In previous topic, functional view of social stratification was discussed. Critique against this view could be hardly answered by its supporters. Though, conflict theory of social stratification, as second view, could incorporate the critique.
Sociologists who have been supporting the conflict theory assume that stratification stems from a fundamental conflict between needs and interests of the powerful group in a society and the weak group. Powerful group takes advantage of their position to stay at top, even with the cost of oppressing those at the bottom. They can heavily influence the law, the media and other institutions that maintain society’s class structure. Karl Marx was one of the main sociologists who said that the ruling class shapes and controls the ruling ideas. Their ideology is justified the existing order and consequently, decrease the chance of poor people to challenge it. Their goal is to keep poor people unaware of their oppression and prevent them to achieve class consciousness. This is called false consciousness. Marx mentioned as an example that religious beliefs is a mean to false consciousness as it influences poor people to see their state as a test of their belief in God.
In general, ideological beliefs fortify any system of stratification. Many obvious cases happened in history. For instance, it was believed that…
