Lenski Social Inequality

Emily Pugmire Essay
So far throughout the course, a number of different sociological theorists have been introduced. Their theories on social inequality have been presented and vary from one to the next. Four social theorists whose ideas have been influential in studying social inequality include Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, and Gerhard Lenski. One of the most widely known social theorists is Karl Marx. He held the radical antithesis view on social inequality. This view holds that equality is the natural order of society and inequality is a problem that must be fixed. Marx believed that society’s struggle was primarily due to class conflict. He said that the basis of modern society revolved around its mode of production which consisted of two parts; means of production (technology) and social relations of products (parts that people play in relation to products) (Sernau 15). The means
Lenski was eclectic in his influences pulling from all three previously listed theorists; Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. When dealing with social inequality, Lenski fused together ideas from both the functionalist and conflict perspectives. He borrowed from Marx’s idea of mode of production or technology and Weber’s idea of the different realms of power and focused on how societies and inequalities evolve over time. This idea was referred to as the ecological-evolutionary theory. One contribution that Lenski’s theory offers in regards to social stratification is that inequality is a social construct. While inequalities may arise at first due to differences in abilities, inequality is not natural. Hunter-gatherer societies have different jobs and abilities, yet people in those societies tend to remain fairly equal because they work and share together. Inequality only begins when an individual or group claims a position of power and then exploits other members of the society (Sernau