Social class, also called class,
a group of people within a society who possess the same socioeconomic status
. Besides being important in social theory, the concept of class as a collection of individuals sharing similar economic circumstances has been widely used in censuses and in studies of social mobility.
When sociologists talk of social class, they refer to
a group of individuals who occupy a similar position in the economic system of production
. Within that system occupation is very important because it provides financial rewards, stability and benefits like healthcare.
People in the UK now fit into seven social classes, a major survey conducted by the BBC suggests. … Class has traditionally been defined by
occupation, wealth and education
. But this research argues that this is too simplistic, suggesting that class has three dimensions – economic, social and cultural.
They’re as much about changes in the way we perceive what constitutes difference and similarity between ourselves. … The fact that there are
so many components that make up class
– and that they are based on perceptions and belief as well as fact – makes social class extremely difficult to measure.
Social classes are
groupings of individuals in a hierarchy
, usually based on wealth, educational attainment, occupation, income, and membership in a subculture or social network. … For example, in Mexico, society is stratified into classes determined by European or indigenous lineage as well as wealth.
- Upper Class – Elite.
- Upper Middle Class.
- Lower Middle Class.
- Working Class.
- Poor.
Sociologists generally posit three classes:
upper, working (or lower), and middle
.
Social classes provide their members with distinctive sub-cultures that prepare them for specialised functions in society. It is said that the social class is useful as
an efficient means of role allocation in the society
. … The class system compels someone to do such unpleasant jobs.
Because members of high social classes tend to be
better educated
and have higher incomes, they are able to offer greater educational advantages, such as private schooling, to their children as well.
It has assigned the quintiles from lowest to highest as lower class, lower middle class, middle class, upper middle class, and upper class.
In large part because of high occupational prestige, university professors are generally considered members of the
upper-middle class
.
- A system of hierarchy of status. …
- A system of social ranking based primarily on economic position.
- A system marked by unequal distribution of wealth and power.
- A system more mobile than caste system.
Class, for Marx, is defined as
a (social) relationship rather than a position or rank in society
. … The structure and basis of a social class may be defined in objective terms, as groups with a common position with respect to property or the means of production.
Your social class
can influence both your interests and your values
, which makes a difference in your relationships. Although social status is not the only influence on relationships, it does matter, and should be recognized so you can deal with it successfully.
Changing social class is a
“Yes
, and” process at best. You may add to your life and you may experience internal conflict. You may do both. Changing your social class may alienate you from people you know and may alienate you from the person you are now.
What criteria does the social class system used to stratify its members?
Access to wealth, property, power, and prestige
.
