The British class system
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Who belongs to |
Name of the class |
The characteristic |
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Aristocrats (= nobility + landed gentry[= Baronets + knights]), landowners |
The upper class |
.Represented in the House of Lords .enjoy prestige in social and cultural life .access to exclusive clubs and special regiments .country houses, a chalet (Schlösschen) abroad .double-barrel name .favourite sports: cricket, horse riding, skiing abroad, etc. .go to "Oxbridge"-university |
|
Managers, civil servants (Beamte), professional classes, businessmen |
The upper middle class |
.important stratum of society .replaced the aristocracy in politics, administration, civil services .avoid slum areas and neighbourhood of coloured immigrants .prefer pleasant modern suburbs, surrounded by green areas -> detached or semi-detached houses .both parents work .have 2 cars and own the latest "modcons" (Geräte) . ambitious (ehrgeizig) at the education of their children -> grammar school, public school |
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Owners of small businesses, commuters (Pendler), non-manual white collar office workers (builders,.) .biggest stratum of the British society |
The lower middle class |
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Semi-skilled or unskilled workers |
The working class |
.have antagonistic feelings (feindliche Gefühle) towards the other classes .have their own exclusive cultural and social events .terraced houses, close to their neighbours or councils (Sozialwohnung) .mixed easily with the coloured people .cheap holiday
camps if they can afford (sich leisten können) or popular
resorts ( .state schools, often do not care about education ->"skive" off the school or leave it without exam -> youth unemployment |
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