Social Class 031109 Aim To understand there a

Social Class 03/11/09 Aim: To understand there a variety of classifications The Sun Liverpudlian accents The Observer Drug habits Middle Class Standard English Rugby Single parenthood Marks & Spencer Football Working Class

Social Class 03/11/09 Aim: To understand there a variety of classifications The Registrar General’s Classification { { Class 1: Top professionals and managers e. g. Doctors, lawyers, company directors Middle Class 2: Lower professionals and managers e. g. Teachers, bank managers, nurses Class 3: Routine non-manual work e. g. Office clerks, shop assistants Class 4: Skilled manual workers e. g. Electricians, plumbers Working Class 5: Semi-skilled manual workers e. g. Postman, bus driver Class 6: Unskilled manual workers e. g. Farm labourer, dustman

Social Class 03/11/09 Aim: To understand there a variety of classifications Problems with the Registrar General’s classification êDoes not include the wealthiest in society e. g. the small but powerful upper class êDoes not include people who do not work e. g. unemployed, retired, housewives êMost people now believe shop assistants should be in class 5

Social Class 03/11/09 Aim: To understand there a variety of classifications Roger Dr. Jones Remember! Class refers to a lifestyle. It does not mean someone is a better person in life.

Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is Put these into order according to the Registrar General’s classification Supermarket shelf stacker Plumber Doctor Mechanic Waiter Nurse Travel Agent Teacher 1 2 3 4 5 6

Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is Social mobility refers to the movement of people either between or within classes. This could be movement upwards or downwards. Closed system – a society where movement between classes is impossible. Open system – a society where it is possible to move classes.

Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is It takes more than money to change class ºWon £ 4. 2 million lottery jackpot ºWent on working as a security guard ºStill loved chip butties ºEnjoys riding the bus around Oldham Tommy Cone

Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is EDUCATION º 1960 s º 1990 s ºGoes to a secondary modern ºGoes to a comprehensive ºNo opportunity to take public exams ºSits his GCSE exams ºNo opportunity to go to University ºStudent loans David make University ºSon of a labourer possible ºLikely to become ºFailed his 11+ a manual worker ºLess likely to be a like his father manual worker

Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is MARRIAGE Ruth ºWorks on the tills in Mc. Donalds Roy ºA bank manager Ruth has moved from the working class into the middle class!

Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is MARRIAGE Jenny ºWorks as a solicitor Rick ºA trained mechanic Rick will not become middle class like Jenny

Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is MARRIAGE BETWEEN CLASSES IS UNLIKELY Rick Jenny Owns a society Enjoys watching detached Believes is house, a went cricket, playing to like ladder – public and tennis school and to anyone cangoing climb it did they West a degree End try musicals inhard Law. if enough Lifestyle Leisure Attitude Lives inbetting Enjoys the inneron Believes society is city, and the horses obtained and divided between only one drinking in GCSE his local A-C ‘them’ (the middle grade pub with class) andthe ‘us’other (the mechanics working class)

Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is Changes in the Occupational Structure Britain in 1960 ºMany manufacturing and production jobs Britain in 2005 ºMany more service sector jobs ºOffice jobs ºUnskilled factory work ºTourist industry ºMining ºRetail industry ºCar production ºMore chance of getting a middle class job!

Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is Determination and Talent I was never very good at school and I doubt I’ll ever be middle class. It would be very hard so I’ll just live for today. Julie I really want to be middle class. I’ll do anything it takes to get a better job. Even if it means giving up my evenings to go to night school Diane Two working-class women

Is Britain a meritocracy? Aim: To understand the meritocracy debate 16 th June 2006 meritocracy Intelligence, effort and skills Type of government A meritocracy is a society where everyone has the same opportunities to get on based on their intelligence, effort and skills (merits)

Is Britain a meritocracy? Aim: To understand the meritocracy debate 16 th June 2006 Yes – Britain is a meritocracy! John Major ◊ Anyone can get to the top of society ◊ Born in St. Helier hospital, Carshalton ◊ Father’s business failed ◊ Everyone can get an education ◊ Moved from Worcester Park to Brixton can achieve the top qualifications ◊ Went◊ to. Everyone grammar school in Wimbledon ◊ Failed to become a bus conductor ◊ Everyone can get the top jobs ◊ Manufactured gnomes for some time ◊ Elected as an MP in 1979 ◊ Became Prime Minister 1990

Is Britain a meritocracy? Aim: To understand the meritocracy debate 16 th June 2006 No – Britain is not a meritocracy! ◊ Heir to British throne ◊ Owns Highgrove estate ◊ Not everyone ◊ World’s most ◊ Third in line to the throne famous woman ◊ Admitted to elite military ◊ £ 22 million fortune college, Sandhurst has equal opportunities ◊ The family you are born into may help or hinder your progress ◊ Opportunities depend on class, gender + ethnicity ◊ Got 5 average ◊only Some people have a much better ◊ Got no A-C grades at GCSE grades GCSE (O-Level) reaching the top jobs ◊ Despite this, got into Cambridge University ◊ Finished with a second-class degree ◊ AS results: chance of B (Art) D (geography) ◊ Worst results in his year ◊ Series of media scandals

Status • A socially defined position in a group or society characterized by certain expectations, rights, and duties • Note your: – Ascribed statuses – Achieved statuses • Which status, if any, would be considered your master status?

Roles • When we occupy a status, we play a role • What expectations are there in some of the roles you play? • Give an example of a relational (complementary) role in your life. • Have you ever experienced role ambiguity? If so, what was the situation?

Conflicts and Strains • Role conflict – occurs when one is pulled in different directions from different statuses (provide examples from your own life) • Role Strain – Incompatible demands are built into a single status (again, examples)

Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is On your own, complete the ‘Social Differentiation’ section of last year’s exam