C1 SA - Culture & Identity - Topic 8, Social Class Identity - The Working Class

Question 1

STUDY - Willis (1977) - 7 features of working class culture

Answer 1

Manual based jobs and unskilled labour
Traditional gender roles within the family
Boys encouraged to follow in male role model footsteps
Communities united and supported each other
Politically, labour party, protected their rights as workers
Seen to live in the moment, less likely to save money for the future
Housing in less desirable areas, more likely to rent

Question 2

5 key changes within working class over last 20 years

Answer 2

Lives more private, less community based
Employment is office based
Shared responsibilities in the home
More money, affluence
Rise in number of home owners

Question 3

STUDY - Hutton (1995) - Decline of working class identity

Answer 3

Decline in trade union memberships, manual work, dispersal of communities

Question 4

STUDY - Skeggs (1997) - working class respectability

Answer 4

Working class felt judged by teachers, doctors therefore tried to show they were respectable through the way they dressed and leisure

Question 5

STUDY - Reay (1998) - difference between working class and middle class mothers

Answer 5

Middle class mothers able to influence children's primary schooling.
Working class mothers have to balance employment, childcare and housework, may lack an understanding of the childcare system therefore may lack confidence
Some working class mothers may have had bad experiences in school.

Question 6

STUDY - Bourdieu (1977) - working class children and cultural deficit

Answer 6

Education system biased towards middle class culture. Middle class children start school with culture capital whereas working class children don't. Working class children alienated by middle class children and therefore experience conflict.
Function of education is cultural reproduction.

Question 7

STUDY - Skeggs (2004, 2007) - representation of working class in media

Answer 7

TV devalues working class compared to middle class, uphold desirable characteristics of middle class compared to undesirable working class traits.

Question 8

STUDY - Medhurst (1999) - middle class children on working class children

Answer 8

Middle class children watching ‘The Royle family’ believe its an accurate representation of working class life.

Question 9

PM views - blurring of boundaries

Answer 9

Social classes in the UK are becoming fragmented

Question 10

PM views - STUDY - Offe (1985)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

PM views - STUDY - Lyon (1994)

Answer 11

Individuals can pick and mix from a variety of styles

Question 12

PM views - STUDY - Clarke and Saunders

Answer 12

People make statements about themselves through the way they dress, leisure activities and consumption.

Question 13

PM views - Hybrid identities

Answer 13

More choice

Question 14

Criticism of PM views

Answer 14

PM ideas are over exaggerated.
Social class remains the most significant indicators of outcomes; health education and life expectancy.
Evidence suggesting difference in culture and lifestyle between people from different social backgrounds