Stratification and Class
Sociology has regarded class as a significant element of inequality in any society, especially in industrial-capitalist societies. People tend to classify others based on status, age, gender and ethnicity. In communities such as Aotearoa, New Zealand, gender or ethnicity are the basis for this divide. It, therefore, empowers some people and not others others thus leads to inequality. This inequality makes some people feel insignificant and has been a primary political as well as a theoretical focus of sociology. Marxists believed in the need for working-class organizations and political goals. Weber’s definition of class was broader, whereby he added party and status as co-equal characteristics. Ethnicity is an example of status that can determine life chances, including economic rewards and position.
Classical Marxist interest in stratification and class was modified in the 20th century. It was challenged by factors such as the impact of welfare policies, among others. The neo-Weberian approach gives more significance to the division associated with consumption rather than production-based class differences. Poverty is also associated with ethnicity. Absolute poverty is when one lacks the basic needs needed to stay alive while relative poverty is when people don’t have the resources that are essential for actively participating in a given society. The Maori were more likely to be made poor due to colonization by the settlers. The transfer of ownership of land sponsored by the state forced Maori to rely on other sources of income, for example, wage labour to meet their basic needs.
References
Brickell, C., Matthewman, S., McLennan, G., McManus, R., & Spoonley, P. (2019). Exploring Society: Sociology for New Zealand Students. Auckland University Press.