Social class identity

SOCIAL CLASS IDENTITY

SOCIAL CLASS- is about status,how much money you have and your overall position in the hierarchy.Traditionally in the UK,there are 3 main social class groups (+1 newer group).WORKING CLASS; Most people in the UK used to be working class,but in the last 40/50 years many of them have become middle class.The working class in the UK is a shrinking group.They have the following key characteristics; MANUAL LABOUR- working class jobs tended to involve manual labour/unskilled labour in the shipbuilding/minding industries. TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLES- many families had traditional roles- e.g. male breadwinner and female housewife. STRONG COMMUNITIES-  the w/c communities had a strong sense of solidarity and togetherness.Outsides were distrusted. POLITICS- strong support for the Labour party and their trade unions. IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION- the w/c seek immediate gratification rather than delayed gratification. POOR QUALITY HOUSING- w/c housing located in cheaper and less desirable areas- few people own their houses- they live in council or social housing. CHANGES TO W/C CULTURE; DECLINE OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES- this has mostly moved abroad creating a crisis for working class males in particular. GROWTH OF THE SERVICE SECTOR- this has brought more non-manual employment opportunities such as call-centres/hospitality. INCREASING HOME OWNERSHIP- Mrs Thatcher gave people the 'right to buy' their council house- this created a new wave of home ownership amongst the working class.

MIDDLE CLASS; Traditionally the middle class was associated with people in professions,such as doctors/teachers/lawyers/dentists etc.These type of jobs indicated a high level of educational achievement,and an exclusive professional status which meant they required extensive professional training.Middle class culture is base on;  White collar/non-manual jobs in professional/managerial roles High levels of social mobility Deferred gratification- people put off getting money in the short term to study for degrees which will mean that they will earn more in the long term Home ownership Cultural capital- foreign holidays etc.

THE UPPER CLASS; This is a much smaller group than either of the other two- it is often seen as a 'closed group' meaning that those who belong to it are not keen to allowing outsiders a view of their lifestyle.There are two sub-groups;TRADITIONAL UPPER CLASS- This is made up of members of the aristocracy who have been born into their wealth and titles.These are rich families who own vast estates and make most of their money from owning land.They are often associated with intermarriage and marry people from similar backgrounds.They tend to value tradition,hierarchy and order,and want to keep the national heritage of the country special.THE SUPER RICH- This is made up of people who have achieved their wealth through hard work and merit.They tend to be associated with a glamorous lifestyle,and value material consumer goods,brand names and labels.People in this group tend to have acquired their wealth through business,sport,music or films etc. and many of the new members are linked to industries like steel and oil.

LINKS TO THE AGENTS OF SOCIALISATION

FAMILY; REAY- Middle class mother are far more able to influence how well their child does in primary school than working class mothers.They read more with them,play educational games,buy them educational toys and teach them to value education.Many working class mothers are unable to do the same,which causes an achievement gap further down the line.CATER & COLEMAN- Studied teenage pregnancy and they found that children from working class are 10 times more likely to have a teenage pregnancy than middle class families.Many of the girls' mothers had been teenage mothers themselves and the girls saw motherhood as a chance to establish a new identity and have a fresh start.EDUCATION; POWER- His research found that the type of school you go to influences your chances of attending university.Students from public and private schools have the best chance of at tenting the top universities.Students from comprehensive schools have the least chance.Power found that the top public schools teach children that university is an expected life path,whereas in comprehensive schools children are not taught that university is a 'realistic' life choice for them.BOURDIEU- He says that for middle class students,going to university is like being a 'fish in water' compared to the working class students for whom university is an isolating and daunting prospect.MEDIA; MEDHURST- Conducted research into how the m/c view the w/c.He asked m/c their opinions on w/c culture.They all believed that 'The Royle Family' is an accurate portrayal of working class culture in the UK.This shows the power of the media to create perceptions of social class.BRUNSDON- New media technology is also linked to social class.He talks about how middle class people originally saw satellite dishes as being tasteless and symbols of working class.Gradually though,they became part of popular culture and are now something of m/c status symbol.PEER GROUP;MAC AN GHAIL- There are different types of masculinity and they are clearly defined by social class.His research in a school found that different peer groups were linked clearly to social class.The 'macho lads' were working class and had a hegemonic masculinity.The 'real Englishmen' were middle class and had a completely different masculinity to the 'lads'BRUNSDON- See media.

SOCIAL CLASS IDENTITY