social class Flashcards
define social class
system of stratification which places people in different positions in society
what did mackintosh and mooney say (family and education)
key feature of the upper class is their invisibility
they have social closure meaning their education, leisure time and daily lives are separated from and partially invisible to the rest of the population
what did scott say (workplace)
upper class boys use the old boy network to give each other contacts which advantage them in securing business deals and promotions
they exercise social closure by employing only upper class people
what did scott say (peer groups)
upper class socialise with other upper class contacts they met at private school and elite unis
gain social capital by being seen/invited
what did scott say (family)
family operates social closure by;
-encouraging inter marriages (wealthy marrying wealthy)
-immersing kids into a culture of privilege through names, socialisation into hig culture and participation in blood sports like rugby
what did habermas say (media)
high culture isn’t accessible to the masses because of the education it requires to access it
to be accessible to the masses, it would have to be dumbed down
what did scott say (education)
public/private schools and oxbridge socialise children into a culture of privilege
hidden curriculum teaches values like superiority, conservatism and acceptance of authority
define social closure
preventing outsiders from joining the lifestyle and culture of the class
what did king and raynes say (family)
family reinforce attitudes and values of importance of educational success through role models, positive/negative sanctions and imitation
child centerdness is a distinctive feature of middle class families
what did bourieu say (education)
school helps socialise people into their middle class identity through role models, imitation, rewards, sanctions and the school environment being similar to aspects of their home
middle class have values, knowledge, leisure interests, language levels and skills at home similar to at school
middle class parents give children an educational advantage as they have social and economic capital
define social capital
networking with others in a similar economic position to advantage them
define economic capital
amount of money/material goods a person/group possesses
what did goodwin say (peer groups)
many middle class mothers define identities by approval
yummy mummies are now defines by peer approval on maternal capabilities, glamour and style of their child
no longer passive/hegemonic females
what did savage say (workplace)
professions of the idle class affect their lifestyle and can be a key source of their identity which can lead to conspicuos consumption
define traditional working class
dominant in 20th century, still influential in some parts of the UK
jobs like miners
define new working class
replacing traditional working class with new types of jobs, replacing manual ones
jobs in the service sector
what did willis say (family)
the lads he researched went into manual labour jobs(most of them) and it was a key part of their identity for both fathers and sons
defines themselves as manual labour workers and was key to defining their identities
what did mac an ghaill say (workplace)
working class men are experiencing a crisis of masculinity as manual jobs they felt destined to go into were no longer available and they were unprepared for other jobs
felt unstable in their gender identity
what did mertens and d’haenens say (media)
conducted a study in brussels and found that the lower class used the internet less(81% compared to 94% of middle class using internet) and they used it for entertainment whereas the middle class used it to expand their knowledge (79% owned a games console opposed to 65% of higher classes)
what did murray say
underclass are lazy, workshy, immoral, criminal and depend on benefits
it is their own fault they are in this position
what did jordan say
the underclass have the same values and attitudes as everyone else and most of them would love to work given the opportunity
many feel shame that they can’t provide for their families
how do postmodernists believe class identity has changed
paluski and waters suggested that we are now defined by what we buy
what did skeggs say
working class women had instrumental attitudes, jobs were a means to an end
new working class saw capitalism as something that helps to rise their living standards
see society as meritocratic as everyone can express social mobility
NWW believe in individualism and putting their family and themselves before community
they develop identities based around popular culture, conspicuous consumption and consumer culture
define instrumental attitudes
work is a means to an end
define meritocratic
a fair society that gives opportunities based on ability
what did giddens say
the traditional upper class- landowning aristocracy
new groups in upper class- jet set and entrepreneurial rich
jet set- earned money through sport, media, entertainment
entrepreneurial rich- earned money through business enterprise
