- Question
How are social classes defined?
Social class shapes nearly every society, but how is it defined? This entry maps the competing criteria — economic, cultural, educational and political status — and the view that all of these forms of capital matter equally.
Position 1 of 5
Read this position →Economic status
Position 2 of 5
Read this position →Cultural status
Position 3 of 5
Read this position →Educational status
Position 4 of 5
Read this position →Political status
Position 5 of 5
Read this position →Economic, political, cultural and educational capital are all equally important in defining social class
While Karl Marx's model for a capitalist society is often the most reached for to explain social classes, recent surveys reveal that social class in the UK is defined by much more than your income. Social classes have become more complex with the rise in technology and the de-industrialised workspace.