Common three-stratum model Social class

1 common three-stratum model

1.1 upper class
1.2 middle class
1.3 lower class

common three-stratum model

today, concepts of social class assume 3 general categories: wealthy , powerful upper class owns , controls means of production; middle class of professional workers, small business owners , low-level managers; , lower class, rely on low-paying wage jobs livelihood , experience poverty.

upper class



a symbolic image of 3 orders of feudal society in europe prior french revolution, shows rural third estate carrying clergy , nobility

the upper class social class composed of rich, well-born, powerful, or combination of those. wield greatest political power. in countries, wealth alone sufficient allow entry upper class. in others, people born or marry aristocratic bloodlines considered members of upper class , gain great wealth through commercial activity looked down upon aristocracy nouveau riche. in united kingdom, example, upper classes aristocracy , royalty, wealth playing less important role in class status. many aristocratic peerages or titles have seats attached them, holder of title (e.g. earl of bristol) , family being custodians of house, not owners. many of these require high expenditures, wealth typically needed. many aristocratic peerages , homes parts of estates, owned , run title holder moneys generated land, rents or other sources of wealth. however, in united states there no aristocracy or royalty, upper class status belongs extremely wealthy, so-called super-rich , though there tendency in united states old family wealth down on have earned money in business, struggle between new money , old money.

the upper class contained within richest 1 or 2 percent of population. members of upper class born , distinguished immense wealth passed generation generation in form of estates.

middle class

the middle class contested of 3 categories, broad group of people in contemporary society fall socio-economically between lower , upper classes. 1 example of contest of term in united states middle class applied broadly , includes people elsewhere considered working class. middle-class workers called white-collar workers .

theorists such ralf dahrendorf have noted tendency toward enlarged middle class in modern western societies, particularly in relation necessity of educated work force in technological economies. perspectives concerning globalization , neocolonialism, such dependency theory, suggest due shift of low-level labour developing nations , third world.

lower class

in united states lowest stratum of working class, underclass, lives in urban areas low-quality civil services

lower class (occasionally described working class) employed in low-paying wage jobs little economic security. term lower class refers persons low income.

the working class separated employed lacking financial security (the working poor ) , underclass—those long-term unemployed and/or homeless, receiving welfare state. latter analogous marxist term lumpenproletariat . members of working class called blue-collar workers.