Final answer:
A social-conflict theorist studying the labor market looks for inequalities and explores how economic systems, predominantly capitalist, reinforce wealth and power divides between the bourgeoisie and proletariat, contributing to societal stratification and potential conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Social-Conflict Theories in Labor Markets
A social-conflict theorist studying the labor market is primarily focused on identifying and understanding the inequalities that exist within it. They are concerned with issues such as how the labor market reflects systemic inequalities and perpetuates class conflict, especially between the owning class, or bourgeoisie, and the working class, or proletariat. These theorists scrutinize the power dynamics and economic structures that enable business owners and capitalists to accumulate wealth at the expense of workers, often resulting in unsustainable income disparities and exploitative working conditions.
Moreover, conflict theorists are interested in how these stratifications influence societal functions and relationships, advocating that the economic system, particularly in capitalist societies, reproduces economic inequality. Their analysis extends to examining how wealth and power are distributed and the societal tensions that result from these divisions.
Additionally, conflict theorists view social stratification as a factor that exacerbates social discord and can lead to the formation of social movements aimed at addressing and redressing these inequalities. The realization that a small segment of society controls a disproportionate share of wealth leading to societal unrest is central to conflict theory.