Class and Identity
- Created by: Rachellowe
- Created on: 27-05-18 14:39
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- Class and Identity
- Defining class
- Many societies are stratified by social class - divided into layers
- Marx divided society into just two classes
- The bourgeoisie - the bosses
- The proletariat - workers
- Sociologists refer to four main classes: the upper class, middle class, working class and underclass
- Class culture
- Sugarman - the middle classes are socialised to accept deffered gratification whereas the working class seek immediate gratification
- Murray - certain values keep people poor
- I.e. the acceptance of state benefits
- Middle class children form pro-school subcultures
- The working class form anti-school subcultures
- Negative stereotypes
- Skegg and Loveday - you need some form of social or economic capital before you can present yourself as someone with social value
- They feel like they are being held responsible for being born into a system with structural inequalities
- They identified strongly with values like loyalty and caring for others
- Struggle is a key part of the performance of working class identity
- Cultural Capital
- Bourdieu - the middle class maintain their position by passing on cultural capital
- You need social capital to back up your cultural capital
- The working class dont develop cultural capital
- Middle class families try to develop cultural capital in their children to improve their own position in society
- Declining influence
- Postmodernists - identity is now longer based on how you earn your money but instead on how you spend it
- Leisure activities are no longer class based
- Lifestyles are now based more on individual choice than class background
- Working class identities are now are now more fragmented because of the loss of tradition working class indutries
- Defining class
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