1.1 Class identities Flashcards
what do most sociologists find it convenient to use as a measure of social class?
occupation
through socialisation we learn to identify with whom?
members of our own social class
through socialisation we also become class conscious, what does this mean?
we become aware of the differences separating us from other social classes
which class share a strong sense of identity?
the upper class
members of the upper class share culture and contacts making it hard for non members to do what?
be accepted
it is difficult for other people to move into the upper class, what is the term for this?
social closure
the upper class is characterised by a high level of social cohesion, what are the 4 ways this is achieved?
education
marriages
activities
shared values
where are upper class children educated (social cohesion)?
upper class children educated in top public schools and universities e.g. eton, oxford.
at these top schools what are upper class children socialised into? (social cohesion)
high levels of self confidence and feelings of superiority
at top schools what do upper class children build up? give an example:
valuable social contacts which can help them get jobs
e.g. the old boy network
as upper class children socialise, go to school with and engage in the same leisure activities, what do they eventually do?
inter marry and develop further connections between upper class families
during socialisation upper class children are introduced to exclusive what?
social events
give examples of some exclusive social events providing an upper class lifestyle:
hunting shooting tennis sailing horse racing
what are some of the shared values the upper class are socialised into?
tradition
hierarchy
conservatism
the middle class are often seen as the “….” workers?
non manual
what sort of backgrounds do the middle class come from?
a diverse range of backgrounds some from working class background
why has there been a large growth in middle class jobs?
nhs, education and civil service sectors
office work and sales
unlike the upper class what are the middle class open to?
outsiders
the range of “middle class” jobs means there are a lot of differences in what?
pay
due to the diversity of the middle class what is it less likely they will develop?
shared identity
what did Roberts argue the middle class are socialised into?
some shared values
what are some of the shared values of the middle class that Roberts talked about?
education
meritocracy
home ownership
leisure pursuits
(Roberts) what do the middle class use to encourage educational achievement among children?
cultural capital
what is cultural capital?
what you know
the knowledge you have
(Roberts) the middle class believe in meritocracy, what does this mean?
high status can be achieved through effort and ability
(Roberts) middle class are more likely than other social groups to defer gratification, what does this mean?
put off rewards now in pursuit of education and training
the working class are often referred to as “…..” workers?
manual
the working class gain a sense of community through what?
manual industrial work in heavy dangerous industries
traditional manual workers identified strongly with each other, what was this partly due to?
the dangerous conditions
working together to improve trade unions, wages and conditions
traditional manual workers had a strong what?
political identity class identity
traditional manual workers often meet outside work, where?
pubs
working men’s clubs
why do the traditional working class have a strong sense of class identity?
lived in close knit communities
what are some traditional working class industries?
steel mining farmers ship builders factory workers
why is the traditional working class declining?
industries are in decline
in recent years what has emerged (wc)?
the new working class
do the new working class have a strong or weak class identity?
weak
what do the new working class have no sense of?
class injustice or political loyalty
the new working class believe in putting themselves and their families first, what is this?
individualism
what is the new working classes identity constructed around?
consumption and leisure as opposed to work
consumer culture
what are a lot of the new working classes jobs now?
service sector
no longer dangerous
non manual
what is the underclass?
term used to describe a social group of long term unemployed, rely on benefits and are blamed for their situation
what type of sociologists use the term the underclass?
new right
how are the underclass portrayed in the media?
negatively
e.g. Jeremy kyle, benefits street
how are the underclass often labelled?
chavs
