Sociology / Unit 1 Soc 0020 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Bourgeoisie and Proletariat
Captions available
The idea
Marx named two classes: the bourgeoisie, who own the means of production, and the proletariat, who own only their labor and must sell it.
In practice
A mill's owner and the people working its looms sit on opposite sides of that line, whatever either earns.
Where people slip
The division is ownership, not income — a well-paid employee is still proletarian in Marx's sense.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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