Social Class Identity Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does stratification refer to?

A system of government regulation.

The division of society into hierarchically ordered layers. (correct)

A method of classifying people based on skills.

The equality of all societal members.

What was the Registrar General's Scale used for?

To measure social class based on occupational skill.

What does the NS SEC scale classify?

Occupations based on their similarity of qualifications, training, skills, and experience.

Objective definitions of class use a scale or measurement device to classify people into a social class, such as the ___ classification.

NS-SEC Signup and view all the answers

Subjective definitions of class rely on how people ___ themselves.

define Signup and view all the answers

What feature does Mackintosh and Mooney argue is key to the upper class?

Invisibility. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'social closure'?

The practice of the upper class to prevent outsiders from joining their lifestyle. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Old Boy Network' refer to?

Networks of contacts used by upper class individuals to further their careers. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is linked to high culture?

Polo Signup and view all the answers

How do King and Raynor suggest middle class identities are socialised?

Through role models, positive and negative sanctions, and imitation. Signup and view all the answers

What concept does Bourdieu refer to regarding education and social class?

Cultural capital. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'economic capital'?

The amount of money or material goods a person or group possesses. Signup and view all the answers

According to Goodwin, how do many middle class mothers define their identities?

By peer approval. Signup and view all the answers

What does Savage argue about the middle class?

Their professions affect their lifestyles, leading to conspicuous consumption. Signup and view all the answers

Match the theorist with their relevant concept.

Wright = Contradictory class position Bowles and Gintis = Education maintaining class inequalities Mac an Ghaill = Crisis of masculinity Murray = Underclass characteristics Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'New Working Class' characterized by?

New types of jobs replacing traditional manual ones. Signup and view all the answers

What concept did Mertens and D'Haenens study?

The digital divide. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'immediate gratification' refer to?

A 'live for the moment' attitude associated with the traditional working class. Signup and view all the answers

Deferred gratification is when individuals are willing to sacrifice ___ for benefits in the future.

now Signup and view all the answers

What is popular culture often seen as opposed to?

High culture. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Stratification: Division of society into hierarchical layers, with privileged individuals at the top and those disadvantaged at the bottom, particularly evident in capitalist societies.
Registrar General's Scale: A descriptive tool for measuring social class from 1911 to the 1990s, primarily based on occupational skills.
NS SEC Scale: National Statistics Socio-economic Classification, initiated in 1997, categorizes social class according to occupation based on qualifications, skills, and experience.
Objective Definitions of Class: Class identification through standardized measurement tools, such as the NS-SEC classification.
Subjective Definitions of Class: Individuals' self-assessment and personal definition of their social class.
Invisibility of Upper Class: Mackintosh and Mooney highlight upper-class social closure, indicating that their life experiences remain largely separated from the rest of society, contributing to a distinct upper-class identity.
Old Boy Network: Scott identifies how upper-class men leverage their social connections, often fostered in elite education environments, to facilitate career advancements, demonstrating social closure through selective employment practices.
Social Closure: A mechanism by which the upper class restricts access to its lifestyle and cultural practices, maintaining exclusivity.
High Culture: Associated with elite society, high culture requires significant economic and social capital for access, exemplified by exclusivity in activities like polo and opera—linked to increased cultural capital for children with exposure.
King and Raynor's Findings: Middle-class families socialize children to value educational success through role models and maintain a child-centered approach, emphasizing the importance of education.
Bourdieu's Cultural Capital: Suggests schools perpetuate middle-class advantages by aligning educational environments with the values and skills of middle-class families, reinforcing existing social identities.
Social and Economic Capital: Represents the resources (financial or networks) that can provide advantages in educational and professional settings, often benefiting middle-class individuals.
Goodwin's 'Yummy Mummies': Middle-class mothers increasingly derive identity from peer recognition, moving beyond traditional roles to emphasize style and maternal approval.
Savage's Conspicuous Consumption: Discusses how middle-class lifestyles, shaped by their professions, lead to conspicuous consumption, demonstrating social standing through ownership.
Wright's Contradictory Class Position: Middle-class individuals occupy a paradoxical position with varying degrees of control over resources, influencing their social identity formation.
Consumer Culture: Associated with identity through consumption patterns, notably within UK and Western societies where advertising targets those with disposable incomes.
Traditional Working Class: Historically dominant, characterized by strong community ties and manual labor; political identification often aligned with Labour, emphasizing collective support systems.
New Working Class: Emerging from changing job landscapes, especially in the South East; reflects shifts in occupational structure away from traditional manual labor.
Willis and Identity: Research into 'lads' indicates jobs as a crucial identity source, linking their work roles directly to familial expectations.
Bowles and Gintis' Perspective: Argue that education serves to perpetuate class inequalities by instilling capitalist values in children from working-class backgrounds.
Mac an Ghaill's 'Crisis of Masculinity': Describes the disillusionment faced by working-class men regarding traditional job roles, impacting their gender identity and self-perception.
Digital Divide Insights: Mertens and D'Haenens find a significant gap in internet usage between social classes, highlighting differing purposes of technology-related engagement.
Murray's View on Underclass: Labels the underclass as lazy and dependent; suggests their predicament stems from personal choices rather than structural factors.
Jordan's Counterargument: Challenges Murray, asserting the underclass shares the same values as others and yearns for employment opportunities, feeling ashamed of their inability to provide.
Popular Culture as Identity: Contrasts with high culture; associated with mass-access activities often driven by consumerism shaped by media influence.
Skeggs on Working-Class Women's Attitudes: Explores how newer working-class perspectives on work are shaped by individualism and consumerism, emphasizing identity shifts away from traditional roles.
Giddens on Upper-Class Dynamics: Recognizes the traditional upper class while introducing the concept of 'super-rich' groups who engage in social closure.
Immediate vs Deferred Gratification: Immediate gratification reflects a working-class mindset of living in the moment, whereas deferred gratification signifies a willingness to sacrifice current pleasures for future benefits, more prevalent in middle-class and new working-class individuals.
Social Class Identity: Defined through stratification, categorized into working, middle, and upper classes, with identities shaped by community, occupation, and values. Key features include working-class ties to manual labor and community support, while upper-class identities emphasize privilege through economic and cultural capital.

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Explore key concepts related to social class identity with these flashcards. Learn important terminology such as stratification and the Registrar General's Scale, gaining insights into the structural hierarchy of society. Perfect for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of social class dynamics.