2: social class identities

Question 1

BIG 4- validity (true insight)

Answer 1

An indication of how sound your research is. Validity in data collection means that your findings truly represent the phenomenon you are claiming to measure. Controlling all possible factors that threaten the research’s validity is a primary responsibility of every good researcher.

Question 2

BIG 4- reliability (replicable)

Answer 2

The extent to which results are consistent over time is referred to as reliability and if the results of a study can be reproduced under a similar methodology, then the research instrument is considered to be reliable.

Question 3

BIG 4- representativeness (characteristics)

Answer 3

A representative sample is a small quantity of something that accurately reflects the larger entity. In a classroom of 30 students, in which half the students are male and half are female, a representative sample might include six students: three males and three females.

Question 4

BIG 4- Generalisability (wider claims)

Answer 4

Generalisability describes the extent to which research findings can be applied to settings other than that in which they were originally tested.

Question 5

Ethics

Answer 5

Moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity. In sociological research ethics are governed by the British Sociological Association (BSA) and cover issues such as confidentiality, protection from harm and informed consent.

Question 6

Operationalise

Answer 6

The process of defining a concept so that it is measurable. The
researcher takes a ‘fuzzy’ concept and makes it clearly distinguishable or
measurable

Question 7

Rapport (from qualitative data)

Answer 7

Rapport is the ability to relate to others in a way that creates a level of trust and understanding

Question 8

Verstehen (from qualitative data)

Answer 8

Empathic understanding of human behaviour. A goal of interpretivist research so that they truly understand the behaviour from the point of view of the person being researched.

Question 9

Reflexivity

Answer 9

An awareness that values will always affect research findings and goals of the sociologist then to ‘reflect’ on how their values have affected findings.

Could be through respondent validation. Have benifit of improving validity

Question 10

stratification

Answer 10

The division of society into heirachy ordered layers or strata with the most privileged at the top and least favoured at the bottom.

The current system of stratification in our capitalist society based on CLASS.

Question 11

the registrar generals scale

Answer 11

descriptive approach to measuring social class.

used from 1911-1990s based on occupational skill

Question 12

the NS SEC

Answer 12

national statistics socio-economic classification, descriptive approach based on occupations according to their similarity of qualfications, training, skills and experience

Question 13

objective definitions of class

Answer 13

people placed in a social class by using a scale or measurement device (e.g. NS-SEC classification)

Question 14

subjective definitions of class

Answer 14

where people place themselve &how they define themselves.

Question 15

stratification

Answer 15

the division of a society into heirachy ordered layers- or strata with the most priveleged at the top and least favoured at the bottom.

the system of stratification currently existing in a capitalist society is based on CLASS

Question 16

the registrar generals scale

Answer 16

descriptive approach to measuring social class, used from 1911-1990s

based on occupational skill.

Question 17

the HS SEC

Answer 17

National statistics socio-economic classification, descriptive approach based on occupations according to their similarity of qualifications, training, skills and experience.

used from 1997

Question 18

objective definitions of class

Answer 18

people paced in a social class by using a scale by using a scale or measurement device (e.g. NS-SEC classification)

Question 19

subjective definitions of class

Answer 19

where people place themselves & how they define themselves

Question 20

ascribed status

Answer 20

position born into e.g. member of the royal family

Question 21

achieved status

Answer 21

position a person has worked to get e.g. teacher

Question 22

traditional working class

Answer 22

dominant for most of the 20th courtyard still influential in some parts of the uk today

Question 23

new working class

Answer 23

seen to be replacing the traditional working class as new types of jobs replace old manual ones.

Question 24

the under class

Answer 24

those at the bottom of the socioeconomic hierarchy who have low education, low income, and low status jobs.

Question 25

middle class

Answer 25

individuals and households who typically fall between the working class and the upper class within a socio-economic hierarchy.

Question 26

traditional upper class

Answer 26

a group of individuals who occupy the highest place and status in society

Question 27

super rich

Answer 27

those who are upper class but do not behave like a traditional upper class (giddens)

Question 28

jet set pop aristocracy

Answer 28

earned money through sport, media & entertainment. e.g. the furys, molly mae (giddins)

Question 29

entrepreneurial rich

Answer 29

have earned money through business enterprise

Question 30

immediate gratification

Answer 30

associated with traditional working class-
live for the moment attitude where individuals are willing to sacrifice anything for a better life

Question 31

deferred gratification

Answer 31

when individuals are willing to sacrifice now for benefits in the future. e.g. working hard in education in order to be more socially mobile.

Question 32

instrumental attitudes

Answer 32

work is a means to an end- a way of gaining money

Question 33

meritocratic

Answer 33

a fair society that gives people opportunities based on their ability.

Question 34

social mobility

Answer 34

the possibility to change social groups

Question 35

popular culture

Answer 35

the set of practices, beliefs, and objects that embody the most broadly shared meanings of a social system

Question 36

capitalism

Answer 36

society based on a minority ruling class owning the means of production

Question 37

crisis of masculinity

Answer 37

the shift in our societal structure that has changed what it means to be masculine. Due to a shift in gender norms and power structures, women now have more independence and professional status and no longer need to fulfill traditional roles

Question 38

child centeredness

Answer 38

keeping the child in focus when making decisions about their lives and working in partnership with them and their families.

Question 39

social capital

Answer 39

networking and socialising with others in a similar economic position to advantage them.

e.g. can secure work experience placements or school places

Question 40

economic capital

Answer 40

the amount of money/ material goods that a person or group possesses.
e.g. can pay for extra curricular activities or trips

Question 41

yummy mummy

Answer 41

an upper class mother, stay at home mother from the top 10% of society

often attractive and well put together

Question 42

conspicuous consumption

Answer 42

the purchase of goods or services for the specific purpose of displaying one’s wealth. Conspicuous consumption is a means to show one’s social status, especially when publicly displayed goods and services are too expensive for other members of a person’s class.

Question 43

old boy network

Answer 43

(scott) network of contacts used to further each others careers and influence. networks formed with people sharing similar cultural characteristics

Question 44

social closure

Answer 44

(mackintosh & mooney) the upper class practice this

preventing outsiders from joining in the lifestyle and and culture of that class e.g. invite only events and inter-marriage

Question 45

high culture

Answer 45

cultured, a person needed to be associated with high social status, wealth, intellect, power, and prestige. High Culture is the subset of experiences that defines those in the highest class of society.

Question 46

theoretical approach

Answer 46

sociologist have different ideas about which classes exist & why

e.g. marxists suggests there are only 2 social class groups
1. those who own the means of production
2. those who need to sell their labour power

Question 47

descriprive approach

Answer 47

ranking ppl into a heirachy based on a number of social indercators.
e.g. the registrar generals scale

Question 48

what are the 4 socialisations into class identities

Answer 48

1. family (primary)
2. peers
3. education
4. media

Question 49

hidden curricculum

Answer 49

to create and reinforce middle class identity which rewards middle class values

Question 50

SCOTT

upper class

sociologist

Answer 50

OLD BOY NETWORK

Believes that our social identity is shaped by the judgements made of the job we have.

E.g. we would feel self conscious around those with better jobs, worried of what they may think.

he suggests the ‘old boy network’ is made up of people who share the same cultural assets. They use long term friendships and networking to further their careers. It suggests they maintain an integrated elite

suggests social closure through encouragement of children marrying those of the same class and immersion of children into a culture of privilege.

Question 51

MACINTOSH AND MOONEY

upper class

sociologist

Answer 51

SOCIAL CLOSURE

the upper class operate ‘social closure’: their education, leisure time and daily lives are separated from the rest of the population.

Question 52

KENWAY

upper class

sociologist

Answer 52

found that even that private school girls maintained their high levels of self esteem by devaluing the status and achievements of state-educated young people.

Question 53

KING AND RAYNOR (family)

middle class

sociologist

Answer 53

Suggest that parents socialise middle class identities by reinforcing attitudes and values about the importance of educational success through: role models, sanctions and imitation.

Child centeredness is a distinctive feature of middle class families

Question 54

BOURDIEU (education)

middle class

sociologist

Answer 54

Suggests that school helps to socialise people into middle class identities through use of: role models, imitation, rewards and sanctions.

Middle classes have values, knowledge, leisure interests, levels of language and skills at home that are similar to how school is set up. This serves as an advantage in the education system. = ‘CULTURAL CAPITAL’

Question 55

GOODWIN (peer group)

middle class

sociologist

Answer 55

Suggests that many middle class mothers define their identities by **peer approval **

Question 56

SAUNDERS (media)

middle class

sociologist

Answer 56

Study on consumption (buying patterns) suggests that those who satisfy their needs through ownership of varied goods are influenced heavily by advertisement and media

The media targets the middle class as they are the group with the highest disposable income.

Question 57

WRIGHT (work place)

middle class

sociology

Answer 57

Middle class occupy a **contradictory class position **
Both exploited by upper class
They are in this position due to the fact due to they often hold **managerial or supertivory roles. **

3 different types of resources needing to be controlled:
* Investment
* Means of production
* Labour power

Question 58

WILLIS (family/workplace)

working class

sociologist

Answer 58

studied 12 working class boys in a midlands secondary school to study ‘learning labor’
* argued that these ‘lads’ formed distinctive** ‘counter-school sub-cultural grouping’ **
* lads tried to identify with an adult, non school world by drinking/smoking/swearing
* took part in deviant behavior, “having a laff” became their objective of the day.
* lads saw manual work as superior to education and displayed strong masculinity
* influenced by home backgrounds such as fathers where manual labor was the norm.

Question 59

MAC AN GHAIL

working class

sociologist

Answer 59

Carried out an ethnographic study within a working class, studying a range of subcultures within schools and noted boys (macho lads) who followed their fathers into tractional working class, heavy, physical, manual labor jobs.

DO NOT have the academic qualifications needed in order to move into new working class job roles.

Crisis masculinity

Question 60

BOWLES AND GINTIS (education)

working class

sociologist

Answer 60

Argue that educations function is to maintain, legitimise and reproduce class inequalities in wealth and power.

Done by:
Transmitting ruling class values disguised as common values in the hidden curriculum.
* Education is designed by and for the ruling class and **encourages children from working class backgrounds to be obedient and passive workers in the future **
* Teaching next gen workers to except exploitation and conformity to a ruling class ideology

Question 61

BOURDIEU

working class

sociologist

Answer 61

suggests that school helps to socialise people into middle class identities (through use of rolemodels, imitation, rewards & sanctions)

• serves to advantage their children in education system (cultural capital)
• education system could be to reinforce a middle class identity that has already been constructed by the family and other agents of socialisation , middle class parents being able to give their parents an advantage educationally by having social & economic capital

Question 62

MERTENS AND D’HAENENS (media)

media

sociologist

Answer 62

Studied the digital divide in brussels and found a clear link between class and internet usage

Those from a lower social class use tech as entertainment while middle classes used them to boost their knowledge.

They claim that **social class was the biggest factor affecting digital inequality as opposed to issues based on gender or ethnicity. **

Question 63

MURRAY

underclass

sociologist

Answer 63

• Defines the underclass as poor people who live off mainstream society, without participating in it, they take jobs sporadically if at all.
• suggests they are dishonest, disrespectful and undeserving
• emergence of underclass was after people were left unemployed after the elimination of manufacturing jobs in the 1970s
• he blames illegitimacy on ‘incompetent’ mothers as it is skyrocketing
• there are higher levels of criminality amongst black males (police, institutional racism and racial profiling)

Question 64

volentary unemployment

Answer 64

large number of healthy males who choose not to work’

Question 65

JORDAN (evaluation)

underclass

sociologist

Answer 65

Underclass in the media are portrayed as:
Rough
Stupid
Chavvy
Rude
Use foul language
Under educated

HE DISAGREES WITH MURRAY

Argues that the underclass have the same values and attitudes as everyone else in society but dont have the opportunities.

Suggest They feel a sense of shame as they cannot provide for their families.
family/peers/ community are important to them

Question 66

PAKULSKI AND WATERS

postmodernism (has social class identity changed?)

sociologist

Answer 66

Suggest there has been a shift from production to consumption.

We are now defined by what we buy, not what we do (our occupation)

Question 67

OFFE

postmodernism (has social class identity changed?)

sociologist

Answer 67

Argues that in todays society,** fewer and fewer individuals share unifying experience of full time work**- the experience that used to shape the culture of social classes.

We are able to create our own identities regardless of occupation or social class.

Numbers of those employed in traditional manual labor have decreased rapidly and the ‘new’ working class is introduced.

Question 68

SKEGGS

postmodernism (has social class identity changed?)

sociologist

Answer 68

• found working class women had instrumental attitudes to work, jobs didn’t influence their identities
• new working class saw capitalism as effective in raising their living standards, have no sense of class injustice or political loyalty( marxists suggest)
• see society as meritocratic, believe all individuals have equal chance of success, can experience social mobility
• new working class believe in individualism, putting themselves and immediate family first rather than collective or community develop identities based around popular culture, conspicuous consumption & consumer culture
• new working class look to role models in media who had similar backgrounds but are successful, these role models usually advertise goods