Middle Class Identities | 2 Culture and Identity Middle Class Identities | 2

End Middle Class Cultural Identities Disgusted Subjects Not Working Class Social Capital Cultural Capital Cultural Identities Various non-economic resources - of which educational qualifications (symbolic cultural capital) are hugely-important for the cultural reproduction of middle class statuses and identities - used to enhance cultural identities through a sense of difference, separation and superiority. This refers to what Lawler (2005) calls “expressions of disgust at perceived violations of taste” – a consistent and unifying feature of middle class identities. Through the “cultural ownership of taste” the middle classes distinguish themselves from those below (their worthless and disposable cultural forms) merely vulgar) and thise above, with their “vulgar and tasteless shows of wealth”. The various ways people are connected to social networks (who you know) and the value these have for norms of reciprocity - what people are willing and able to do for each other. The middle classes are better placed to key into significant social networks, such as schools or the workplace, that can be exploited for social and economic advantage. Notes Almost by definition, the members are first generation converts, and, like all converts, they tend to be far more enthusiastic and committed - even fanatic - than those born into a religion.   This reflects the observation “the middle classes” occupy an ambivalent and precarious class position – “above the working class” and wanting to maintain a separation from them and “below the upper class” but aspiring to be like them. As “disgusted subjects”, middle class identities are built around taste cultures (music, food, literature, film, clothing…) that are qualitatively different to lower class taste cultures.

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