Socio-economic Class » Contemporary Class Analysis

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

Contemporary approaches to understanding social class
The Great British Class Survey and its seven class categories
Cultural, social and economic capital in class analysis
How class identity has changed in modern Britain
The impact of class on life chances and opportunities

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Contemporary Class Analysis in the UK

While traditional views of class focused mainly on occupation and income, modern sociologists have developed more complex ways to understand social class in today's society. Contemporary class analysis looks at multiple factors that shape our position in society and the opportunities available to us.

Key Definitions:

Contemporary Class Analysis: Modern approaches to understanding social stratification that go beyond traditional economic measures.
Cultural Capital: Knowledge, skills, education and advantages that give a person higher status in society.
Social Capital: The networks of relationships among people that can help individuals advance in society.
Economic Capital: Financial assets, property and income that provide material advantages.

Bourdieu's Forms of Capital

French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu revolutionised how we think about class by suggesting it's not just about money. He identified three main types of 'capital' that determine our position in society:

💰 Economic Capital

This is the most straightforward form - it's about money and wealth. It includes:

Income and savings
Property ownership
Investments
Inheritance

Example: A family that owns their home outright and has significant savings has high economic capital.

🎓 Cultural Capital

This refers to knowledge, tastes and behaviours that signal class position:

Education and qualifications
Knowledge of 'high culture' (art, music, literature)
Speaking styles and accent
Cultural tastes and preferences

Example: Someone who can discuss classical music, visits art galleries and has a university degree has high cultural capital.

👥 Social Capital

This involves the networks and relationships that can help you get ahead:

Professional connections
Family networks
Membership in clubs and organisations
Friends in influential positions

Example: Someone whose parents know the manager at a company where they want to work has social capital they can use to help get a job.

The Great British Class Survey

In 2013, the BBC conducted the largest study of social class ever undertaken in the UK, with over 161,000 participants. Led by sociologists Mike Savage and Fiona Devine, the study used Bourdieu's ideas about different forms of capital to identify seven new social classes in Britain.

Case Study: The Great British Class Survey

This landmark study moved beyond traditional models of working, middle and upper class to identify seven distinct classes based on economic, cultural and social capital. The researchers collected data on income, savings, cultural interests and social connections to map out a more nuanced picture of class in modern Britain.

The Seven Classes of Modern Britain

According to the Great British Class Survey, these are the seven classes in contemporary British society:

👑 Elite

The most privileged group with high levels of all three capitals. They typically have:

Wealth over £140,000
Prestigious university education
High-status cultural interests
Extensive social networks

Makes up about 6% of the population.

🎓 Established Middle Class

The second wealthiest group with high levels of all capitals but not as high as the elite:

Good savings and house values
Many social contacts
High cultural capital

Makes up about 25% of the population.

🏆 Technical Middle Class

A new, distinctive class with:

High economic capital
Low social capital (few contacts)
Low cultural capital
Often work in technical fields

Makes up about 6% of the population.

💻 New Affluent Workers

A young class with:

Moderate economic capital
Moderate social connections
Interest in 'emerging' cultural activities

Makes up about 15% of the population.

🏠 Traditional Working Class

An older group with:

Relatively low economic capital
Few social contacts
Low cultural capital
Often own their homes

Makes up about 14% of the population.

📚 Emergent Service Workers

A young, urban class with:

Low economic capital
High social capital
High 'emerging' cultural capital

Makes up about 19% of the population.

🚧 Precariat

The most deprived class with:

Low levels of all capitals
Insecure employment
Rented housing
Limited social connections

Makes up about 15% of the population.

Class Identity in Modern Britain

One interesting finding from contemporary class research is that many people's subjective class identity (how they see themselves) doesn't match their objective class position (where researchers would place them based on capitals).

🔍 The "Middle Class Myth"

Around 60% of Britons identify as 'middle class' even though objective measures would place many of them in different categories. This shows how class identity has become complex and sometimes disconnected from economic reality.

Some reasons for this include:

Stigma attached to being 'working class'
Aspiration and desire for upward mobility
Changes in the job market with fewer traditional working-class jobs
Increased access to consumer goods that were once markers of middle-class status

Class and Life Chances

Despite changes in how we understand class, research consistently shows that class position still significantly affects life chances in the UK:

🏫 Education

Children from elite and established middle-class backgrounds are:

More likely to attend university
More likely to attend prestigious universities
More likely to achieve higher grades

🏥 Employment

Class affects work opportunities:

Higher classes have better access to professional networks
Precariat class faces job insecurity and zero-hours contracts
Elite class members often have family connections to help career advancement

🩺 Health

Class impacts health outcomes:

Lower classes have shorter life expectancy
Higher rates of chronic illness in precariat class
Mental health issues more prevalent in lower classes

Case Study: Social Mobility in the UK

The Social Mobility Commission has found that the UK has one of the lowest rates of social mobility in the developed world. A child born into a family in the bottom fifth of the income distribution has only a 9% chance of making it to the top fifth as an adult. This suggests that despite changes in how we understand class, the reality of class barriers remains strong in British society.

Criticisms of Contemporary Class Analysis

While models like the Great British Class Survey provide valuable insights, they also face criticism:

Too complex: Seven classes may be too complicated for practical analysis
Online methodology: The survey was conducted online, potentially excluding those without internet access (often the most disadvantaged)
Subjective measures: Cultural capital can be difficult to measure objectively
Neglect of other factors: Some critics argue that factors like gender, ethnicity and disability intersect with class in ways not fully captured

Summary

Contemporary class analysis has moved beyond traditional economic measures to include cultural and social factors. The Great British Class Survey identified seven distinct classes in the UK based on different forms of capital. Despite changes in how we understand class, it continues to significantly impact life chances and opportunities. Modern approaches give us a more nuanced picture of inequality in British society, showing how advantage and disadvantage operate through complex social, cultural and economic mechanisms.

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