Marxist Classification

• Karl Marx argued that Capitalist Societies such as Britain were essentially divided into 2 Social Classes:

  • The Bourgeoise (The Ruling Class) who owned means of Production such as Factories
  • The Proletariat who were employed by the Bourgeoisie to produce goods & services
• While the Marxist approach has influenced some sociologists, most modern sociologists would argue that the class system is more complex than this
• Some sociologists have argued a middle class exists which are typically seen as non-manual workers on higher incomes than working class, but lower than the upper class
• Charles Murray (1989) have argued a new social class, the underclass has emerged below the working class
• Charles Murray (1989) coined the term 'Underclass'
• Charles Murray coined the term 'Underclass' in 1989
• Charles Murray (1989) believed the Underclass consists of the poorest members of society such as the unemployed or those who are chronically sick (and largely dependent on state benefits)