social class

Hierarchical societal division

Social class is a division of society based on economic position, occupation, education, or family background.

Classes range from working class through middle class to upper class, though boundaries blur.

Class affects access to resources, opportunities, and social networks: They come from different social classes.

Unlike caste, class permits mobility—people can rise or fall.

hierarchy

stratification

Division into distinct levels

casteInherited social division
rankPosition in hierarchy
echelonsLevels within a hierarchy

feudalism · serfdom · peasantry · commoner · plebeian · patrician · bourgeoisie · proletariat · underclass · meritocracy

elite

aristocracy

Rule by hereditary elite

nobilityTitled ruling class
gentryHighborn but not noble
upper crustSocial elite class

old money · new money · blueblood · jet set · privileged · exclusive · debutante · landed gentry · ruling elite · establishment

status

prestige

Reputation commanding admiration

respectabilityMoral and social worthiness
reputationCollective opinion of someone
pedigreeRecord of descent

background · upbringing · breeding · manners · etiquette · refinement · cultivation · cultural capital · credentials · aspiration

wealth

affluence

Abundance of money

prosperityGood fortune, success
richesAbundant valuable possessions
fortuneWealth or destiny

inheritance · old money · new money · capital · assets · property · land ownership · net worth · income inequality · wealth gap

mobility

upward mobility

Rising social or economic status

downward mobilityDrop in socioeconomic status
self-madeSuccessful through own efforts
rags to richesDramatic upward social mobility

American Dream · bootstrapping · meritocracy · glass ceiling · opportunity · advancement · education · credentialism · networking · nepotism

poverty

underclass

Lowest socioeconomic group

impoverishedExtremely lacking in money
destituteUtterly without means
underprivilegedLacking usual social advantages

disadvantaged · working poor · slums · favela · ghetto · homelessness · welfare · food stamps · public housing · subsistence

Categories

civilizationempires, empire, civilizations, dynasty, kingdoms
identityidentity, personal identity, self, selfhood, self-expression
social groupsdemographic groups, community, clan, ethnic groups, age groups
social systemspolitical systems, capitalism, feudalism, economic systems, legal systems
Victorian eraparlour, Victorian etiquette, etiquette, parlor games, courtship
classessubclass, superclass, underclass, caste, tier

Opposites

group vs. individual identity markers

social classindividuality

Unique personal character

personal identity · temperament · idiosyncrasy

stratification vs. equality

social classclasslessness

Lack of social hierarchy

classless society · social equality · egalitarianism · economic equality · equality

ascribed vs. achieved status

social classmeritocracy

Advancement through demonstrated ability

social mobility · self-made success · merit

Family

class, social, society, classes, socialism, antisocial, socialize, dissociate, unsocial

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