Class Identity

Question 1

What is identity

Answer 1

How you see yourself 
How others define you 
Social class identity, gender identity, sexual identity, ethnic identity, national identity, age identity, disability identity

Question 2

Stratification

Answer 2

The division of society into hierarchy ordered layers or strata with most privileged at the bottom. Based on class

Question 3

Social class

Answer 3

System of stratification which places people in different positions in society.

Question 4

Classifying social class

Answer 4

Income, wealth, area lived in, educational qualifications, occupation, type of house, car, political party supported, speech, clothing, dialect, leisure activities

Question 5

Theoretical approach to social class

Answer 5

Marxism 
2 class system: bourgeoisie (ruling class)or proletariat (working class)
B have power to exploit P. B owns means of production, P do not.

Question 6

Descriptive approach to social class

Answer 6

Government way. Registrar generals scale, NSSEC, GBCS, BBC class calculator

Question 7

Parts of great British class survey

Answer 7

Elite, established middle class, technical middle class, new affluent workers, emergent service workers, traditional working class, precariat

Question 8

Elite

Answer 8

6% pop, age 57

Most wealthy and privileged, private school education, exclusive, privileged backgrounds

Question 9

Established middle class

Answer 9

25% pop, age 46

Second wealthiest, culturally diverse, socialise broadly, management or traditional professions

Question 10

Technical middle class

Answer 10

6% pop, age 52

Small prosperous group, socialise with similar people, suburban, work in research and science

Question 11

New affluent workers

Answer 11

15% pop, age 44

Middle wealth, sociable, cultural activities, youthful, no high culture, come from working class

Question 12

Emergent service workers

Answer 12

19% pop, age 34

Youngest, financially insecure, emerging culture, urban, socialise with broad range.

Question 13

Traditional working class

Answer 13

14% pop, age 66

Oldest, own their home, don’t enjoy emerging culture, lorry drivers, cleaners

Question 14

Precariat

Answer 14

15% pop, age 50

Poorest and deprived, socialise with similar people, old industrial areas

Question 15

Upper class characteristics

Answer 15

Materialistic, well spoken, posh, lineage, confidence, connections
Polo, horse racing, croquet, public schools
“Social closure” intermarriage

Question 16

Characteristics of middle class

Answer 16

Organisation, tasteful, rule-driven, aspirational

Brands, home decor, “shabby chic”

Question 17

Characteristics of working class

Answer 17

Community, craftsmanship, funny

Tattoos, manual labour, spend money on your exterior(not houses), football, gym

Question 18

New social class structure

Answer 18

Super rich (jet-set or entrepreneurial) 
New middle class
New working class 
Underclass

Question 19

Occupation effect on identity and view of others (upper class)

Answer 19

Occupation often used as conversation starter, this is for a reason, this is us making early judgements and dividing people into categories. Shows it’s key to someone’s identity. Awareness of occupation can make you affect view of how others higher treat you

Question 20

Peer group effect on identity and intervention (upper class)

Answer 20

‘Old boy network’ in public schools you establish friendships and create networks early on. Involved in events and dinners which provide contacts into important opportunities, help you start careers. Exclusive.

Question 21

Family traditions (upper class)

Answer 21

Strong political values- conservative

Intermarriage- marry within your social class (social closure) Strong network connections

Question 22

King and Raynor- middle class- family

Answer 22

Teaching value of deferred gratification- hard work pays off
Emphasise importance of educational success
Child centeredness: spend lots of money and time on children
Want to meet their demands
Link: influences identity as they prioritise children and ensuring they reach their potential & spend time on this

Question 23

Bourdieu- middle class- education

Answer 23

Hidden curriculum teaches and rewards middle class values that suits middle class cultural capital
Use models, imitation, rewards and sanctions
High cultural capital advantages: children educated at home through museums, theatre
High social capital: good links to get children into schools, favouring
Economic capital: paying for tutoring, afford lots of educational resources
Link: influences identity as helps them become high achievers and breeze through the education system

Question 24

Goodwin- middle class- peer group

Answer 24

Middle class value of deferred gratification leads to competition 
Yummy mummies: females striving for recognition through consuming foods. Cooking gear, furniture, home decor, maternal capabilities
Value defined by peer approval
Link: define identity and status on peer approval from consumer patterns & capabilities within the home

Question 25

Saunders- middle class- media

Answer 25

Conspicuous consumption is affected by advertisement and media Buying not for necessity but to showcase wealth: designer, jewellery, watches, Waitrose, extravagant parties, cars Shows disposable income Link: defines identity through what they own through disposable income and consumer patterns

Question 26

Wright- middle class- work place

Answer 26

Have some authority but not all authority Contradictory class position Exploited and exploit Managerial roles Link: influences identity as they have enough money but cannot revolt and help working class employees- difficult position

Question 27

Willis- working class- family/work place/education

Answer 27

Younger lads value masculinity, sport, humour through sexism and racism in school Anti-school subculture No interest in academics and oppose conformist values Subculture prepared them for autonomy of labour work Adopted similar distraction techniques in the work place All encourage hegemonic Fathers taught lack of value of education as labour work was the norm Value family work (labour) is key source of identity Link: influences identity as this leads them to underachieve and define themselves through blue collar work

Question 28

Mac an Ghaill on working class- workplace

Answer 28

Crisis of masculinity: - loss of identity and purpose - expressing masculinity through violence - excessive drinking and crime - shame of not being breadwinner Link: influences identity as identity emphasised so much on pride in blue collar work/breadwinner role that decline in this can influence to have bad behaviour

Question 29

Mertens and D’Haenens- working class- media

Answer 29

Working class use social media for entertainment purposes as they don’t feel a need to educate themselves and would feel out of their depth using it for education. Watch reality tv and tabloids Social compatibility with reality shows Like watching achieved status they can relate to Link: defines identity based on fun rather than using resources to self develop which could cause them to not reach full potential

Question 30

Underclass

Answer 30

Murray- thinks unemployed on benefits are lazy, problematic, immoral and criminal Jordan- thinks they are ashamed and aren’t in this position by choice

Question 31

Postmodernists

Answer 31

``` Offe- occupation doesn’t define identity as much anymore. Opportunities are more open toe everyone and jobs aren’t as fixed Skeggs- intrumental attitudes to work. Jobs don’t influence identity. Growing capitalism in working class. No sense of class injustice. Meritocratic, all individuals have chance of success. New working class believe in individualism ```

Question 32

Kath Woodward- Upper class- work place

Answer 32

Shows occupation is used as a conversation starter as it allows us to make snap judgements and divide people into groups. Shows it’s key to someone’s identity. Can affect view and treatment of others Link: influences identity as they define themselves and others based on their job and treat them accordingly

Question 33

Scott- upper class- work place

Answer 33

Old boys network | Public schools create networks to grow useful contacts to help gain careers.

Question 34

Scott- upper class- peer group

Answer 34

Establish life long friendships through public schools/oxbridge experience An integrated elite ‘Old Boys Network’ Social closure- exclusive Involved in events together to get essential contacts (formal and informal)

Question 35

Upper class values- family

Answer 35

Strong political values - conservative Intermarriage- marry within class Social connections

Question 36

Scott- upper class- family

Answer 36

Encouraging intermarriage immersing children into a culture of privilege contributes to social closure Awareness of social superiority expressed in: Children’s names (How many working class would be called Camilla, Rupert & Hugo) Socialisation into high culture (ballet, opera) Blood sports Etiquette concern. Upper class must be addressed correctly Link: influences identity as completely shapes lifestyle/future and who they can have familiies with

Question 37

Upper class- media

Answer 37

Socialised into high culture such as going to the theatre to watch ballet, polo

Question 38

Bowles and Gintus- Working class- education

Answer 38

``` Hidden curriculum maintains inequalities in wealth and power. Ruling class values are disguised as common values. Teaches working class to be passive in the future (to accept exploitation and conformity to ruling class ideology) Link: influences identity as made to feel their W/c identity is inferior/abnormal as values don’t match. Keeps them in position to be exploited ```

Question 39

Scott- upper class- education

Answer 39

``` Public schools have an ‘old boys network Socialisation into ethos and culture Justifying privilege Hidden curriculum of conservatism, respect for tradition, nationalism and hierarchy Common culture that unifies class ```

Question 40

Murray- underclass

Answer 40

Lazy, immoral, dependent on benefits Culture based on failure Portrayed in media this way

Question 41

Jordan- underclass- media/work place/peers

Answer 41

Send of shame if they can’t provide | Would want to with to gain respect from family and peers

Question 42

Skeggs- postmodernist- middle class- work place

Answer 42

``` Instrumental attitudes Jobs don’t influence identity Saw capitalism as effective No sense of political injustice Meritocratic- social mobility Like to use working class becoming successful as role models ```

Question 43

Kenway- upper- education

Answer 43

Private school girls exclude others by devaluing comprehensive schools Link: affects who they socialise with and define themselves by quality of education/ superiority

Question 44

Offe- postmodern

Answer 44

People aren’t stuck in one job anymore | People don’t all share same experiences of working full time

Question 45

Pakulski & Waters

Answer 45

Consumer culture is taking over, not defined by social class/occupation, status descends on what we consume