1. Social Class03/11/09 Aim: To understand there are a variety of class classifications The Sun Drug habits Liverpudlian accents Standard English Single parenthood The Observer Middle Class Working Class Marks & Spencer Rugby Football

2. Class 1: Top professionals and managers e.g. Doctors, lawyers, company directors 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 Class 5: Semi-skilled manual workers e.g. Postman, bus driver Class 6: Unskilled manual workers e.g. Farm labourer, dustman The Registrar General’s Class Classification { Middle Class { Working Class Social Class03/11/09 Aim: To understand there are a variety of class classifications

3. Problems with the Registrar General’s classification  Does not include the wealthiest in society e.g. the small but powerful upper class  Does not include people who do not work e.g. unemployed, retired, housewives  Most people now believe shop assistants should be in class 5 Social Class03/11/09 Aim: To understand there are a variety of class classifications

4. Social Class06/06/06 Aim: To understand there are a variety of class classifications Goldthorpe’s Classification The service class : Professionals and managers about 14% of the population The intermediate class : Routine work in shops and offices about 31% of the population The working class : Building, manufacturing and repairing about 55% of the population

5. Remember! Class refers to a lifestyle. It does not mean someone is a better person in life. Roger Dr. Jones Social Class03/11/09 Aim: To understand there are a variety of class classifications

6. Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is Mechanic Supermarket shelf stacker Waiter Travel Agent Teacher Doctor Nurse Plumber Put these into order according to the Registrar General’s classification 123456123456

7. 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.

8. Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is Tommy Cone It takes more than money to change class  Won £4.2 million lottery jackpot  Went on working as a security guard  Still loved chip butties  Enjoys riding the bus around Oldham

9. Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is EDUCATION David  Son of a labourer  Failed his 11+  1960s  Goes to a secondary modern  No opportunity to take public exams  No opportunity to go to University  Likely to become a manual worker like his father  1990s  Goes to a comprehensive  Sits his GCSE exams  Student loans make University possible  Less likely to be a manual worker

10. Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is MARRIAGE  Works on the tills in McDonalds  A bank manager Ruth has moved from the working class into the middle class! Roy Ruth

11. Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is MARRIAGE  Works as a solicitor Rick will not become middle class like Jenny Jenny  A trained mechanic Rick

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

13. Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is Changes in the Occupational Structure Britain in 1960 Britain in 2005  Many manufacturing and production jobs  Unskilled factory work  Mining  Car production  Many more service sector jobs  Office jobs  Tourist industry  Retail industry  More chance of getting a middle class job!

14. Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is Determination and Talent Julie Diane Two working-class women 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. 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

15. Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is Top professionals Doctor, lawyer Lower professionals Teacher, nurse Routine non-manual work Office clerks Skilled manual Plumber, mechanic Semi-skilled manual Postman, bus driver Unskilled manual Dustman, labourer Short range mobility Long range Mobility

16. Can people change class? Aim: To know what social mobility is Start of career15 years later Postman Plumber Nurse Doctor Electrician Bank manager Teacher Office clerk Doctor Dustman

17. Is Britain a meritocracy? 16th June 2006 Aim: To understand the meritocracy debate merit o cracy 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)

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

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

20. 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?

21. 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?

22. 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)

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