SOC102H1 Chapter 2: Reading for Week 2. Book: Social Problems, Chapter: 2
Document Summary
Economic inequality; large diff in income and wealth across individuals and groups within society and diff in economic power of nations. Marx"s theory (not yet known as conflict theory) Connection of inequality and poverty was given by karl marx by developing the notion of social class". Classes, groups of people who share a common economic condition (or relationship to the means of production). Two classes; those who own the mean of product and those who work for it. (have and have- nots are forever locked into conflict) One class tries to maximize profit, by increasing price and lowering cost of labour, both of which make workers struggle, which causes the creation of unions, co- operatives, to improve their wages, work conditions. Employers will prevent their formation and the government will be biased towards the capitalists. Workers will lose trust w/ their own unions. Disagreements between union leaders and workers, workers feel alienated, etc.
