Economic class is a sociological and anthropological concept that refers to the grouping of people based on their economic position in society, typically determined by wealth, income, occupation, and access to resources. It is a central idea in understanding inequality, social stratification, and cultural identity.
🌍 Definition
- Economic Class: A category of people who share similar economic conditions and opportunities, influencing their lifestyle, power, and social relations.
- Core Idea: Class is not only about money—it also shapes cultural practices, education, health, and political influence.
🔑 Characteristics
- Basis of Classification:
- Income & Wealth: Earnings, property, investments.
- Occupation: Type of work and prestige associated with it.
- Education: Access to schooling and cultural capital.
- Consumption Patterns: Goods, services, and lifestyles associated with class.
- Mobility: Movement between classes (upward or downward) through changes in wealth, education, or occupation.
- Intersectionality: Class interacts with race, gender, and ethnicity in shaping inequality.
📚 Examples
- Upper Class: High wealth, ownership of capital, influence in politics and culture.
- Middle Class: Salaried professionals, small business owners, emphasis on education and stability.
- Working Class: Wage laborers, often with limited economic security.
- Lower Class / Underclass: Marginalized groups with restricted access to resources and opportunities.
🛠 Anthropological & Sociological Significance
- Karl Marx: Saw class as defined by relation to the means of production (bourgeoisie vs. proletariat).
- Max Weber: Added dimensions of status and power beyond pure economics.
- Anthropology: Studies how class shapes cultural identity, kinship, and everyday practices.
- Modern Contexts: Globalization, gig economies, and precarity have reshaped class boundaries.
✨ Summary
Economic class is a system of social stratification based on wealth, occupation, and access to resources, shaping inequality and cultural identity. It is central to both sociological theory and anthropological analysis of human societies.
