production. As stated above, Marx also mentions other classes such as landlords, petty bourgeoisie, lumpenproletariat, and peasants and some of these may be classified as proletariat (Proletariat 2007). Petty bourgeoisie or "the small manufacturers, the shopkeeper, the artisan, and the peasant" (Giddens and Held 1982) who does own some property, "but not sufficient to have all work done by employees or workers" therefore have dual existence as owners and workers and may be categorically considered proletariats. Marx (1948) also mention of the lumpenproletariat or the "dangerous class" who are not legally employed. Among this class are "ruined and adventurous offshoots of the bourgeoisie, vagabonds, discharged soldiers, discharged jailbirds, pickpockets, brothel keepers, rag-pickers, beggars" (Bottomore 1983), etc. According to Marx, some of lumpenproletariat can also be considered as part of the working class. Marx's definition of the working class can is very reflective of Germany's situation in the 19th century. It should be noted that Marx has a good grasp of what is happening in the society during the period because he is able to document and interpret it economically. His intensive exposure to the society enables him to identify and evaluate the social structure in the 19th century. The definition is also useful as it does not only include the two major classes-bourgeoisie and the proletariat-but also takes into account the minority such as peasants and lumpenproletariat. The definition of the working class as "those who not own the means of production" enhances its clarity. In identifying the working class, it becomes essential to identify the ownership of the capital and those who work for the owners. In the case of Marx's definition, he makes it clear that the proletariat relies solely on their labor power in order to earn an income. With this, he clearly emphasizes that ownership of capital excludes anyone in the working class. Thus, owners rely on the profit that they can make out of the products of their capital while proletariat on their strength. Another good point in the Marx's definition of the proletariat is his recognition that the working class becoming indistinct from the other factors of production, distribution, and exchange. It should be noted that Marx (1848) strongly opposes the treatment of the working class as an "appendage of the machine" noting that this class is more than just an essential "means of production." He sees that in the 19th century, there exists a "labor market" where labor power is "sold." His definition brings the awareness that labor, like other goods, has become a commodity. The Marxist definition of the working class stresses the purpose of the working, that is, "in order to live." This implies that the primary motivation of the working class is monetary compensation. This phrase also carries the traditional concept of "work" which contains a degree of hardship. For Marx, being in the working class is a desperate attempt to earn money for the family. Since the worker lacks any property which can be used for production, he is forced to sell his only possession-labor power. In opposition to the modern concept of working for enjoyment, self-fulfillment, and skill development, his definition implies some resistance on the part of the proletariat to work. Engels (1948) notes that the working class is "reduced to selling their labor power in order to live." Lastly, Marx's definition implies a very essential feature of the economy-power struggle between classes where power is concentrated in the hands of those who own the means of the production. As explained above, workers lack capital so they are compelled to sell their labor power in order to live. This implies that power is in the hands of the buyer of labor-the bourgeoisie. Marx's definition highlights that the working class is the "oppressed" segment of the society. Even though widely popular and recognized, it should also be noted that Marx definition has its own set of criticisms. Being taken from the point of view of someone who lived in the 19th century, this definition has limited applicability in the current period. For instance, the ownership of capital nowadays is not separate from the selling labor power. As business organizations recognize that the working class are not machineries but are "strategic partners" in the realization of their goals (Boxall and Purcell 2003), they strive to distribute company ownership to their employees through employee stock options. Owners also recognize that their employees are not only motivated through monetary compensation so they try to motivate the working class by non-monetary benefits and incentives. The primary objective of the working class has also evolved from earning a decent living into attaining individual growth, self-actualization, growth, and belongingness (The Changing Role of HR 2002). Undermining the position of the working class in the social system, Marx failed to recognize the existence of a middle class. Marx's definition of the working class has become a catchall, defining the proletariat regardless of their status and income. It should be noted that Marx has seen only two polar social classes-the bourgeoisie constituting the elite class and the proletariat who are in the lower strata. It can be seen that Marx's argument does not leave room for social mobility. This is in contrast to the current trend of embourgeoisement observed in the United Kingdom and other industrialized nations. It should be noted that the delineation between the lower and the higher classes is disappearing due to the rapid rise in income. Defining the working class as all those "who sold their labor" is also vague as it does not identify the difference between manual and not-manual work. In the 19th century, not-manual work which includes administrative and managerial positions is unimportant. Instead, manual workers such as those who work in the factory are more prevalent. Marx is not able to take into account those managers who work in place of the bourgeoisie. References Bottomore, T, ed. (1982), A Dictionary of Marxist Thought. Cambridge, Harvard University Press Boxall, P. and Purcell, J. (2003) Strategy and Human Resource Management Palgrave Macmillan. Giddens, A. (n.d.) Capitalism and Modern Social Theory: An Analysis of the Writings of Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Giddens, A. Held, D. (1982). Classes, Power, and Conflict: Classical and Contemporary Debates. Berkeley, University of California Press Hal Draper. (n.d.) Karl Marx's Theory of Revolution, Vol. 2; The Politics of Social Classes. Monthly Review Press. Marx, K. and Engels, F. (1948) The Communist Manifesto Marx's Theory of Social Class and Class Structure (1998). Retrieved 21 February 2007, from http://uregina.ca/gingrich/s28f99 Morrell, P. (n.d.) Patterns of Change in the British Post-War Society. Retrieved 21 February 2007, from http://homeoint.org/morrell/misc/patterns.htm The Changing Role of HR. (2002). The Economist. March 31, 2002 Read More