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New model gives UK class system a shake-up
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Steve Hayes
Apr 5, 2013, 6:01:57 AM4/5/13
to
New model gives UK class system a shake-up
By Europe correspondent Barbara Miller
Updated April 04, 2013 11:13:47
The traditional British class system has received a shake-up, with a new model
concluding there are now seven social classes operating in the UK.
Britain is famous for its class system and it used to be so simple; there was
the working, middle and upper class.
But a major survey of 160,000 people, conducted by the London School of
Economics (LSE), has replaced that rigid structure with a seven-tiered system
that considers house values, cultural activities and jobs of friends.
And the new names are not exactly catchy.
If he were alive today, working class hero John Lennon would have to sing
about the precarious proletariat, the new class at the bottom of the ladder.
Other classes include the new affluent workers, the technical middle-class and
the elite.
LSE professor of sociology Mike Savage carried out the survey, which was
commissioned by the BBC.
"There's been a lot of debate in Britain about what�s happening with the
financial crash and with the rise of the banking sector," he said.
"One of the most interesting findings is the existence of quite a small elite
at the top.
"Only 4 per cent, extremely wealthy, 100,000 pounds income after taxes.
"If you set that against the precarious, the 15 per cent at the bottom who
have poorer income, don't own their own homes, have poor savings, have few
social networks, I think there's quite a striking tale there about social
divisions in modern Britain."
News of the new classifications is already causing issues for some.
"Well, me and my partner fell out cause I said we're middle working class and
he says we're working class," one woman said.
"I think we�re slightly higher than the working class but perhaps not quite
middle class.
"[He says we're not] because his parents were working class and we've got to
be working class."
Audio: New British class scale unveiled (AM)
Frank McShane, a vending machine repair man, says he is working class because
he has worked all his life.
But he says he has no biases against people at the top of the ladder.
"Look at Princess Anne and Katie, you know, they�re not snobs are they and
William, they�re not snobs," he said.
"They put a bit of work in, don't they. You know what I mean."
The public is being invited to take part in an online test to see where they
are on the new scale.
It is called the Great British class calculator, a reminder perhaps of the
good old days when everyone knew exactly where they belonged.
From Sidebar:
Seven social classes
The new classes are based on an individual's income and home value (economic
capital), their cultural interests (cultural capital) and the number and
status of people they know (social capital).
Elite
The most privileged class, with high levels of economic, social and cultural
capital
Established middle class
A culturally engaged class with strong levels of all three capitals
Technical middle class
A class of people with high economic capital but who seem less culturally
engaged, and have fewer social contacts
New affluent workers
A young and active group with medium levels of economic capital and higher
levels of social and cultural capital
Emergent service workers
A class with low economic capital but rising cultural capital and high social
capital. This class tends to be young people in urban areas.
Traditional working class
This class tends to be older and scores low on all forms of the three
capitals, though they are not the poorest group.
Precariat
The most deprived class of all, with low levels of economic, cultural and
social capital.
Via BBC
Topics: community-and-society, social-capital, united-kingdom
First posted April 04, 2013 09:21:01
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-04/new-model-gives-uk-class-system-a-shake-up/4608688
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
By Europe correspondent Barbara Miller
Updated April 04, 2013 11:13:47
The traditional British class system has received a shake-up, with a new model
concluding there are now seven social classes operating in the UK.
Britain is famous for its class system and it used to be so simple; there was
the working, middle and upper class.
But a major survey of 160,000 people, conducted by the London School of
Economics (LSE), has replaced that rigid structure with a seven-tiered system
that considers house values, cultural activities and jobs of friends.
And the new names are not exactly catchy.
If he were alive today, working class hero John Lennon would have to sing
about the precarious proletariat, the new class at the bottom of the ladder.
Other classes include the new affluent workers, the technical middle-class and
the elite.
LSE professor of sociology Mike Savage carried out the survey, which was
commissioned by the BBC.
"There's been a lot of debate in Britain about what�s happening with the
financial crash and with the rise of the banking sector," he said.
"One of the most interesting findings is the existence of quite a small elite
at the top.
"Only 4 per cent, extremely wealthy, 100,000 pounds income after taxes.
"If you set that against the precarious, the 15 per cent at the bottom who
have poorer income, don't own their own homes, have poor savings, have few
social networks, I think there's quite a striking tale there about social
divisions in modern Britain."
News of the new classifications is already causing issues for some.
"Well, me and my partner fell out cause I said we're middle working class and
he says we're working class," one woman said.
"I think we�re slightly higher than the working class but perhaps not quite
middle class.
"[He says we're not] because his parents were working class and we've got to
be working class."
Audio: New British class scale unveiled (AM)
Frank McShane, a vending machine repair man, says he is working class because
he has worked all his life.
But he says he has no biases against people at the top of the ladder.
"Look at Princess Anne and Katie, you know, they�re not snobs are they and
William, they�re not snobs," he said.
"They put a bit of work in, don't they. You know what I mean."
The public is being invited to take part in an online test to see where they
are on the new scale.
It is called the Great British class calculator, a reminder perhaps of the
good old days when everyone knew exactly where they belonged.
From Sidebar:
Seven social classes
The new classes are based on an individual's income and home value (economic
capital), their cultural interests (cultural capital) and the number and
status of people they know (social capital).
Elite
The most privileged class, with high levels of economic, social and cultural
capital
Established middle class
A culturally engaged class with strong levels of all three capitals
Technical middle class
A class of people with high economic capital but who seem less culturally
engaged, and have fewer social contacts
New affluent workers
A young and active group with medium levels of economic capital and higher
levels of social and cultural capital
Emergent service workers
A class with low economic capital but rising cultural capital and high social
capital. This class tends to be young people in urban areas.
Traditional working class
This class tends to be older and scores low on all forms of the three
capitals, though they are not the poorest group.
Precariat
The most deprived class of all, with low levels of economic, cultural and
social capital.
Via BBC
Topics: community-and-society, social-capital, united-kingdom
First posted April 04, 2013 09:21:01
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-04/new-model-gives-uk-class-system-a-shake-up/4608688
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
nusratr...@gmail.com
Apr 5, 2013, 7:40:16 AM4/5/13
to
On Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:01:57 +0200, Steve Hayes
<haye...@telkomsa.net> wrote:
How can they possibly rid themselves of their putrid class system with
Von Gothas calling in all the shots.
Her hangers on will jump to defend by the oldest canard namely she
brings in the tourists.
Guess no body told these idiots France takes in 5 times more tourists
without a monarchy. Besides, the wealth confiscated from these leaches
should bring in a pretty penny to service if not pay off the national
debt out right.a
No, I don't know what he means and I still don't understand the kind
of work these tow women do that can not be done cheaply by other
equally qualified women.
<haye...@telkomsa.net> wrote:
How can they possibly rid themselves of their putrid class system with
Von Gothas calling in all the shots.
Her hangers on will jump to defend by the oldest canard namely she
brings in the tourists.
Guess no body told these idiots France takes in 5 times more tourists
without a monarchy. Besides, the wealth confiscated from these leaches
should bring in a pretty penny to service if not pay off the national
debt out right.a
of work these tow women do that can not be done cheaply by other
equally qualified women.
Steve Hayes
Apr 5, 2013, 11:32:10 PM4/5/13
to
On Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:40:16 -0400, nusratr...@gmail.com wrote:
>On Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:01:57 +0200, Steve Hayes
><haye...@telkomsa.net> wrote:
>
>How can they possibly rid themselves of their putrid class system with
>Von Gothas calling in all the shots.
>Her hangers on will jump to defend by the oldest canard namely she
>brings in the tourists.
I certainly did not write that.
>On Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:01:57 +0200, Steve Hayes
><haye...@telkomsa.net> wrote:
>
>How can they possibly rid themselves of their putrid class system with
>Von Gothas calling in all the shots.
>Her hangers on will jump to defend by the oldest canard namely she
>brings in the tourists.
Get your attributions right.
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