Social class subcultures

What are the 3 sub groups seen in the upper class and what distinguishes them from eachother?

1. Traditional/aristocracy

2. Industry+commerce

3. Media stars

Group 1 is “old money” whilst groups 2 and 3 are the “nouveau riche” who try to emulate group 1

What does Scott (1991) say the main features of traditional upper class subculture are? (5)

Exclusive primary and secondary socialisation (e.g. intermarriage)

Military service

high culture and etiquette

servants

specific leisure activities

What do savage (1995) and Roberts (2001) say are the general features of middle class subculture? (7)

Due to their size, it’s difficult to generalise the m/c but their subculture usually consists of:

Committal to education and career

Individualism and family interest

Future time orientation

deferred gratification

Respect for high culture

Concern with wellbeing

What does Lawler (2005) note about the middle class’ attitude to high vs low culture?

They see their tastes as superior to the (usually white) working class.

What are the main features of traditional working class subculture? (6)

Not nearly as big as it once was (death of industries)

Collectivist

Traditionalist (e.g. patriarchal)

Solidarity, us Vs them mentality

Job over education

voted for old labour

What did Charlesworth (2000) find in the way traditional working class people interacted with each other?

They used insults and expletives as terms of endearment.

What 4 features did Hoggart (1969) find in a traditional, northern working class community?

Immediate gratification

present time orientation

Fatalism

Maintaining respectability

What are the main features of new working class subculture? (5)

Individualistic

work as means to an end

consumerism

less patriarchal

high levels of home ownership

What are the main aspects of underclass subculture and who developed the idea? (4)

An idea from New right sociologist Murray

stereotypes of deviant benefit scroungers

“culture of dependency”

High levels of crime from an early age