Is social class an important source of identity? Flashcards
Is social class an important source of identity?
Yes it is – Marxist. Explain.
Marxism: Our identity is determined by our social class. This class identity is single (it predominates over other sources of identity) and fixed (it does not change over time). We are taught our class identities through agents of socialisation (family, education, media), who transmit dominant ideology and teach us what identities are suitable for our class.
Is social class an important source of identity?
Yes it is – Acheson 1998. Explain.
Acheson (1998) showed that life chances of the top two classes were still considerably better than the bottom two classes e.g. life expectancy 5 yrs longer for men. This has led to class polarisation. Although society as a whole is better off, social mobility has stagnated over the last 30 years: a child born of w/c parents on 2000 had no more chance of becoming m/c than a w/c child in 1970.
Is social class an important source of identity?
Yes it is – However. Explain.
However: A recent government report argues that this is changing and social mobility is improving. Yet, Children from poor families in Britain have a greater chance of struggling on low incomes than their counterparts in the west’s other rich countries, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported in 2010. Marxists have failed to account for embourgeoisement: rising standards of living has meant that the middle classes have expanded so that ‘We are all middle class now’ (Thatcher).
Postmodernists argue that class is dead, or less relevant. Discuss class is still here.
Whilst Postmodernists argue that class is dead, or less relevant in today’s society, it can be argued that social class is still here today and remains a common social identity. The argument is that Postmodernists are exaggerating the view of class is dead and the rise in choice through lifestyle and consumption. In many surveys people continue to identify themselves as a particular class. For example:
- Guardian poll conducted in 2007 found that 89% of the sample, including the majority of 18-24 year olds, believed that social class was still a significant influence in their lives.
- In 2012, the British Attitudes Survey found that 95% of people identified themselves with a particular social class with only 5% arguing that they did not identify with any class. 33% of people identified themselves as middle class and 60% identified themselves as working class.
Postmodernism argue that identity is gained through consumption, though certain activities are not available to all. Discuss drawing on what you know about the class system.
Whilst Postmodernists argue that identity is gained through consumption and leisure ignores the fact that these choices are not free choices, but actually restricted by people’s income (social class link). Certain activities, such as skiing, exotic holidays etc. are not open to all. Therefore social class (based on occupation and income) is an important fact when choosing any identity they may desire. Postmodernists ignore the fact that your occupation/income is key in achieving a postmodern lifestyle and that poverty will affect that greatly.
Social class may not be a key influence of people’s identity, can people escape from their class?
Discuss including the subject of chance.
Whilst social class may not be a key influence of people’s identity whereby people do not express their identity in traditional terms of social class – escaping the influence of social class altogether is a completely different thing. Social class is still an important factor as it affects the standard of their life chances in terms of living and lifestyle, their chances of educational success, their health and their life expectancy, their home ownership, their risks of unemployment and poverty.
Education defines class. Is this still the case? Discuss.
Education can be seen as one major institution that reinforces class identities through: state and private education, different values of education by family and also values within different types of school, different levels of capital (social, economic, cultural – Bourdieu), achievement and aspirations, university (Oxbridge). However, whilst saying that, education can also be seen to have ‘dissolved’ the class system – a university degree has increased opportunity for many more people and is no longer a predictor of financial security. Also, university education is achievable by all classes and wealth is not a barrier (through maintenance loans).
What did Bourdieu, a Marxist, state about class?
Bourdieu (Marxism) – whilst we measure social class based on occupation, income and wealth, it is now increasingly more important to look at class cultures. Whilst traditional jobs have declined, the importance of cultural capital becomes ever more important as a signifier of social class difference.
What did Lawler in 2005, using Bourdieu’s concept of “taste”, state about class?
Lawler (2005) uses Bourdieu’s concept of ‘taste’ and how this becomes a symbol of a middle class identity, and a basis for establishing differences and judging others by. By using taste provides the middle class with their own form of superiority from and opposition to the working class subculture. In this way, the middle class view the working class as worthless and inferior who are disgusting, threatening and wear bad clothes.
How did Jones in 1995 support Lawler’s view on the middle class?
Jones (1995) supports Lawler’s view with the middle class seen to sneer and ridicule the white working class, treating them the ‘scum of the earth’, and demonizing and stereotyping them as ‘chavs’.
Bennett at al in 2009 used the three-class model to discuss class and culture. What did they say?
Using a ‘three-class’ model (Professional Executive Class, Intermediate Class, Working Class), Bennett et al (2009) found that there was a strong relationship between class and culture. The highest class was strongly associated with participation of high culture, while working class participated little in high culture, but mainly in popular/mass culture. The highest class tended to be cultural omnivores, sampling a full range of culture, including popular culture although they didn’t watch much reality TV. Tastes also varied between classes with the highest class more likely to eat in French restaurants whilst the lowest class ate Fish and Chips more often.
Have we seen a rise in the New Working Class
Yes
We have seen the rise in the ‘new’ working class.
McKenzie at al in 2006 stated that the working class are in decine. What else did they say about the working class?
McKenzie et al (2006) argues, that whilst the working class are seen to be in decline due to the fall in traditional manufacturing industries since the 1970’s and 1980’s, he identifies that amongst redundant steel workers there was a sense of belonging still to the working class and they retained a strong sense of identity and solidarity with workmates and former workmates. He also found that the steel workers saw society as strongly divided between a disadvantaged working class and a powerful ruling class. This kind of class divide has continued with the widely expressed hostility towards bankers and other groups among the very rich, particularly those who find ways to pay little tax.
