How Sociologists Define Social Class and Its Impact on Social Life

This essay discusses how sociologists define social class and examines the ways in which class shapes social life. It explores the different classes in modern society and their characteristics.

ESSAY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................2
INTRODUTION..............................................................................................................................1
ESSAY.............................................................................................................................................1
How Sociologists define social class and in what ways class shape social life..........................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUTION
Social class refers to the group of people living in the society possessing same socio
economic status. In social theory social class refers to collection of people belonging to class
with same economic circumstances. It is studied in various studies of sociology. Present report is
based on the social class and the impact of class over social life of people.
ESSAY
How Sociologists define social class and in what ways class shape social life.
Sociologists believe that the society is stratified in hierarchical arrangements of different
social classes. Social groups are the groups of people in hierarchy on the basis of their wealth
education, wealth, income level, occupation and the social networks. As per sociologist social
class in most of the economies have been a controversial issue as there are number of arguments
in favour and against the social classes. There are mainly three types of classes which are upper
class, middle class and the working class (Poole, M., & Germov, J. (2019)). Many sociologist do
not consider the acceptance of the discrete social class in the societies but the fact is people are
ranked as per their social class structure. Social classes also depend over the race, position,
ethnicity, religious affiliation and many more. Number of theories has been given over the class
of people.
One of the sociologists states that thing distinguishing classes from each other in a
society are the mode of production and every mode of the production engenders distinctive
classes where one class is controlling and directing process of production where other classes or
class is direct providers and producers of the services to dominant class. Relation among the
classes is antagonistic as they have conflict of appropriation about production and in time periods
where methods of productions are changing due to the development in technology and in labour
utilization. Such conflicts are extremes & also giving birth to new class, challenging dominance
of existing classes (Woodward, I. (2019). There are various controversies over the classes. Some
consider impersonal factors where some consider the production dominance. Though there are
different theories there are general agreements among sociologists on the characteristics of the
social classes in modern society.
In the modern times upper class is distinguished by the sociologists on the basis of
inheritance of wealth. Number and amounts of property held and incomes derived by the
individuals (Bennett, T., Bustamante, M., & Frow, J. (2013)). They are able to have distinctive
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and extensive manner of living their life. They are mostly the industrialists and business people
with huge wealth. Middle class consists of the upper and middle level of clerical workers, who
are mainly engaged in professional and technical occupations, supervisors, managers, small
shopkeepers, business people and also the farmers. Those having high incomes are merged with
upper class where with low income are merges with the working class. Last is the working class
that have the least wealth among three classes. They are the annual workers working in factories
and industries. Working class is the biggest class of people with lowest wealth sharing.
Another sociologist argued that factors such as political developments, nationalism as well
as other factors played considerable role. Apart from impersonal social and income distinctions
among the groups factors such as collectivities, social status and the political hierarchies are also
shaping the classes.
Class culture could be seen in most of the economies in present times. Sociologist argues
that social class is the description about the manner in which individuals in the society are
sorting themselves as per the positions on the basis of importance, their prestige, influence and
compensation. Individuals start to adhere their behaviours which are expected from that class. It
has been identifies that the social classes have specific cultural traits (Bessant, J., & Watts, R.
(2007)). Phenomenon such as class culture has shown strong influence over the lives of people,
that have effect over each and everything. The way in which they raise their children, the
initiatives and how they maintain relationships and to even the colours they choose. It has been a
strong tendency of the individuals about their standing in the strengthened class differences.
Social networks of the people are generally seen in their own class, where they are acculturated,
learn the values and behaviours of their own classes. Mobility may cause some individuals to
acculturate with the culture of other classes. Impact of class culture is significant in the social
hierarchy.
Class have significant impact over the social life of people. In the modern world it could be
seen that people strive for enhancing their standard of living as per their classes. It is not always
the race or religion that is pushing the social life of people. People of upper class are expected to
live as per the people of their class, their behaviours their livings, education provided to their
children. They generally engage in leisure activities and plan on big projects (Bourdieu, P.
(2000)). Class have significant psychological impact over the behaviours of people. There is a
difference between their eating habits cultural traits and several other factors. People of middle
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class have social group of professionals and similar people. They work for improving their
position and status in the class for moving to the upper class. Where the working class live a
simple life mostly to fulfil their necessities of life. Classes are having significant influence over
the living standards of people (Poole, M., & Germov, J. (2019)). People of every class tend to
work for maintaining their status and start pursuing their life as per the class to which they
belong.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it could be concluded that the social classes are defined under various
theories given by the sociologists. Each of the theories have their own perceptions but have
general agreements over the three classes. Society is divided into upper, middle and lower class.
People shape their social life as per the class to which they belong for having the same prestige
and status.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Poole, M., & Germov, J. (2019). Sociological foundations: Early theorists & theories. In J. Germov & M. Poole
(Eds.). Public sociology: An introduction to Australian society (pp. 27-33) (4th ed.). Sydney, NSW:
Allen & Unwin.
Poole, M., & Germov, J. (2019). Contemporary sociological theorists & theories. In J. Germov & M. Poole (Eds.).
Public sociology: An introduction to Australian society (pp. 49-53; 62-63) (4th ed.). Sydney, NSW:
Allen & Unwin.
Woodward, I. (2019). Consumption & lifestyles. In J. Germov & M. Poole (Eds.). Public sociology: An introduction
to Australian society (pp. 175-193) (4th ed.). Sydney, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
Bennett, T., Bustamante, M., & Frow, J. (2013). The Australian space of lifestyles in comparative perspective.
Journal of Sociology, 49(2-3), 224-255. doi:10.1177/1440783313481523.
Bessant, J., & Watts, R. (2007). Sociology Australia. Sydney, NSW: Allen & Unwin. [Note to students: See chapters
13 (Confronting class and inequality) and 14 (Inequality in Australia)]
Bourdieu, P. (2000). Distinction: A social critique of the judgment of taste. London, UK: Routledge.
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