This essay will be discussing and establishing the difference between the sociological concepts of class and status.
The aspect that will be covered in this essay is defining what class and status is, next discuss what the difference between the two and then looking at the view of the sociologist Max Weber and Karl Marx, finally looking at two different eras and see how class and status have changed.
NEEDS ANOTHER 130 words
Defining class and status
There are two definitions of class; the first is a class that you sit in at school (the definition of class, n.d.), the second is a system where the order of society whereby people are divided on the bases of social or economic status (class, n.d.). In sociology, sociologists often …show more content…
Similarities
Differences
Finally looking at the view of sociologist Max Weber and Karl Marx.
Karl Marx (1818-1883) has been known as a socialist theoretician, a major figure in the history of economic and philosophical thought and a social prophet (Karl Marx - The Overall Doctrine, 2010). Marx claimed that there were two distinguished classes, the owners and the workers. Marx states that the only thing that the workers own are their ability to work Marx called this “labour” power, whereas the owners pay the wages of the workers, which give them the power over the workers (What is social class, n.d.).
Even though Marx did talk about the two main classes, he did state that there was a third category, the lower middle class or as he called it, petit bourgeoisie. This class are owners and workers of small businesses (What is social class, n.d.).
Another sociologist, Max Weber (1864-1920) disagreed with the economic side when it comes to class. He expressed that economic level share some similarity with the other levels of classes (What is social class, n.d.).
Finally looking at two different eras and see how class and status have change