We explain what social classes are, how Marxism defines them, and which ones we find today. We also explain the history of social classes.
What are social classes?
Social classes are the different groups into which a society is organized based on their social and economic conditions, such as access to resources, power, education, or social status. It is a common concept in the social sciences used to analyze the structure, functioning, and dynamics of a society.
Social classes constitute connected and hierarchical segments of society, often opposed or hostile, with common interests and political aspirations. At the same time, they can be heterogeneous and dynamic groups and, depending on the political and economic context, can allow for social mobility of individuals between different groups. You must read about Judaism once.
The analysis of social classes allows us to understand how opportunities and inequalities are distributed within a society. In economic terms, social classes are usually divided into upper, middle, and lower classes, depending on the level of access to goods, resources, and services.
The concept of social class gained great relevance through the work of thinkers such as Karl Marx and Max Weber, who analyzed it in terms of class struggle and competition between groups for power and control of economic assets. Maybe you should definitely read about Ten Commandments once.
KEY POINTS
- Social classes are divided according to income, wealth, and access to resources, determining position in society.
- Although they can be rigid, many societies allow for changes in social position through education or economic opportunities.
- The upper classes have greater political, social, and economic influence, while the lower classes face more limitations.
- In addition to economics, class influences values, lifestyles, and opportunities for personal development.
Social Classes According to Marxism
For Marxism, in capitalism, the social classes are the working class and the bourgeoisie. In this economic system, what divides the classes is the control of the means of production. The bourgeoisie owns capital and exploits the working class by purchasing their labor power in exchange for a monthly wage.
According to Marxist analysis, this relationship maximizes the profit (surplus value) of the bourgeoisie and impoverishes the working class. For this reason, it is a relationship based on economic exploitation, political control, and social coercion.
This thesis is based on the concept of class struggle, according to which there is a struggle between sectors of society for the distribution of goods and political and economic control.
Current Social Classes
Currently, different social classes are distinguished according to their purchasing power and their role in society: the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class.
Upper Class
The upper class is the most powerful and accumulates the largest percentage of economic power (property, businesses, national and international capital). Its members are usually owners of corporations, landowners, and heirs of wealthy families whose prestigious position allows for a life of comfort, education, and opportunity. Furthermore, they often have significant influence on politics and the management of societies.
Middle Class
The boundaries of the middle class are more blurred. It includes professional workers, small property owners, and the small merchant class. Its members aspire to differentiate themselves from the lower class, which is why they are often consumers of status symbols. It is usually classified as lower middle class, middle class, and upper middle class, according to their income and lifestyle.
Lower Class
The lower class is the working and laboring class. Its members own neither property nor capital and must work to survive, often without many educational or personal development opportunities. The lower class also includes the most economically vulnerable sectors, those living in marginal areas, and even the destitute and unproductive sectors. You must read about Kosher once.
History of Social Classes
Throughout history, social classes have evolved in response to changes in economic, political, and cultural structures. In pre-industrial societies, social divisions were often based on criteria such as lineage or inherited status.
In the Middle Ages, for example, social classes were defined by the feudal system, where lords and nobility owned land and power, while peasants and serfs worked the land and produced goods for the survival of society as a whole. This division was rigid, with no mobility between classes.
With the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, social classes underwent a radical transformation. A new middle class emerged, composed of professionals, businesspeople, and merchants, which was distinguished from the working class, made up of factory workers under precarious conditions.
This new class structure reflected the greater importance of capital and private property as determining factors of social status. At the same time, ideas of equality and democracy began to challenge the rigid structures of the aristocracy and nobility, promoting greater social mobility.
In the modern era, social classes continue to exist, albeit in more complex forms. Globalization and technological advancement have created new divisions, widening the gap between the upper and lower classes.
References
All the information we offer is supported by authoritative and up-to-date bibliographic sources, ensuring reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
- Kuper, A. & Kuper, J. (2005). Class, social. The Social Science Encyclopedia. World Reference.
- Ritzer, G. & Ryan, J. M. (2011). Class; Class conflict. The Concise Encyclopedia of Sociology. Wiley-Blackwell.
- Turner, B. (2006). Social class. The Cambridge Dictionary of Sociology. Cambridge University Press.
