Critically Analyze the Following Claim: ‘Class Is No Longer Relevant in Australia in the Twenty-First Century.’

Karl Marx brings to our understanding that he is not to be held responsible for or given merit for discovering the existing classes in the modern society. He also asserts that he is not to be provided any merit of identifying and highlighting the constant mutual struggle between theses classes in the society. He rather gives emphasis to his contributions in proving that classes and its existence is connected only to certain historical phases of development of production. He is also to be given stature for highlighting the fact that “The Class Struggle leads necessarily to the dictatorship of the proletariat and that the dictatorship itself is only a transitional stage leading to the abolition of classes and to a classless society…” Marx hence regards classes and class struggles as a stage in the historical

We live in a very classless society, and when we feel someone is a high achiever we show or feel contempt towards them, which is commonly referred to as the 'tall poppy syndrome '. This idea is excluding wealthy or successful people in Australian society. Australian 's strong belief of egalitarianism and anti-authoritarianism are foregrounded with relationships to the discourse of class in society.

Connell & Irving (1992) identify ‘class structure’ in Australia with the ‘ruling class’ owning property/business, and the ‘working class’ in the way of labourers whom ‘act together in resistance to the capitalists’. This is relevant today in Australia with the privileged having majority of the power and wealth. Moreover, exploitation of the ‘working class’ continue to maintain less power within the workplace & less wealth. Connell & Irving offer an uncomplicated view of class structure, (1992: p 40):

Individuals tend to affiliate themselves with a certain social class. Only 5% of Australian’s claim they have no class affiliation (Western and Baxter, 2011). Class creates social divisions within a population. People who share classes also tend to share similar life opportunities. Example of these are private or public health care, fine dining restaurants or take-away shops, private or public schools, and exclusive or overcrowded suburbs.

Before this class, I’d never had a real discussion about classism, and as I read about the subject it became clear as to why. As Mantsios states, “People in the United States don’t like to talk about class…Workers are more likely to identify with their employer, industry, or occupational group than with other workers, or with the working class” (150). Class has become a taboo subject in this country, and people have become unwilling to admit that they are working or lower middle class. I had no idea that this phenomenon was so wide spread, I just thought that my parents were weird about money. Now, my family doesn’t struggle to pay the bills or put food on the table, but we aren’t cruising through life either, despite that I’ve never heard my parents talk about our class standing. If I were to make an educated estimate

If this statement were still applicable to today’s society, then it would establish social class as the most important factor of voting behaviour. The question is whether British society is still as clearly separated into two classes and whether the members of each class are still as aware of it as they seemed to be when the statement was made.

Social construction is a portent that is fabricated by members of a particular nation or society that have similar social and economic status. This is evident by the ongoing myth of Australia being a classless society. It has ultimately manifested and become truer to the fact over the years, “the widening gap between rich and poor is the worst thing that has happened to Australia in the last 20 years.” (John Howard, 1995). This demonstrating how we can no longer pride ourselves on being a classless society, as class is assembled of economic wellbeing which Australia has become apparent to. This is expressively described by Marx, through his theory, as he demonstrates that the real problem is the private ownership of the means of production

According to McGregor (1989) class is the main cause of inequality and social injustice in Australia.  The prime explanation for this is that members of different class groups begin their lives with unequal opportunities, this affects the education they will receive, the social connections they will make and even the way they speak and behave.  McGregor also argues that the class one belongs to is determined by many factors, these include; power, family background, wealth, lifestyle, mannerisms, social interactions, and employment. Class can be separated into three categories, upper class, middle class and lower class.

The purpose of this essay is to provide an explanation on why sociologists are interested in class. This assignment will define what class is and to what extent class matters. Other social divisions will be explored in this assignment to show how they intersect with class. The social divisions which intersect with class which will be discussed include economic and social inequalities, social mobility and identity. The beliefs from well-known theorists, Karl Marx and Max Weber who disagreed on the nature of class, will also be included to support the main points which are

Sociology is fluid in the way in which theories become less central to sociological thinking as time progresses. The theory of social class in particular was very prominent throughout the 1950’s-1970’s where social class divisions were seen as central to understanding differences in opportunity and life chances. Social class has been defined as ‘ a division of a society based on social and economic status.’ (1) These theories of social class were developed and studied by the likes of Marx, Weber and Durkheim. The theory of class has been subject to some criticism however since it fails to explain other forms of inequality such as race, gender and sexuality. Although there have been many attempts to link these inequalities to social class, no such connection has been found and other theoretical approaches have been needed from the likes of Andrew Pilkington, Kathwood Woodward and

Most societies throughout history and the world have developed a notion of social class. It is refers to hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups within society. How these social classes have been determined has been a common topic among social scientists throughout time. Two individuals who have headed this long standing debate are Karl Marx and Max Weber. In this paper I will be summarizing Marx and Weber’s theories on social class; how they are determined, their interests, and problems that may exist among groups. I will then provide my own critiques of their arguments.

Power means to be on top, that there is no competition against you. I personally believe power gets you respect. People follow a powerful person. A powerful person is someone who does anything that they please in any particular way without any restraints. Another the way of having power to be financially successful. Having financial power in my world is another way of being powerful because money has a huge value in today's society and can affect people’s decisions. Having power is important to me not only for the respect factor but because by being powerful I would have less financial worries.

To start of my essay I will compare and contrast between the two theories of Karl Marx and Max Weber on the topic of social class that will be discussed widely. The inequality between people is the basis of the democratic system, which is “a political system”. It is said that “those who have the skills and abilities to perform and produce will succeed in life.” But this belief is the assumption that all people are given equal opportunities and advantages. During the 19th century Karl Marx and Max Weber were two of the most influential sociologists who developed their own theories about why inequality is maintained with social class in society. Many might argue that there are many similarities and differences between these sociologists theories, however although Marx’s and Weber’s both examined similar ideas. This essay will compare the differences and similarities between Marx and Weber’s theories of class within society, which are based on economic inequality and capitalism. And lastly this essay will demonstrate that Max Weber comes across as the greater theorist as he can relate his concept more towards today’s society. Anthony Giddens (2nd edition) quoted that “You need greater equality to achieve more social mobility.” Therefore social class is referred to a group of people with similar levels of wealth, influences, behaviours and status. Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American Politician states that the “ignorant classes are the dangerous classes.”

Class, for Marx, is defined as a (social) relationship rather than a position or rank in society. In Marx's analysis, the capitalist class could not exist without the proletariat, or vice-versa. The relationship between classes is a contradictory or antagonistic relationship, one that has struggle, conflict, and contradictory interests associated with it. The structure and basis of a social class may be defined in objective terms, as groups with a common position with respect to property or the mean s of production. However, Marx may not be primarily interested in this definition of class. Rather, these classes have meaning in society and are historical actors only to the extent that they do act in their own interests, and in opposition to other c lasses. Unlike much other sociology, Marx's classes are defined by class

Traditionally Australians have believed in and conveyed the myth of Australia as a fair , egalitarian society without excess wealth or poverty, however we are definitely not a classless society. Australia's education system has been and remains one of the most unequally distributed social resources and could possibly be regarded as the main source of inequality in our society (Encel 1970; Anderson & Vervoorn 1983; as cited in Jamrozik, 2009). Now more than ever, Australia's education system is acting as a kind of 'sorting out' mechanism, allocating people to certain stations within