Chapter 7a: Understanding Social Inequalities - Social Class
Introduction
Social Class: Sociologists use this term to describe social stratification in modern industrial societies.
Consensus and Disagreement: Sociologists agree that social class members share similar economic positions (income, wealth, occupation, education) but disagree on classification methods.
Associated Inequalities: Economic status relates to inequalities in status and power, and differences in attitudes and culture.
What is Social Class?
Karl Marx's View: Society is divided into two classes:
Ruling Class (Bourgeoisie): Owns means of production and employs others.
Subject Class (Proletariat): Employed by the ruling class.
Modern Views:
Existence of a middle class between the wealthy upper class and the working class.
Middle class: Non-manual workers relying on education and mental skills.
Working class: Manual workers relying on physical skills.
Classification Systems
Hope-Goldthorpe Classification:
Service Class:
Higher professionals, high-grade administrators, managers of large companies
Lower professionals, higher-grade technicians, small business managers
Intermediate Class:
3. Routine non-manual workers
4. Small proprietors and self-employed artisans
5. Lower-grade technicians
Working Class:
6. Skilled manual workers
7. Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers
Underclass: Poorest members of society, often dependent on state benefits.
National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NS-SEC):
Used in official statistics like the Census.
Classifications based on occupation, indicating income, education, and lifestyle.
Examples include higher managerial and professional roles, intermediate roles, and long-term unemployed.
Occupation and Social Class
Occupation as a Guide: Offers insight into income, education, and lifestyle, linking to social class.
Limitations: Some wealthy individuals may not fit occupational class, e.g., Prince Harry.
Diverse Occupations in Classes: Potential disparity in income and roles within a single occupational class.
Subjective Social Class
Objective vs. Subjective Definitions:
Objective: Based on agreed criteria.
Subjective: Based on personal identification.
Research Findings:
Many identify as working class despite objective middle-class occupation.
Some reluctant to identify with any social class, indicating a muted class identity.
Conclusion
Social Class is a complex structure influenced by economic, occupational, and cultural factors.
Classification systems like Hope-Goldthorpe and NS-SEC provide frameworks but have limitations, especially in accounting for subjective class identity.