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Conflict Theory Essay

Decent Essays

Conflict Theory

Conflict theory, which originates from Karl Marx’s early works, is based on the idea of various groups competing for scarce resources, conflict, struggle and turmoil will arise. The problems include the difference between Democrats and Republicans, racial conflicts, and gender conflicts. Such problems will begin to appear because if everyone is fighting for the same thing, there will be no more of that such resource to fight for. In Paul Fussel’s book, Class he expresses many instances and issues in which there is much competition for. First of course, it begins with the different classes competing for different things. For instance
“Garages: the upper middle class and middle class house used to act ashamed of …show more content…

Fussel refers to this idea when he says, “ The automobile, like the all important domestic façade, is another mechanism for outdoor class display.”(84)
There he is stating that not only what your front yard looks like matters, the cars, which you own also, matter just as much. But he goes on to say that it actually brings down you class and is tasteless to show off what one has. To have a less flashy car is having more class. Even to go so far as to decorate your television set to try and look classier is portrayed as ridiculous in the eyes of Fussel. Later, Fussel goes on to talk about food. Even food is considered a way of judging a person. People compete in the way they serve their food. It’s part of the competition of class status, based on the way one serves the food.
“ Among upper-middles there’s a general belief that sliced bread is, ipso facto, horrible, although some allowance may be made for brands pledging a degree of archaism, like Arnold’s Brick Oven or Pepperidge “Farm”.”(102)
Of course it has to be known that there are exceptions, the competition for popularity in advertising, and throughout the homes of these classy people. Even such things as the drinks whether it be alcoholic, or just a soft drink matters. The sports a certain person plays can also determine their class, and are competed for. What were the more popular sports that would be the one to play? Whatever recreation was popular this is

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