The Great British Class System 2013

Elite

1. Elite

The elite class are the most wealthy and advantaged group in the UK. The Elite are an exclusive group and have a low proportion of ethnic minorities compared to a high proportion of University graduates.

E.g. Chief executive officers

Barristers

Financial manager

Established middle class

2.Established Middle Class

This class is much larger than the elite class, including around 25% of the population.

This class has a high proportion of university graduates, however it is more accessible than the Elite class. This is shown by the higher proportion of ethnic minorities.

e.g. Electrical engineers, Midwifes and police officers.

Technical middle class

3. Technical Middle Class

This includes a smaller section of the population with just 6%. It holds a lower proportion of university graduates, with over half being female. A scientific and technical group who use their skill to get to this class.

e.g. Pilots

Pharmacists

Higher education teachers

New affluent workers

4. New Affluent workers

This class are generally economically secure but not overly so. This class is very male dominated with some having attended university. This class has a high proportion of young people.

E.g . Postal workers

Retail assistants

Plumbers

Traditional working class

5. Traditional working class

This class is generally a poorer class with few university graduates. It mainly includes traditional working class occupations, but it very female dominated.

e.g Medical secretaries

Care workers

Electricians

Emergent service workers

6. Emergent service workers

This class has a young age group - with an average age of 34 years old. This class also has a high proportion of ethnic minorities. With many working in the service sector and living in cheaper accommodation within cities.

e.g. Bar staff

Chefs

Nursing Auxiliaries

Precariat

7. Precariat

This class is the poorest and most deprived class. This class live in originally industrial areas and form around 15% of the population.

e.g. Cleaners

Van drivers

Carpenters

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Harmonious division of society

• A source of stability

• Defines professional careers to every individual

• A successful evolution of the Caste System

Cons:

• Social disorganisation

• Divides the society

• Stands in the way of independence and career development

• Lower Classes regarded in a negative way

• Weakens communities

How relevant is it?

- The class system within British society may be seen as irrelevant in today's culture due to more equal opportunities, for example, all having the right to education.

- Although, class divisions in society may be worse than ever due to a now more uneven spread of wealth, it is evident that the richer have become richer, while the poorer have remained the same or maybe poorer.

- Therefore, even though it is now more possible to move up the classes, sadly there is still a greater chance you will remain in the class you were born into.

References

Savage, M., Devine, F., Cunningham, N., Taylor, M., Li, Y., Hjellbrekke, J., Le Roux, B., Friedman, S., Miles, A., 2013. A new model of social class? Findings from the BBC's Great British Class Survey experiment. Sociology [online]. 47 (2), pg. 219-250.

Devine, F., Snee, H., 2015. Doing the Great British Class Survey. Sociological Review [online]. 63(2).

Dorling, D., 2013. What Class Are You? Statistics Views Feature [online].