social class

Question 1

social class

Answer 1

a social group of similar economic position/situation
e.g. similar occupation level, similar income

Question 2

stratified diffusion

Answer 2

changes in norms and values tend to start among the wealthier in society and then others start to behave in the same way (middle class values will diffuse down to w/c and they become the petite bourgeoisie)

Question 3

individual identity

Answer 3

occupation is often the central part of how they see themselves

Question 4

social identity

Answer 4

how other people define them

Question 5

give 2 examples of how a persons job may affect their individual and social identity

Answer 5

• if you have a job of high social status (e.g. doctor or lawyer) then they will be respected and trusted by society, making them see themselves as higher in intellect (have high qualifications)
• if a job pays less a person will be seen more negatively and feel worse themselves because they live in poor housing with a poor diet and health. however those who earn more can access a better diet and medical care making them feel happy and healthier and appearing this way to others too

Question 6

life chances

Answer 6

the chances of obtaining things considered desirable and avoiding things defined as undesirable in society

Question 7

subjective dimension to someone’s social class

Answer 7

someones personal perception of the social class they think they belong to (their class identity)
- includes things like: their attitudes, beliefs, music listened to, newspapers they read, their taste in food

Question 8

briefly explain marxist Bourdieu’s theory of a habitus

Answer 8

the subjective dimensions which are the cultural framework and set of ideas possessed by a social class, to which they are socialised.
The dominant class has the power to impose its own views on what counts as good taste to the rest of society, due to their power in society making them a role model to those below them

Question 9

give 3 examples of the habitus of the dominant social class in society (what is considered as good taste?)

Answer 9

• owning large amounts of land
• specific clothing brands (designer)
• cars you own (expensive cars)

Question 10

upper class

Answer 10

a small class, refers to those who are the main owners of society’s wealth

Question 11

briefly explain the 3 main groups part of the upper class

Answer 11

• traditional upper class: culture and identity associated with the ‘old rich’ which has a strong sense of identity created by close family networks established through intermarriage (consists of royalty and the traditional ‘old rich’ landowning aristocracy, and titled ranks of dukes/duchesses and lords/ladies and so on)
• the corporate rich of the business world (the nouveau rich)
• stars of entertainment and media: who have amassed huge wealth
• stars of media and the nouveau rich have acquired their wealth in their own lifetimes rather than through inheritance. They both may attempt to achieve acceptance by the traditional upper class by attempting to copy their lifestyles. However finding their acceptance is difficult due to the ‘old rich’ regarding the nouveau rich as inferior

Question 12

middle class

Answer 12

large class, refers to those in non-manual work

Question 13

how has the middle class changed in recent years ?
(include Savage and Roberts ideas)

Answer 13

they have expanded in recent years, covers a wide range of occupations and educational qualifications and incomes.

Savage (1995) and Roberts (2001) argue it’s now difficult to generalise about a shared middle class identity. they think the 3 general features to differentiate m/c from w/c are: a commitment to education, a sense of the individual and family self-interest, a concern with future orientation and deferred gratification

Question 14

what are the 5 groups associated with the middle class?

Answer 14

• the professionals: occupations such as lawyers and doctors
• managers: have traditional middle class identities (respectability)
• small business owners (petite bourgeoisie): have individualistic identities
• creative middle class: involved in media/advertising
• lower middle class: routine clerical workers

Question 15

working class

Answer 15

one of the largest social classes, refers to those in manual jobs

Question 16

briefly explain the 2 groups within the working class (include 3 examples of traits of these groups that make them different from eachother)

Answer 16

• traditional w/c: associated mainly with north england and scotland, found in traditional industries (e.g. mining, fishing). Commonly believe the man is the breadwinner so they could do manual work for a sense of masculinity, rely on a close-knit community and have immediate gratification
• new w/c: originally emerged in south england. believe work is about money rather than identity, home centred lifestyle (not as bothered about community), women working

Question 17

briefly explain new right theorists Murray (2004) and Mount (2004) idea of an underclass within the w/c

Answer 17

believe there’s another w/c identity called the urban underclass, held by those who exist on the margins of society and their dependency upon state benefits.
- their identity is based on being work-shy, anti-authority and immoral.
- this under class is found on run down council estates and in depressed inner cities.
- consists of those long term unemployed, single parents, drug addicts, criminals etc.

Question 18

briefly explain why Jordan and Charlesworth don’t agree with Murray and Mount’s idea of an under class within the w/c

Answer 18

jordan (1992) suggests those living in poverty share the same ideas about work and family as everyone else. Surveys suggest those unemployed have a negative self image or identity and low self esteem and guilt/shame for being unemployed. These aren’t feelings and effects people choose to have. People don’t choose to be unemployed, poor, or dependent on welfare benefits and instead it’s the fault of a global recession and government policies.

Charlesworth (2002) found in his study that those at the bottom end of the w/c are often misunderstood by other social classes due to experiencing negative self identity which leads to drinking, smoking and anti social behaviour

Question 19

briefly explain functionalists view on social class

Answer 19

• see class divisions as natural to social mobility.
• distinct class cultures create distinct class identities, as those in similar class positions are similar people with similar lifestyles
• class allows people to know their place in society (maintains social order) and encourages hard work as it is believed chances to change class are meritocratic for everyone

Question 20

briefly explain traditional marxists view on social class

Answer 20

• see class culture and identity as a tool of ideological domination (ideological state apparatus - Althusser), through the elite reproducing class inequality (schools and religions) and the proletariat having a false class consciousness and oppressed by bourgeoisie
• cultural reproduction: w/c are deprived of education and critical thought, and subjected to a stable diet of popular/low culture that serves to perpetuate their class position

Question 21

briefly explain feminists view on social class

Answer 21

• see class culture and identity being over exaggerated and as a result gender relations and identity are ignored
• marxist feminists: see the social hierarchy to mirror the gender hierarchy in society
• dual system feminists: look at patriarchy and capitalism creating inequality

Question 22

briefly explain new right view on social class

Answer 22

• Saunders (1990) suggested social class is irrelevant to peoples lives, with identity and equality now based on home ownership.
• new right thinkers argue if people work hard they can be any class they wish

Question 23

briefly explain neo-marxists view on social class

Answer 23

• interested in w/c subcultures which are oppositional to the dominant culture of ruling classes
• a class identity is created that enables development of true class consciousness which struggles against the ruling class hegemony

Question 24

briefly explain why there has been a decline of social class as a source of identity

Answer 24

• since WW2 many sociologists have argued traditional class identities have been eroded
• Zweig (1961) argued increased prosperity in the 1960’s has led to decrease in number of w/c and growth in a new affluent service based m/c
• Goldthorpe (1968) disagreed with Zweig, suggested instead that increased prosperity has led to a new w/c (underclass)
• Bradley (1996) explored the expansion of non-class identities, noting that many who could objectively classify as w/c reject this identity and try to adopt a consumer orientation towards the world associated with m/c

Question 25

briefly explain why postmodernists argue there has been a decline of social class as a source of identity

Answer 25

• they argue that class identity has fragmented into numerous separate identities. Young people in particular have more choice today in how they construct their identity
• suggest these identities have become much more fluid and changeable, people can non “pic n mix” any identities they want from a range of different lifestyles presented through the mass media
• Lash and Urray (1987) suggested identities are now less class based and more individualistic, class culture has been replaced by consumer culture.

Question 26

give 3 evaluation points on postmodernists argument that there has been a decline of social class as a source of identity

Answer 26

• many believe postmodern argument is over-exaggeration. Mashall’s (1998) survey reveals that a majority of people still think social class is a significant source of identity
• those who suggest identity is based on consumption and leisure activities neglect to highlight consumer choice is based on income and there are no free choices
• social class is still a major influence on someones life chances (e.g. their educational achievement and health)