Patterns of class inequality

Cards (11)

  • Ritzer
    Working class are dehumanised in McJobs. E.g., given scripts, machines, rotas, and instructions. No empowerment or enjoyment.
  • Abrams
    Minimum wage workers often not paid for their time at work, such as training and lunch breaks. Working class pay is eroded by unethical practices.
  • Sutton Trust, Neo-Marxist

    Elite theory- upper class use elite schools to get into elite universities and the old boys' network to gain employment in elite jobs. 50% of Westminster College applicants got a place at Oxbridge in 2017.
  • Milburn
    Glass floor that acts as a safety net for upper class children to maintain high paid jobs. 15/17 supreme court judges privately educated. 43% of barristers went to a private secondary school.
  • Goldthorpe & Lockwood
    Working class have an instrumental attitude to work, seeing it as a means to an end- no satisfaction or status gained. Traditional fraternity and unity gone.
  • Ghaill
    Decline of manual labour jobs led to increased unemployment for working class men. Crisis of masculinity due to their impacted status and loss of identity.
  • ONS
    Bottom 40% are paid 20% of the pay. Families cannot afford the best housing, food, and opportunities.
  • Jones
    Income inequality = poorest 10% pay 43% of their income in tax, richest 10% pay 35%. UK is run by political and economic elite who manipulate society. Prince Charles inherited £600 million yet paid no tax.
  • Garrod
    Working class are more likely to be on zero-hours contracts where pay is variable and unreliable- 917,000 people on zero hours in 2021, 1 million gig workers. No basic human rights like sick or holiday pay.
  • Denise Coates the CEO of Bet365 earned £421 million, which is over 14,200 times the average UK salary of £29,600. 
  •  PCR BioSystems bagged a £32million contract, making a £20million profit