3.3.2
Upper & Middle Class
Upper-Class Groups
Upper-Class Groups
The upper-class consists of three main groups explored below.
The upper-class
The upper-class
- The upper-class is a small social class consisting of those who are the main owners of society’s wealth and consist of three main groups:
- The traditional upper-class.
- The owners of industry and commerce.
- The stars of entertainment, media, and sport.
Traditional upper-class
Traditional upper-class
- The traditional upper-class consists of royalty and the traditional land-owning aristocracy, as well as the titled, such as dukes, duchesses, lords and ladies, and earls.
Merchants
Merchants
- The owners of industry and commerce are the corporate rich, that is, wealthy business people who made their wealth through commerce rather than through land or titles.
Stars
Stars
- Stars of entertainment, media, and sport, as the name suggests, are those who have become wealthy due to their celebrity status.
- For example:
- David Beckham.
- Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.
Upper-Class Culture and Identity
Upper-Class Culture and Identity
Upper class culture is normally associated with the traditional upper-class and consists of a number of factors. Generally speaking, examples of these factors are:
Cultural capital
Cultural capital
- Traditionally, high levels of cultural capital and an appreciation of high culture (classical music, high literature, etc.).
- A network of privileged social contacts (the ‘old boys’ network) allowing them greater access to positions of power.
The ‘nouveau riche'
The ‘nouveau riche'
- The owners of industry and commerce and stars of entertainment, media, and support make up what is termed the ‘nouveau riche’, or new rich and have acquired their wealth in their own lifetime, rather than through inheritance.
Middle-Class Subculture and Identity
Middle-Class Subculture and Identity
The middle-class refers to those engaged in non-manual work and represents the largest of the social classes. Here are some generalisations about the middle class:
Occupation
Occupation
- Middle-class occupations include office workers, doctors, teachers, and managers.
- This group covers a wide range of occupations, educational qualifications, incomes, and lifestyles.
Education
Education
- The middle-class may display a commitment to education (including private education) and recognise that education is important to future success.
Ambition
Ambition
- The middle-class may place a great emphasis on individual effort, personal ambition and ‘self-help’ to help them succeed in life.
Deferred gratification
Deferred gratification
- The middle-class may display a deferred gratification, the emphasis on putting off immediate pleasures in order to guarantee future gains.
Cultural capital
Cultural capital
- The middle-class may benefit from the possession of cultural capital as well as greater respect for high culture over popular culture.
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
Jump to other topics
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
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