Class and Inequality

Outline

Class – key concepts

Economic capital – Marx

Social capital – Putnam

Cultural capital – Bourdieu

Class in UK

Which social class are you?

Class – key concepts

There is inequality in all societies

Social Stratification is saying one class of people is better than others

The extent to which people can move from one class to another is social mobility

ascribed Vs achieved

Ascribed status – given at birth, and can’t usually be changed

e.g. gender, ethnicity

Achieved status – achieved by individuals through their own efforts

Is social class ascribed or achieved?

Homer Simpson and Montgomery Burns

Video – class in USA

This is a video from a film about class in the USA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU5MtVM_zFs

• Why is the concept of class so contentious within US society?

• Physical looks are referred to, how can that be important for class? How can class affect looks?

Group activity

Thinking about the video, in your groups discuss the following questions for the UK (or societies that you are familiar with)

1. How can you tell which class somebody is from?

2. Which indicators are more important?

3. How easy is it to change class?

Marx in a nutshell!

The economy is at the base of everything

Mode of production [feudalism capitalism communism]

Base: Economy

Superstructure: Everything else

Feudalism Capitalism Communism

Feudal religionFeudal artFeudal lawsFeudal everything

Communist religionCommunist artCommunist lawsCommunist everything

Capitalist religionCapitalist artCapitalist lawsCapitalist everything

As the mode of production changes, everything else must change too

Feudalism and Capitalism have different, conflicting, classes, but only under communism is class conflict resolved

Problems with Marx’s class

• Focus on economy obscures those not involved in economy (children, women)

• Conditions of working classes has undoubtedly improved since Marx’s time

• Homeownership, pensions etc makes many people ‘capitalists’ to some degree

• Persistence of false class consciousness, “we’re all middle class now”

Social Capital“the collective value of all 'social networks' and the inclinations that arise from these networks to do things for each other” (Putnam)

“it’s not what you know it’s who you know”

Studies have shown that this is important in many areas

job search

finding a mate

Bridging and bonding capital

Your class position is determined by your social capital

Does facebook increase social capital?What kinds of social capital [bridging or bonding]?Does it make society more or less equal in terms of

social capital?What effects might facebook have on economic capital

(in)equality?

Cultural Capital‘From Bourdieu’s “Distinction” (1984)

Cultural capital of critical importance

Cultural capital can take many forms

• Knowledge and understanding of creative and artistic aspects of culture• E.g. Frasier Crane

• Educational qualifications• Dr Nick Pearce BSc (hons), MSc

• Lifestyles and consumption• Food, fashion, coffee Vs tea

• Embodied culture• Physique, obesity, hair, beards, sun tan

Cultural capital determines which class you are

What about:

Professional footballer?

Town mayor?

Modern artist?

“I know my place”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0DUsGSMwZY

This was satire in the 1960s, but how has UK society changed?

How important is each type of class today?

Does it matter?

Which social class are you?

Summary

• Societies are unequal• Social class describes some of this inequality

• Economic capital• Social capital• Cultural capital

• It is difficult to change the class you were born into

• Next week we will examine the consequences of this.