{"id":11667,"date":"2024-09-06T11:32:04","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T11:32:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nurs.essaybishops.com\/the-concept-of-social-class\/"},"modified":"2024-09-06T11:32:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T11:32:04","slug":"the-concept-of-social-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeworkacetutors.com\/nursing\/the-concept-of-social-class\/","title":{"rendered":"The concept of social class"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The concept of social class has been explored by several sociologists. This essay <\/p>\n

will focus on defining social class and demonstrate its relevance to the <\/p>\n

understanding of society, social issues and health.<\/p>\n

A number of sociologists have attempted to define social class. It is not an easy <\/p>\n

concept to describe. Marx and Engels (1848) defined social class as being divided<\/p>\n

into \u2018The Bourgeoisie\u2019 who owned the land and factories. They exploited the lower <\/p>\n

working masses that were termed, \u2018The Proletariat\u2019. Marx\u2019s (1848) view was that <\/p>\n

social class was linked to the conflict between the two classes. Marx and Engels <\/p>\n

(1848) defined social class in relation to the ownership of means of production <\/p>\n

Weber (1946), on the other hand, divided social class into power, wealth and <\/p>\n

prestige. Social class was based on social order. Power was distributed according to <\/p>\n

a set of formal rules. Weber (1946) stated that \u2018class\u2019 was based on individuals\u2019<\/p>\n

attitudes to others.<\/p>\n

Today, social class may be defined in a number of different ways. Firstly, in <\/p>\n

economic terms, for example, occupation, income and wealth. Secondly, in political <\/p>\n

terms, that is, status and power. Thirdly, in terms of an individual\u2019s culture, for <\/p>\n

example, different beliefs, values, thoughts about what is socially acceptable and <\/p>\n

educational level. The National Office for Statistics has, since 2001, used the <\/p>\n

National Statistics Socio- Economic Classification (NS-SEC) to classify social class <\/p>\n

in Britain (fig. 3.) This replaced the Registrar General\u2019s social class (fig.2) which was<\/p>\n

based on occupation. The latter was considered to be narrow and misleading <\/p>\n

because it did not take into consideration, full time students, the long term<\/p>\n

unemployed, those that had never worked, and occupations that were difficult to <\/p>\n

place in a class description. One may suggest that the classifications needed <\/p>\n

updating. It could be suggested, given the recent reclassification, that social class <\/p>\n

may now be thought of in \u201csocio economic group\u201d terms. It must be noted, however, <\/p>\n

that these [socio economic] classifications are not the only determinants of life <\/p>\n

chances (www.ons.gov.uk). Other drivers may include, genetic inheritance, family <\/p>\n

structure, attitudes and aspirations (Aldridge, 2004) (fig 1). The evidence may <\/p>\n

suggest that improving individuals\u2019 opportunities in life, rather than their social <\/p>\n

mobility, may improve their life outcomes (Independent Commission on Social <\/p>\n

Mobility, 2009).<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople with higher socioeconomic position in society have a greater array of life <\/p>\n

chances and more opportunities to lead a flourishing life. They also have better <\/p>\n

health\u201d (Marmott, 2010). The evidence suggests that social class is linked to <\/p>\n

inequality in both society and health. Generally, those of a lower socio economic <\/p>\n

group tend to have less well paid employment, and therefore less income and <\/p>\n

resources available to them. The middle classes generally exercise more, and have <\/p>\n

wider social activities, which may result in a healthier lifestyle. This may be due to a <\/p>\n

number of reasons, for example, they may have more disposable income, resulting <\/p>\n

in affordability of leisure facilities, holidays, and private health screening. Poorer <\/p>\n

socio economic status may result in poorer health, an undesirable lifestyle, and an<\/p>\n

increase in morbidity and mortality. It could be suggested that the gap in mortality <\/p>\n

between the socio economic groups is getting wider (Taylor & Field, 2003). The <\/p>\n

evidence demonstrates that there is a link between social class and average life <\/p>\n

expectancy at birth (see the graphs below): <\/p>\n

Researchers have identified a class\u2019 pattern\u2019 for certain diseases, which is <\/p>\n

influenced from before birth into old age (Lynch & Oelman, 1981; Mitchell, <\/p>\n

1984; Townsend, et al.1990 cited in Perry, 1996). This suggests that individuals in<\/p>\n

deprived circumstances are more likely to have illness, or to die from chronic <\/p>\n

disease, such as heart disease. This may be due in part to poor diet, which may be a <\/p>\n

result of social and economic status, rather than through lack of knowledge or <\/p>\n

careless food selection (Ellahi, 2009). For example, poorer people may find that <\/p>\n

they have barriers to accessing \u2018healthy food\u2019 at out- of- town supermarkets because <\/p>\n

of, for example, lack of suitable transport (Caraher, M, et al, 1998).Low income<\/p>\n

individuals will then have no choice but to buy food that is available to them locally, <\/p>\n

which may well be cheaper, but may be also of inferior nutritional content. <\/p>\n

Dallison & Lobstein (1995 cited in Purdy & Banks, 1999) suggest that low income <\/p>\n

groups tend to cut back on buying food if they have a limited amount of money. This <\/p>\n

may result in missed meals and deficiency in essential nutrients.<\/p>\n

Certain long term chronic conditions are more prevalent in the lower classes. For <\/p>\n

example, men aged 20-64 employed in unskilled manual occupations are around 14 <\/p>\n

times more likely to die from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than <\/p>\n

men employed in professional roles (www.brit-thoratic.org.uk). It could be argued<\/p>\n

that the reason for this is that those from poorer socio economic backgrounds are<\/p>\n

more likely to smoke than those from higher socio economic groups <\/p>\n

(www.cancerresearch.org.uk) . The evidence suggests that smoking may be used<\/p>\n

as a coping mechanism to combat stress which may be present in areas of <\/p>\n

deprivation (Layte and Whelan, 2009). Smoking may also be seen as socially <\/p>\n

acceptable by individuals in these areas ( Shomaimi, et al 2003). <\/p>\n

Inferior standards of housing [close to industrialized zones] may well promote high <\/p>\n

levels of disease (Farmer, Miller & Lawrenson, 1977). Deprived individuals tend to<\/p>\n

live in more deprived neighbourhoods. This may lead to low self esteem, social <\/p>\n

isolation and an increase in mental health issues, which may ultimately also affect <\/p>\n

physical health. Lack of green space and leisure activities may all contribute to ill <\/p>\n

health. Conversely, it could be proposed that persistent mental illness, may result in <\/p>\n

middle or upper class individuals being unable to continue working in demanding job <\/p>\n

roles, leading to them living in poorer circumstances and this may result in an<\/p>\n

increase in susceptibility to illness (Farmer, Miller & Lawrenson, 1977).<\/p>\n

The Black Report (Townsend & Davison, 1982) and The Acheson Report <\/p>\n

(Acheson, 1998) stated that health inequalities existed. Both reports recommended <\/p>\n

that \u2018equitable access to effective care should be in relation to need, and this should <\/p>\n

occur at every level of The National Health Service\u2019 (Acheson, 1998). In an updated <\/p>\n

review, Marmot (2010) stated that \u2018dramatic health inequalities are still a dominant<\/p>\n

feature of health in England across all regions\u2019. The review recommends that <\/p>\n

several issues relating to social inequality are tackled by implementing local <\/p>\n

development plans (Marmot, 2010).These issues would help individuals, particularly <\/p>\n

in the lower social groups, to improve their life chances and their health. An example<\/p>\n

may be by improving public transport in an area of deprivation.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, it may be stated that social class is extremely relevant to our <\/p>\n

understanding of society, social issues and health. Improving the life chances and <\/p>\n

raising expectations for everyone, especially those in low income groups, remains a <\/p>\n

challenge, where the ultimate goal is to reach equality and good health for all, no <\/p>\n

matter what their social status.<\/p>\n

Bibliography<\/h3>\n