Social Class
NoteSocial class is not just about income, it also includes social and cultural capital.
Organization, Role and Impacts of Social Class
Organization of Social Class
- Upper Class: Wealthy individuals with significant influence and power.
- Middle Class: Professionals, managers, and skilled workers.
- Working Class: Manual laborers and service industry workers.
- Lower Class: Unemployed or underemployed individuals.
Role of Social Class
- Determines Access to Resources: Higher classes have better access to education, healthcare, and opportunities.
- Influences Lifestyle and Culture: Social class affects consumption patterns, leisure activities, and cultural participation.
- Shapes Identity and Social Networks: Class influences who individuals interact with and how they perceive themselves.
Impacts of Social Class
- Economic Inequality: Social class contributes to wealth disparities.
- Social Mobility: Class can either facilitate or hinder upward mobility.
- Cultural Capital: Higher classes often have greater access to cultural knowledge and skills.
Forms of Discrimination
- Proxy Discrimination: Indirectly discriminating due to factors correlating with social factors such as sexuality, race, etc.
- Digital Redlining: Denial of service to digital technologies targeted at specific social classes or groups.
- How does social class influence access to digital technologies?
- Can digital technologies help bridge the gap between social classes?
- What are the ethical implications of digital redlining?
To what extent should governments intervene to reduce the digital divide between social classes?
