Social Class Identities BLUE Flashcards
Working- Willis ‘learning to labour’
working class boys in the midlands referred to as lads developed an anti/counter school sub culture characterised by the opposition to norms and values throughout the school. Felt superior to conformist pupils (ear oles). Showed little interest in academic work and amused themselves via deviant behaviour ‘having a laff’ became main object of school day. Tried to identify with with adult non school world by smoking drinking and being sexist and racist. Behaviour similar to shop fooor of local factories which helped boredom and monotony. Also seemed to follow their fathers into manual labour jobs and hegemonic masculinity
Working- Mac an ghail
Ethnographic ‘the making of men’ found working class boys generally followed fathers into manual labour jobs. in the midlands of ‘macho lads’ subculture whose ability to perform manual work shaped their identity. Deindustrialisation led to a crisis of masculinity, as there was a shift to office part time roles which traditional suited the lifestyles of women. Had option of become upwardly mobile with new white collar jobs, face low paid work or long term unemployment. But They lacked academic qualifications as followed dads into manual labour jobs
Working- mertens and d’haenens
The digital divide between classes in Brussels. Link between class and internet usage (lower=81% users, upper=94%) lower used technology as a form of entertainment where upper used as a source of information. 79% of lower owned a games console as opposed to 65%. Class biggest indicator affecting digital inequality
Post- Skeggs
Working class women has instrumental attitudes as jobs no longer define them and are a means to an end. Saw capitalism as effective in rising living standards so no sense of injustice felt. See society as meritocratic and social mobility.believe in individualism as put themselves first over community. Develop identities around popular culture, consumer culture and conspicuous consumption. They see society as meritocratic and everyone can have social mobility. Look to successful working class role models
Post- pakulski and waters
There has been a shift from production to consumption in defining identities (defined by what we buy not what we do)-social class dead, have pick and mix due to consumerism due to supermarket of style, status symbols available to everyone (outlet stores, discounts..), delivery. ‘Status conventionalise gain status through products
Post-Offe
Argues fewer experience a unifying experience of full time work as people no longer have a job for life and they can create their own identity regardless of what job they have. Contemporary uk gives choices to everyone like going to uni, travelling, starting a business and owning a home which has broken down class barriers. Decline in manual work mean W.c. Make up under half of workforce and there is a new working class identity
What is Murray’s view on the underclass
Claims the underclass are lazy, workshy, immoral, criminal and depend on benefits. Suggests it’s their own fault as they have a culture based on idleness failure and criminality
What does Jordan say about the underclass
They have the same values and attitudes as everyone else and would love work if they had the chance. Says they feel a sense of shame that they can’t provide for their families . Surveys show unemployment being shame, guilt, low self esteem and poor mental and physical health so may want to work to gain respect
Working- Bowles and gintis
Education socialises people into a working class identity via the hidden curriculum. Educations function is to maintain, legitimise and reproduce class inequalities. Does this by transmitting ruling class values disguised as common values. by encouraging them to be obedient and passive workers and to accept exploitation, alienation. Correspondence theory:relationship between relationship in classroom and in the workplace as based on hierarchy , punctuality and discourage critical awareness, motivated by external rewards
middle- Wright- neo Marxist
Argues middle class occupy a contradictory class position as they are exploited and exploit as they hold managerial roles but can still be fired.things that are controlled are investment, means of production and labour power which middle classes have partial control over
middle- Goodwin
Yummy mummies define their identities by peer approval on maternal capabilities, glamour and styles of experiences of children e.g. buggies, designer clothes, birthday parties rather than passive or traditional types of hegemonic females
Middle- Saunders
Those who satisfy their needs though ownership of goods are heavily influenced by the media which target middle as have disposable income. CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION buying items to portray a wealthy middle class indentity
Middle- Bourdieu
education system recognises and rewards certain types of cultural background/ teachers privalage certain types of knowledge which lead to the academic success of children from middle class (correlation between cultural capital and educational sucesss. Cultural capital measured by: cultural participation, reading habits and participation in extra curricular activities. Parents need the time, money and access to achieve this which only the middle and upper class have. The hidden curriculum rewards middle class values e.g. having good grammar, cultural experiences to talk about in class, time management. School socialises people in middle class using role models, rewards, sanctions and being similar to home. the capitals: cultural being their way of life, economic being how much money and material goods they have and social being the level of networking with those in a similar economic position
Middle- King and Raynor
parents socialise middle class identities by reinforcing the importance of educational success through the use of role models, positive and negative sanctions and imitation. Child centeredness (children are at the focus of all family decisions) is a distinctive feature of the middle class
Upper class-Scott
Old boys network and social closure: upper class people build contacts with people of the same cultural assets at private school which help them network outside of school and get jobs later on. Social closure is the concept that the upper class is closed off from any social mobility and it is something you have to be born into (or all interconnect by marriage to concentrate wealth)
