Introduction
The stratification system classifies and hierarchizes people according to their social status. Undoubtedly, the structure of British society is undergoing tremendous changes associated with more significant opportunities for social mobility, such as access to education, technological development, and new professions. The stratification system of the United Kingdom consists of six main classes and has many functional advantages, including determining social and professional responsibilities, assessing progress, and establishing social mobility.
Country Current Stratification System
The stratification system of the United Kingdom divides the population into several social classes. The first is the elite, which is considered the most privileged group in Great Britain and has the highest levels of all three capitals (“Huge Survey Reveals Seven Social Classes in UK,” 2013). The next class is the middle class, and it ranks second in terms of cultural capital (“Huge Survey Reveals Seven Social Classes in UK,” 2013). The technical middle class is a third characteristic of a new class group that is thriving but has low indicators of social and cultural capital. Then there are the new affluent workers, a group of young people who are socially and culturally active with an average level of economic capital. The traditional working class contains low valuations for all forms of capital (“Huge Survey Reveals Seven Social Classes in UK,” 2013). The workers of the next link belong to the emergency service, which includes a new, young, urban group who are poor but have high social and cultural capital. The last social link is the unstable proletariat, which is considered the poorest and most deprived class, and scores low on social and cultural capital.
Historical Changes
The system of social stratification in the United Kingdom has changed throughout history. Stratification was formed at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The main labels include “working class” and “middle class” which have already entered common usage (Cody, 2021). The working classes remained aloof from the political process, they displayed increasing hostility not only to the aristocracy but also to the middle class. Over time, changes have occurred in the system due to expanding access to education and establishing individual rights.
Functions and Social Benefits of the Current Social Stratification System
The modern system of social stratification in the United Kingdom serves to determine the social and professional status of the individual and provides various benefits to specific groups of the population. The participation in the cultural life of people of different generations will differ markedly, as will their level of income and savings. Today, the system generally contains advantages mainly because a person can easily change their title, position, and profession.
Drawbacks of the Current System
Stratification in the UK creates social inequality, as the classes are divided based on wealth and background. It is proved with the following statistics “Almost half of people say that where you end up in society is largely determined by your background. 44% of people feel that where you end up is largely determined by your background and your parents, compared to 35% who feel everyone has a fair chance to get on” (“Social Mobility Barometer,” 2020, p.4). This issue can lead to a lack of opportunity for those in the lower classes, as they may need access to the same resources as those in the upper classes. It is proved with the following finding “Less than 40% of individuals think they are better off than 10 years ago, but there are stark differences in the perception of people from who consider themselves from “working class” and “middle class” backgrounds” (“Social Mobility Barometer,” 2020, p.4). Additionally, the system can lead to unfair treatment of those in the lower classes, as they may not be given the same respect as those in the upper classes.
Social Inequality Role
Data from the latest national survey of workers by class, gender, and race suggest some differences between perceptions of one’s job. Those engaged in routine and physical work, on average, find their work less meaningful than those in managerial and professional positions, although the differences are quite modest (Williams et al., 2022). Another finding is that small employers and self-employed workers are still equal to those in senior management and professional positions, regardless of race (Williams et al., 2022). Such a feature implies a more detailed class stratification than when it comes to economic advantage. Perceived benefit to society across classes revealed that differences between a small cluster of health, social care and protection occupations could not be fully accounted for by a rich set of attributes.
Particular Population Affected by the Intersections of Class, Race, and Gender
Stratification in the UK was caused by cultural gluttony by gender and class, which persists when controlling for the number of children, income, and time availability. Women in the lower class were most affected. Their participation is analyzed in terms of access to cultural participation. Between 20th and 21st, this cultural gluttony increased by about 20% (Katz-Gerro & Sullivan, 2022). For example, “for women in the Large Employers and Senior Management category, the mean cultural gluttony is higher than the equivalent men for both survey measures” (Katz-Gerro & Sullivan, 2022). However, this indicator for women who occupy higher professions exceeds the indicator for equivalent men per daily measure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the stratification system of the United Kingdom has changed throughout history, and there is a complex hierarchy of social classes in the present day. The main classes were formed in the 19th century, but today, there are six main classes that differ in privileges and place in society. However, there is still social inequality and discrimination by class, race, and gender in the nation, leading to various problems for marginalized groups.
References
Cody, D. (2021). Social class. Victorianweb.org. Web.
Huge survey reveals seven social classes in UK. (2013). BBC News. Web.
Katz-Gerro, T., & Sullivan, O. (2022). Cultural stratification in the UK: Persistent gender and class differences in cultural voraciousness. Journal of Consumer Culture, 146954052211003. Web.
Social mobility barometer. (2020). In Social Mobility Commission. Web.
Williams, M., Gifford, J., & Zhou, Y. (2022). Social stratification in meaningful work: Occupational class disparities in the United Kingdom. The British Journal of Sociology. Web.