Conflict Theory And Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives

different classes, the bourgeoisie and proletariats. Bourgeoisie are those that own the business and the proletariat are the workers for the bourgeoisie. The workers only earn menial wages and are denied access and privileges that are afforded to the wealthy owners. By the owners denying them access, they keep the workers “down” and they don’t question their exploitation.

Finally, there is the Symbolic Interactionist Perspective. Symbolic Interactionism can be attributed to the works of George Simmel, Charles Cooley, George Herbert Mead and Erving Goffman. Symbolic interactionism says that human behavior is influenced by definitions and meaning that people create therefore the consequences become real to the situation, our self-concept is developed

The main assumptions on stratification for each are as follows: functionalism states stratification is needed to get people with special skills and knowledge to fill the most important occupations, therefore making stratification necessary and inevitable; conflict theory says stratification comes from lack of opportunity due discrimination and prejudice against the poor, people of color and women, making it neither inevitable nor necessary; finally there is symbolic interactionism which states that stratification affects everyone from their concepts of themselves, lifestyles, religious beliefs and every day

Even if jobs that require more skill and training, does that really mean there should be such a huge gap between skill sets?

Next, we will look at the Conflict Theory. In conflict theory, the main assumption is that stratification exits from the conflict between the powerful “business owner” or the “haves” and those of the worker or the “have nots.” The rich are able to stay on the top because, they oppress the worker and due to the U.S’s class structure, and they have influence over law, institutions and other influential people.

There are two main ideas of stratification in the conflict theory, which are ideology and class consciousness. Ideology is defined as “a set of ideas that justify the status quo,” and class consciousness is explained as “key goal of the ruling class is to prevent the poor from achieving class consciousness or an awareness of their oppression and the true reason for it.” (http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/sociology-brief-edition-v1.0/s09-02-explaining-stratification.html) The best example, given by Marx for this, he called the “opiate of masses.” What is meant by this is that poor people believe their fate is God’s will or it is a test of their faith by God. With this belief, they will not blame their misfortune on the rich but rather on fate to which religious beliefs help to create the