Slide 6: Capitalism and Class Conflict

 Capitalism is an economic system characterized by private ownership of the

means of production, where goods and services are produced for profit in
competitive markets. It incentivizes the accumulation of wealth and resources
by individuals or corporations.
 Class conflict within capitalism arises due to the unequal distribution of
resources and power between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The
bourgeoisie, who own the means of production, exploit the labor of the
proletariat to generate profits, leading to economic disparities and social
tensions.
 This exploitation is inherent to capitalism, as the capitalist class seeks to
maximize profits by paying workers less than the value they produce, resulting
in surplus value that accrues to the owners.

Slide 7: Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat

 The bourgeoisie, also known as the capitalist class, are the owners of capital,
including land, factories, and businesses. They control the means of
production and accumulate wealth through the exploitation of labor.
 Characteristics of the bourgeoisie may include access to financial resources,
ownership of property, and influence over political and economic systems.
They typically hold positions of power and privilege within society.
 The proletariat, or working class, consists of individuals who sell their labor
power in exchange for wages or salaries. They do not own the means of
production and are economically dependent on selling their labor to survive.
 Characteristics of the proletariat may include reliance on wages for income,
lack of control over their work conditions, and vulnerability to economic
fluctuations. They often experience exploitation and economic insecurity
within capitalist systems.

Slide 8: Class Consciousness

 Class consciousness refers to the awareness among members of the working

class of their shared interests and their collective position within the social
hierarchy. It involves recognizing the inherent inequalities and exploitation
within capitalist societies.
 According to Marx, class consciousness is essential for social change, as it
enables the working class to recognize their exploitation and mobilize for
collective action to challenge the capitalist system.
 Marx also introduced the concept of false consciousness, which suggests that
the ruling class may manipulate the consciousness of the proletariat to
 maintain their power and privilege. False consciousness involves the
acceptance of ideologies that justify and perpetuate existing social
inequalities, obscuring the true nature of exploitation.

Slide 9: Class Struggle Today

 Contemporary examples of class struggle encompass various forms of

resistance and conflict against economic inequalities and social injustices. This
may include labor strikes, protests against corporate greed, and movements
advocating for fair wages and working conditions.
 Globalization has transformed the dynamics of class struggle by reshaping the
global economy and intensifying competition for resources and jobs.
Outsourcing, automation, and deregulation have contributed to job insecurity
and widening income disparities.
 Class struggle today also intersects with other social issues, such as
environmental degradation, racial injustice, and gender inequality. Movements
like the Fight for $15, Black Lives Matter, and #MeToo highlight the
interconnectedness of class with race, gender, and other social identities.

Slide 10: Intersectionality

 Intersectionality is a theoretical framework that emphasizes the

interconnected nature of social identities, such as race, gender, class, sexuality,
and disability. It recognizes that individuals experience multiple forms of
oppression and privilege simultaneously, shaped by intersecting social
structures and power dynamics.
 Class intersects with other axes of identity to produce complex and
overlapping systems of privilege and disadvantage. For example, race and
class intersect to create disparities in wealth, employment, and access to
resources, with marginalized racial groups facing disproportionate economic
hardships.
 Understanding intersectionality is crucial for analyzing and addressing class
struggles in a comprehensive manner, as it highlights the interplay between
different forms of oppression and the need for inclusive and intersectional
approaches to social justice advocacy and policy-making.