Socio-economic class

• What is the functionalist perspective in regards to socio-economic class?

  • Modern capitalist society is open and meritocratic.
  • Individuals can become socially mobile and are limited only by own talents and ambitions.
• What is the marxist perspective in regards to socio-economic class?

  Marx saw two major classes:

  
  

  1. Those who owned the means of production - bourgeoise
  2. Those who worked in factories or mines - proleteriat
• What is the feminist perspective in regards to socio-economic class?

  • Women provide unpaid domestic support to their husbands and in doing so serve needs of the capitalist economic system.
  • Women from all social classes are exploited - suffer from 'dual burden' of paid employment and domestic work - women often work long hours with little rewards.