Eric Olin Wright

American sociologist

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July 15, 2026

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Eric Olin Wright was an American sociologist known for his work on social stratification and class analysis. He developed a 12-class scheme of occupational stratification, which considered ownership, supervisory control, and specialized knowledge. Wright's research, often from a Marxist perspective, aimed to explain income inequality by examining the nuanced differences between social groups.1

His book Classes (1985) challenged individualistic approaches to stratification and drew on the characteristics of these 12 classes to analyze income disparities. Wright's contributions are significant in understanding the complexities of social class in contemporary society.1

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sociology
Social stratification
For example, Eric Olin Wright, in Classes (1985), introduced a 12-class scheme of occupational stratification based on ownership, supervisory control of work, and monopolistic knowledge. Wright’s book, an attack on the individualistic bias of attainment theory written from a Marxist perspective, drew on the traits of these…
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For example, Eric Olin Wright, in Classes (1985), introduced a 12-class scheme of occupational stratification based on ownership, supervisory control of work, and monopolistic knowledge. Wright’s book, an attack on the individualistic bias of attainment theory written from a Marxist perspective, drew on the traits of these…
Read More