Sociology - Class Identity

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Traditional Working Class Identity
An individual's 'work' plays an important part in defining their identity. Traditional manual work, such as mining and factory work, created a strong sense of one's social class.
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The 'New' Working Class Identity
The decline in manual work has led to the formulation of a new working-class identity. Work is a means to an end. They believe in individualism.
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Reasons for this 'New' Working Class
Feminisation of the economy and decline in traditional working class industries - Deindustrialisation. There was an expansion of education - legal requirement to stay in education until 18. Change in political ideology in the 1980s.
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Saunders (1990)
How we get our money is now less important than how we spend it. Home and family are now seen as more important for the working class, which has led to working class individuals loosening their ties with the community.
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Murray (1990)
Murray identified a class below the working class, which he called the 'underclass'. This group are characterised by a dependency on state benefits.
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Murray (1990)
Murray sees the cause of this being a) high unemployment and b) high single-parenthood. This underclass are being socialised by their parents into a culture of idleness, failure and criminality.
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Savage (1995)
Four types of middle class identity. Professionals, Managers, Self employed owners of small businesses (petit bourgeoisie), white collar workers.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

The decline in manual work has led to the formulation of a new working-class identity. Work is a means to an end. They believe in individualism.

Back

The 'New' Working Class Identity

Card 3

Front

Feminisation of the economy and decline in traditional working class industries - Deindustrialisation. There was an expansion of education - legal requirement to stay in education until 18. Change in political ideology in the 1980s.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

How we get our money is now less important than how we spend it. Home and family are now seen as more important for the working class, which has led to working class individuals loosening their ties with the community.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Murray identified a class below the working class, which he called the 'underclass'. This group are characterised by a dependency on state benefits.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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