1. Economic Factors:
* Income: The amount of money earned through employment, investments, or other sources.
* Wealth: The total value of an individual's assets, including property, investments, and savings, minus any debts.
* Occupation: The type of work someone does, often reflecting their education, skills, and social status.
2. Social Factors:
* Education: Level of formal education attained, which can influence job opportunities and income.
* Social Networks: The connections and relationships individuals have, including family, friends, and professional contacts.
* Lifestyle: Consumption patterns, cultural tastes, leisure activities, and living standards.
3. Cultural Factors:
* Values: Beliefs and principles that shape an individual's worldview and behavior.
* Norms: Socially accepted standards of behavior and conduct within a particular group.
* Language: Shared ways of speaking and communicating, including vocabulary, accents, and slang.
Different Perspectives on Social Class:
* Marxist Theory: Focuses on the relationship between the means of production (capital) and the working class (labor).
* Weberian Theory: Adds social status and power (influence) to the equation, acknowledging that class is not solely determined by economic factors.
* Bourdieu's Theory: Emphasizes cultural capital (knowledge, skills, and tastes) as a crucial aspect of social class, arguing that it can be used to gain social and economic advantage.
Impact of Social Class:
Social class has significant implications for an individual's life chances, including:
* Health: Access to healthcare, health outcomes, and lifespan.
* Education: Opportunity for higher education and quality of schooling.
* Political Influence: Access to power and participation in decision-making processes.
* Social Mobility: The ability to move up or down the social hierarchy.
Important Note: Social class is a complex and multifaceted concept that is constantly evolving. There is a spectrum of class positions, and individuals may identify with different social classes depending on the context.