1. Class and status

2. Social class
• A group of people in
society that possess
the same economic
status, often
determined by
occupation, education,
income, manners,
etc.

3. British class system
• Upper class – inherited wealth,
oldest families, many titled
aristocrats
• Middle class – majority of population,
include industrialists, professionals,
business people, shop owners
• Lower or working class – people
working in agriculture, mines or
factories

4. Media class classification
Class type Media
classification
Upper
middle (3%
of pop)
A Few thousand wealthiest and culturally privileged
businessmen and property owners. Managing directors,
chiefs of staff, top level employees, high-earners, surgeons,
stock brokers, etc.
Middle
(13%)
B Broad group consisting of majority.
Lower
middle
(22%)
C1 Office workers, shopkeepers, sales people, teachers, police,
nurses; semi-professionals.
Skilled
working
(32%)
C2 Higher status jobs, better paid or highly skilled such as
factory foremen or technicians.
Working
(22%)
D Blue-collar sector workers traditionally low paid heavy
industries such as coal, steel, manufacturing.
Lower E Low prestige, low pay, unskilled jobs, cleaners, shop
assistants, etc. Part-time work, filled mainly by teens.

5. The underclass
• Citizens outside of
employment
structure – old age
pensioners,
unemployed,
students,
homeless, poor, on welfare, etc.