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Social Class and Inequality

The Hierarchy of Opportunity

Why this matters

Social class is a key concept in sociology that refers to the hierarchical grouping of people based on their socio-economic status, which includes wealth, income, occupation, education, and lifestyle. It is a significant source of social inequality because class shapes access to power, resources, opportunities, and life chances.

Key Definitions & Perspectives

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Bourgeoisie

Owners of the means of production (Marxist focus).
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Proletariat

Working class who sell their labour (Marxist focus).
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Status

Social prestige or honor, separate from class (Weberian addition).
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Life Chances

Opportunities to access resources necessary for a good life.

Theoretical Foundations

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Marxist Perspective Focuses on relationship to the means of production. Inequality stems from exploitation and class conflict.
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Weberian Perspective Adds dimensions of status (social prestige) and party (power) alongside class, diversifying the source of influence.

Class Categories

1

Upper Class

Wealthy families with inherited wealth, control over major businesses, and influence in politics and culture.
2

Middle Class

Professionals, managers, and white-collar workers with higher education and stable incomes.
3

Working Class

Manual workers, often in less secure jobs, lower pay, and fewer qualifications.
4

Underclass

People who experience long-term unemployment, poverty, social exclusion, and may be dependent on welfare.

Social Mobility Types

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Structural Mobility

Caused by changes in the economy (e.g., expansion of the service sector opens new jobs).
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Individual Mobility

Based on personal achievements, such as education or entrepreneurship.
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Mobility Barrier

However, mobility is often limited by existing social barriers and inequalities.

The Role of Cultural Capital

Pierre Bourdieu’s theory explains how class inequalities persist through not only economic capital.

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Cultural Capital: Knowledge, skills, attitudes, and language, which differs by class, affecting educational success and maintaining status across generations.

Class and Life Chances

Poor Housing + Lack of Cultural Resources → Limit Life Chances
Max Weber introduced the idea that class affects 'life chances': opportunities to access resources necessary for a good life.

Wealth vs. Income

The disparity between assets (wealth) and received funds (income) drives power imbalances.

Concept Definition Impact
Wealth Assets like property, savings, and investments. Disproportionately controlled by upper class.
Income Money received from work or benefits. Influences access to healthcare and leisure.
Education Class inequality is key site of barrier. Cultural mismatch between home and school.
Summary Upper class controls a disproportionate share of wealth, leading to power imbalances.

Critiques and New Realities

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Is the 'Working Class' still a meaningful category in a globalized economy?
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Traditional models struggle to capture new realities like the rise of the fragmented “precariat” with insecure jobs and unstable incomes.

Health and Class Correlation

Health outcomes strongly correlate with class. Working-class people generally have poorer health and shorter life expectancy.

Class Outcome Life Span Cause Housing Diet Stress Access
Upper Good Long Resources Secure High Quality Lower High
Working Poorer Shorter Poverty Poor Limited High Limited
Under Illness Shortest Exclusion Very Poor Deficient Extreme Restricted
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Social Class Flashcards
Term
Social Class

What is social class?

Answer
Definition

A hierarchical grouping of people based on socio-economic status including wealth, income, occupation, education, and lifestyle.

Term
Marxist Classes

What are the two main classes in Marxist theory?

Answer
Classes

Bourgeoisie (owners of means of production) and proletariat (working class).

Term
Weberian Theory

How does Weberian theory differ from Marxist theory on class?

Answer
Difference

It includes status (social prestige) and party (power) along with economic class.

Term
Main Social Classes

Name four main social class categories.

Answer
Categories

Upper class, middle class, working class, underclass.

Term
Social Mobility

What is social mobility?

Answer
Definition

Movement between social classes, either upward or downward.

Term
Life Chances

What are life chances?

Answer
Definition

Opportunities to access resources necessary for a good life, like education and healthcare.

Term
Cultural Capital

What is cultural capital?

Answer
Definition

Non-economic assets like knowledge, skills, and attitudes that help maintain class advantages.

Term
Types of Social Mobility

What are structural and individual social mobility?

Answer
Definitions

Structural: class change due to economic shifts; Individual: change due to personal effort.

Term
Health & Social Class

How is health related to social class?

Answer
Relation

Lower classes generally have poorer health outcomes due to poverty and limited resources.

Term
Underclass

What is the underclass?

Answer
Definition

People facing long-term poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion.

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🌸 Sociology Quiz: Social Class

1. What does the Marxist perspective on social class emphasize?

Marx focused on class as owners vs workers based on control of production resources.

2. Which class is typically associated with long-term unemployment and social exclusion?

The underclass experiences persistent poverty and marginalization.

3. Cultural capital refers to:

Bourdieu described cultural capital as non-financial assets advantageous for social mobility.

4. Which factor is NOT part of Weber’s view of social class?

Weber focused on economic, social, and political power rather than biological factors.

5. What is an example of structural social mobility?

Structural mobility results from changes in the economy that shift class structures.

📊 Results

  • Notes and Quiz
  • Sociology
  • AS Level
  • Social Inequality
  • OCR