Social Class 20-3-09

“Social class is a division of society made up of persons possessing certain common social characteristics which are taken to qualify them for intimate, equal status relations with one another, and which restrict their interaction with members of other social classes.” Krech, Crutchfield & Ballachey in Dubois 2000.

These two diagrams below show the way in which social class has developed over the past century.

These showing three different classes developing into seven classes, creating a diamond shape from the previous triangle. These changes have occurred as individuals have began to move up social classes, either by income or marrying up.

Different countries have different social classes and these are determined in different ways. Below is a table showing the different social classes in Great Britain and those in India. These social classes can have more importance to particular countries than to others, some finding it hard to associate with those below their class.



Classes are often determined by what occupation an individual has, their income, education or family background. These are visible by they way they dress and are groomed, with their tone of speak giving a distinction between upper and lower classes and titles that may be held.

Their income and social class run alongside of each other, helping to understanding why individuals are in that class. Status symbols are used to show others an individuals place within society. Incomes have began to increasing changing the social classes of individuals, this is due to a rise in women working bringing more money into a household and a rise in graduates being able to do higher paid jobs.

Individuals have their own opinions on the way in which social classes are worked out and the way in which they are seen. Social mobility of an individual can be done quickly and often as needed, this shows that there is not one thing it is based on and individuals can change quickly. An example of this is marrying up the social ladder. The income factor in purely based on the head of the houses income rather than the dual income of the whole family, this could change the social class of the family as the women in the house could also be working. Individuals may dress like they belong to a particular class but actually don’t, this can cause confusing so ignores the subject of the actual class.

Social class shows a better indication of symbolic purchases; these could range in price but would involve cosmetics and liqueurs. Income shows a better indicator of non-symbolic purchases, these would high expense like fridges or cookers. Using both social class and income shows indication of expensive and symbolic products. This way individuals can show their personality with their wealth, example cars and homes.


This Rolex commercial is aimed at the Higher Class as it is an expensive company. The sports shown are those connected with the higher class, Show Jumping, Tennis, Golf. Over the top of the commercial is an opera song, a show which the lower class would not go to as it is often expensive and is associated with money.