Language
Country/Area
No result found
Hidden Wealth: Do you know how amazing Britain's elite is?
In today's society, the changes in social classes have always been the focus of scholars and researchers. In particular, the Great British Class Survey (GBCS), conducted by British sociologists, revealed the hidden wealth and class divisions in British society. The survey, first conducted in 2011 with 325,000 participants, shows that the class structure of British society is far more complex than imagined.
The survey divides social classes into seven categories, ranging from the wealthy "elites" to the "proletariat" living on the economic margins, presenting a diversified and layered social phenomenon.
This study is based on Pierre Bourdieu's social capital theory and considers three important indicators: economic capital, cultural capital and social capital. Economic capital refers to an individual's income and assets, cultural capital refers to an individual's interest and participation in cultural matters, and social capital emphasizes an individual's social network and social status. This provides a theoretical basis for understanding class differences.
Results of the Survey
According to the analysis results of GBCS, the classes in British society can be divided into the following categories:
Elite
Of these seven classes, the elite class accounts for 6% of British society and possesses significant economic and social capital. Typical occupations in this class include CEOs, lawyers and doctors. The average household income in these areas is £89,000 and the average house price is over £325,000.
Middle class
The 'established middle class' makes up around 25% of British society. The average household income in this group is £47,000 and occupations include professional services such as environmental experts and police officers. These people have relatively stable economic lives and have a certain degree of social influence.
Technical middle class
The skilled middle class, which makes up around 6%, is characterised by high economic capital but low social connections, with an average income of £38,000. This class usually lives in families with a professional background and works mainly in the fields of science and education.
New wealthy working class
The new wealthy working class makes up 15% of British society, with occupations including electricians and retail clerks and middle-income levels. This class is more receptive to emerging cultures and often participates in social and cultural activities.
Traditional working class
Around 14% of the British people belong to the traditional working class, and their economic conditions are poor, with an average income of only £13,000. This class also has significantly lower levels of social networking and cultural participation than other classes.
Emerging service industries
The emerging service industry accounts for 19%. The average income of this class is £21,000. They usually work in service industries and are highly involved in youth cultural activities.
Proletariat
The bottom tier of the “proletariat”, which makes up 15%, has the lowest economic capital and an average income of just £8,000. This class usually works in the service industry and has weaker social connections.
These findings show us that the class structure of British society is more diverse and complex than before. How does mobility between classes affect the future of individuals and society?
In summary, The Great British Class Survey provides deep insights into the class structure of British society and challenges our existing understanding of class. Faced with such diverse social phenomena, how do you think we should view the impact of class differences on social fairness and equal opportunities?
