Survey reveals Britain now has 7 social classes (class calculator in link)

Interesting!

Our new model includes seven classes.
What class are you?
Class figures


Elite: This is the most privileged class in Great Britain who have high levels of all three capitals. Their high amount of economic capital sets them apart from everyone else.
Established Middle Class: Members of this class have high levels of all three capitals although not as high as the Elite. They are a gregarious and culturally engaged class.
Technical Middle Class: This is a new, small class with high economic capital but seem less culturally engaged. They have relatively few social contacts and so are less socially engaged.
New Affluent Workers: This class has medium levels of economic capital and higher levels of cultural and social capital. They are a young and active group.
Emergent Service Workers: This new class has low economic capital but has high levels of 'emerging' cultural capital and high social capital. This group are young and often found in urban areas.
Traditional Working Class: This class scores low on all forms of the three capitals although they are not the poorest group. The average age of this class is older than the others.
Precariat: This is the most deprived class of all with low levels of economic, cultural and social capital. The everyday lives of members of this class are precarious.

[link to www.bbc.co.uk]

That was very interesting!

I am an American, but I was classified in the *elite* sector. This test demonstrates how it is very true that one can "rise" in the US class system. I probably do belong in the elite category based on education, economic, and cultural distinctions, but I am also the grand-daughter of a man from the Appalachian Mountains who couldn't read and write (only a 2nd grade education). I am furthermore, the daughter of a man with a 40 year unionized factory job. I attended a public university (B.A.) and a private university (Masters). My children attend private high schools and elite universities.

i am from 'working class stock' myself. i think the deciding factor is that my old man was the black sheep and a tory. self made man, unlike his labour-for-life father and every other relative in his tree

People in the UK now fit into seven social classes, a major survey conducted by the BBC suggests.

It says the traditional categories of working, middle and upper class are outdated, fitting 39% of people.

It found a new model of seven social classes ranging from the elite at the top to a "precariat" - the poor, precarious proletariat - at the bottom.

More than 161,000 people took part in the Great British Class Survey, the largest study of class in the UK.

More at link: [link to www.bbc.co.uk]

Class Calculator: [link to www.bbc.co.uk]

Interestingly another thread on here today about the state of democracy in America, now the reason I am linking this is because I see an increase in the number of classes as an interesting transition, almost like we are looping back to square one - bondage: which for Britain was represented by a more classes..

That thread can be found here: The eight stages of Democracy -- how much more time does America have left?
Thread: The eight stages of Democracy -- how much more time does America have left?

For what it is worth I took the class calculator test which came back defining my position as elite.. Not a great thing to admit here, I am not "elite" in any sense of the term, nor am I middle class (I consider myself a master craftsman) however it is interesting that they are using that particular word rather than upper class.

It seems to reaffirm other peoples views that we are indeed returning to bondage controlled by the elite.

Anybody here read the book, Class, by the late Paul Fussell?

His book is interesting because he points out how the lowest of the lower classes and the highest of the upper classes actually have traits in common.

That book also has a class indicator quiz included that is geared more to American society. More material class markers (like condition of your Persian rug, number and type of window coverings you have, etc.)are used in his analysis.

The book is a bit dated, but most Americans who read it find it VERY eye opening.

:)

Same here - my people were yellow dog Democrats. I became a Reagan Conservative in college (and thus the family black sheep). I'd call myself a conservative/libertarian now.

Apparently I am from the established middle class!

The U.K. only has two ethical classes. Those that make money on financialization scams like LIBOR. and everybody else.

Precariat - poorest of the poor...


knew that already

Precariat - poorest of the poor...


knew that already