Explain and briefly evaluate the view that class is the most important source of identity Flashcards
point 1
One of the classes is upper class. It is often claimed that the upper class has a strong sense of collective identity because it is ‘closed’ i.e. not open to entry from below. One way the upper class gives it’s members an identity is through socializing them into their prestigious lifestyle through leisure activities.
example 1
Roberts found that During their socialisation young members of the upper class are introduced to the exclusive social events that provide a distinctive upper class lifestyle. These events include hunting, rowing, sailing and opera. Together, they provide a clear picture of a distinctive upper class lifestyle.
explain 1
This shows that class is the most important source of identity as it gives upper class children their identity which is shared throughout their class by socializing them into the closed off lifestyle that resonates throughout the upper class by being involved with their activities that are seen exclusive to themselves. Members of the upper class are likely to inter-marry as they share similar identities.
counter 1
However Pakulski and Waters argue that lifestyles are becoming a central organising feature of people’s lives and a major source of social and personal identity and are less likely to be based on social class which shows that activities based on a certain social class won’t shape a persons identity.
point 2
The middle class unlike the upper class are open to ‘outsiders’ i.e. people who have come from working class backgrounds and achieved a middle class status. One way the middle class is a source of identity is through education as it teaches their values.
example 2
Bourdieu suggests that schools are essentially middle-class institutions run by middle-class teachers for the benefit of middle-class pupils. He argues that what goes on in schools in terms of what is regarded as acceptable knowledge, language and behaviour is defined by middle-class professionals. Bourdieu refers to this middle-class advantage as ‘cultural capital’.
explain 2
This shows that class is the most important source of identity as the middle class uses education to instil middle class views in middle class children so they can follow these to have their correct class identity and in working class children so they can have an identity more similar to those of the middle class which is seen a superior.
counter 2
However Clarke and Saunders argue that class identities don’t matter anymore as nowadays peoples lives are more likely to be centred on their leisure and the things they spend their money on. So identities may no longer be based on how people earn their money but on how they spend it.
point 3
The economic basis for class identity and solidarity has weakened for the working class due to the heavy manual jobs declining , making room for the new, modern forms of work. However, despite all that, there are still things that branch the class together to create an identity, for example education reinforcing this identity.
example 3
Willis found that the working class ‘lads’ he studied were not interested in education or qualifications because they had their minds set on factory jobs. However they actually enjoyed going to school as they could laugh at the expense of conformist students by expressing working class values such as masculinity and sexism which were values that they would use later life at their factory jobs.
explain 3
This shows that class is the most important source of identity as through education as it creates sub-cultures which reinforce identities that are identified with a specific class, in this example working class children join the lad group in which they reinforce their values through anti-school behaviour.
counter 3
However Mike Savage’s research suggests that class is still an important influence on people’s lives and living standards but class identities have weakened. Most people recognise the relevance of class in the wider society but are not keen to express their own personal identities in class terms.
intro
Social Class is known as the position in the social and economic structure. Different social classes have their own identities, own set of values, and their own lifestyles. Also every person has their own identity. Identity is an individual’s concept of themselves. It is said that class has a powerful impact on a person’s identity.
