Social and Economic Class

Social and Economic Class

• Social and economic class explores social stratification, mobility, and class theories
• The lecture looks into the different perspectives on class, the American Dream, and how class is assessed

Societies Without Mobility

• Social stratification describes the hierarchical placement of individuals and groups, influencing power dynamics
• Vertical mobility involves movement up or down the social hierarchy through education, achievements, and networks
• Horizontal mobility refers to movement within the same social stratum

"Class" & Stratification

• Class comes from "classis," referring to military cohorts in Roman armies
• Class is defined as groups sharing similar economic, social, and cultural statuses, incomes, occupations, and lifestyles
• Class is constructed but perceived as inherited, traditionally focusing on socio-economic aspects

Marx & Engels on Class

• Marxism views class relations through the lens of inherent conflict
• The bourgeoisie/capitalists maximize profit by minimizing wages and exploiting workers
• The proletariat owns only their labour and works for minimal wages, unable to save or become free
• Institutions that legitimize social hierarchies are seen as flawed where religion is viewed as the opium of people

Max & Marianne Weber Differ...

• The means of production is not the sole determinant of class
• Economic power can arise due to existing power on separate grounds
• Class is also determined by status and power, as membership in respected groups leads to prestige

Three Perspectives on Class.

• A "Justification" perspective proposes that an individual's societal worth is adequately reflected in their salary
• Jobs are evaluated based on their importance, incentivizing study and career advancement, aligning with the American dream of meritocracy
• A contrasting perspective posits that the powerful exploit their advantage, skewing the system through laws and institutions to suppress the proletariat
• Ideology and religion legitimize the status quo

The American Dream

• The "American Dream" deflects blame from social issues and places it on people
• In 2012, 77% of Americans believed that hard work leads to success (57% in the UK, 45% in China, 35% in Russia)
• Only 4-7% of those in poverty in the US reach the top, with about 30% reaching the middle

Assessing Class Operationally

• Operationalization involves defining class in measurable terms
• The Erikson-Goldthorpe-Portocarero model uses employment categories for 7 classes, but misses out single parents, housewives etc
• A 2013 study says social class is not solely an economic construct

UK vs Czech Republic

• The great UK survey is compared to the Czech Republic (Prokop 2013)

How Do People Climb in Societies?

• People climb in societies through:
  • Economic status: wealth, income, etc.
• Social status: who you know, networks, contacts, and connections
• Cultural capital: non-material assets like upbringing, tastes, skills
• Symbolic status: the amount of prestige and recognition conferred by society

The New Feminist Take on Class

• Dalit women in India suffer oppression based on gender, caste, and class
• Many factors influence experiences of privilege/oppression
• Interconnected aspects of race, gender, class, sexuality, skills, nationality, and region can be added, multiplied, or intersected

Class and Politics

• Class outcomes have weakened as automation shrinks the working class
• Voters of the working class vote for conservative parties for the following reasons:
  • Right-left class has lost its power as a marker
  • Generational views
  • Values surrounding issues
  • Economic interests

So Does "Economic Class" Matter?

• In early socialism, the "working class" was the dominant paradigm, with heroization, "full employment," and collective values
• By the late stage of socialism, the working class was not doing better than others which lead to economic malfunction which lead to openings
• Transitions in the 1990s created "trauma" for workers through privatisation, markets, and individualisation
• After 2008 capitalist bankers and the high-income class are demonized