Marx is regarded as one of the most profound
sociological thinkers; however, his social and economic
analyses have also inspired heated debates
among generations of social scientists. Central to
his view was the belief that society should not just
be studied but should also be changed, because the
status quo (the existing state of society) involved
the oppression of most of the population by a small
group of wealthy people. Th ose who believe that
sociology should be value free are uncomfortable
with Marx’s advocacy of what some perceive to be
radical social change. Scholars who examine society
through the lens of race, gender, and class believe
his analysis places too much emphasis on class relations,
oft en to the exclusion of issues regarding race/
ethnicity and gender