1.1 Class identities

Question 1

what do most sociologists find it convenient to use as a measure of social class?

Answer 1

occupation

Question 2

through socialisation we learn to identify with whom?

Answer 2

members of our own social class

Question 3

through socialisation we also become class conscious, what does this mean?

Answer 3

we become aware of the differences separating us from other social classes

Question 4

which class share a strong sense of identity?

Answer 4

the upper class

Question 5

members of the upper class share culture and contacts making it hard for non members to do what?

Answer 5

be accepted

Question 6

it is difficult for other people to move into the upper class, what is the term for this?

Answer 6

social closure

Question 7

the upper class is characterised by a high level of social cohesion, what are the 4 ways this is achieved?

Answer 7

education
marriages
activities
shared values

Question 8

where are upper class children educated (social cohesion)?

Answer 8

upper class children educated in top public schools and universities e.g. eton, oxford.

Question 9

at these top schools what are upper class children socialised into? (social cohesion)

Answer 9

high levels of self confidence and feelings of superiority

Question 10

at top schools what do upper class children build up? give an example:

Answer 10

valuable social contacts which can help them get jobs

e.g. the old boy network

Question 11

as upper class children socialise, go to school with and engage in the same leisure activities, what do they eventually do?

Answer 11

inter marry and develop further connections between upper class families

Question 12

during socialisation upper class children are introduced to exclusive what?

Answer 12

social events

Question 13

give examples of some exclusive social events providing an upper class lifestyle:

Answer 13

hunting
shooting
tennis
sailing
horse racing

Question 14

what are some of the shared values the upper class are socialised into?

Answer 14

tradition
hierarchy
conservatism

Question 15

the middle class are often seen as the “….” workers?

Answer 15

non manual

Question 16

what sort of backgrounds do the middle class come from?

Answer 16

a diverse range of backgrounds
some from working class background

Question 17

why has there been a large growth in middle class jobs?

Answer 17

nhs, education and civil service sectors

office work and sales

Question 18

unlike the upper class what are the middle class open to?

Answer 18

outsiders

Question 19

the range of “middle class” jobs means there are a lot of differences in what?

Answer 19

pay

Question 20

due to the diversity of the middle class what is it less likely they will develop?

Answer 20

shared identity

Question 21

what did Roberts argue the middle class are socialised into?

Answer 21

some shared values

Question 22

what are some of the shared values of the middle class that Roberts talked about?

Answer 22

education
meritocracy
home ownership
leisure pursuits

Question 23

(Roberts) what do the middle class use to encourage educational achievement among children?

Answer 23

cultural capital

Question 24

what is cultural capital?

Answer 24

what you know

the knowledge you have

Question 25

(Roberts) the middle class believe in meritocracy, what does this mean?

Answer 25

high status can be achieved through effort and ability

Question 26

(Roberts) middle class are more likely than other social groups to defer gratification, what does this mean?

Answer 26

put off rewards now in pursuit of education and training

Question 27

the working class are often referred to as “…..” workers?

Answer 27

manual

Question 28

the working class gain a sense of community through what?

Answer 28

manual industrial work in heavy dangerous industries

Question 29

traditional manual workers identified strongly with each other, what was this partly due to?

Answer 29

the dangerous conditions

working together to improve trade unions, wages and conditions

Question 30

traditional manual workers had a strong what?

Answer 30

political identity
class identity

Question 31

traditional manual workers often meet outside work, where?

Answer 31

pubs

working men’s clubs

Question 32

why do the traditional working class have a strong sense of class identity?

Answer 32

lived in close knit communities

Question 33

what are some traditional working class industries?

Answer 33

steel
mining
farmers
ship builders
factory workers

Question 34

why is the traditional working class declining?

Answer 34

industries are in decline

Question 35

in recent years what has emerged (wc)?

Answer 35

the new working class

Question 36

do the new working class have a strong or weak class identity?

Answer 36

weak

Question 37

what do the new working class have no sense of?

Answer 37

class injustice or political loyalty

Question 38

the new working class believe in putting themselves and their families first, what is this?

Answer 38

individualism

Question 39

what is the new working classes identity constructed around?

Answer 39

consumption and leisure as opposed to work

consumer culture

Question 40

what are a lot of the new working classes jobs now?

Answer 40

service sector
no longer dangerous
non manual

Question 41

what is the underclass?

Answer 41

term used to describe a social group of long term unemployed, rely on benefits and are blamed for their situation

Question 42

what type of sociologists use the term the underclass?

Answer 42

new right

Question 43

how are the underclass portrayed in the media?

Answer 43

negatively

e.g. Jeremy kyle, benefits street

Question 44

how are the underclass often labelled?

Answer 44

chavs