Social Classes and Stratification

Recommended Prerequisites

Some knowledge on sociology is required, both epistemological and theoretical. We suggest the previous frequency of disciplines in the 1st school year of this course.

Teaching Methods

We will privilege two different dimensions, the first based on theoretical presentation and clarification of the main conceptual skills, the second including active intervention of students in each session, according to the material under analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Overall objectives
This course approaches issues of social inequalities from the point of view of the sociology of social classes and social stratification theories. Weberianism and Marxism will be the main sociological currents of inspiration from which we depart in order to discuss other current debates on this phenomenon. These topics will deal with nowadays tendencies in the context of contemporary debates and taking account of recent socioeconomic evolutions and its impacts on societal inequalities.

Specific objectives
Stimulate the capacities of understanding the sociological nature of the processes of structuring social inequalities.

Generic competencies
To have some skills in sociological knowledge
Specific competencies
Have been frequenting disciplines like sociological theories and introduction to sociology

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

•Karl Marx and his vision of capitalism; the Marxist concept of “social class”;
•Max Weber: class, status and parties (prestige, health and power);
•Social stratification theory (Davies & Moore) and class analysis
•The concept of social mobility; typologies and processes;
•Theory of social reproduction (P. Bourdieu); mobility and structural change;
•Meritocracy: its potentialities and limits in Portugal; Poverty, working classes, elites.
Race and gender inequalities

Head Lecturer(s)

Daniel Gameiro Francisco

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 50.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

BOURDIEU, Pierre-O Poder Simbólico, Lisboa: Edições 70, 2011.; CARMO, Renato Miguel (org.)-Portugal, uma sociedade de classes: polarização social e vulnerabilidade. Lisboa: Edições 70, 2013. CARMO, Renato Miguel (org.)-Portugal, uma sociedade de classes: polarização social e vulnerabilidade. Lisboa: Edições 70, 2013. COSTA, António Firmino-Desigualdades Sociais Contemporâneas, Lisboa: Editora Mundos Sociais, 2012. DAHRENDORF, Ralf - As classes e seus conflitos na sociedade industrial. Brasília : Universidade de Brasília, 1982; DAVIS, Kingsley; MOORE, Wilbert E. “Some principles of stratification”, American Sociological Review, vol. 10, n.2: 242-249.; ESTANQUE, Elísio - A classe média : ascensão e declínio. Lisboa : Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, 2012. FEDERICI, Sílvia - Calibã e a Bruxa, São Paulo: Editora Elefante, 2017.; PIKKETY, Thomas - Uma Breve História da Igualdade. Lisboa: Círculo de Leitores/Temas e Debates, 2022.; WRIGHT, Erik Olin - Classes. London: Verso, 1985