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Social class structure of the Victorian era
The characteristics of the Victorian age
Victorian Society
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James Madison High School English Victorian Classism Vs. Social Stratification 2 English Victorian Classism Vs. Social Stratification: New Day, Different Practice or Same Old Same? The Victorian Age was a time of kings, queens, and aristocrats who sat in there high seats and looked down on those below them. Not all of them were bad, but the “Upper Class,” as they were also known, stuck to what and who they knew for the most part, but can you really hold them at fault for this? They were merely creatures of habit, following the traditions and teachings of their parents and predecessors that came before them. Same can also be said for the “Middle” and “Lower” classes, being born into certain families meant a life that was mapped out for …show more content…
This was also one of the main problems seen in this time. Many of the individuals in the working class felt slighted or as though they were treated unfavorably whereas middle class had better living arrangements. Not to mention the nobles also lived privileged lives and sat in a position of almost absolute power and wealth. This lead to a lot of contention and hostility from the working class toward the other two classes. Another issue, which may not have been an issue to those in the higher classes, but there wasn’t much intermingling and as previously mentioned social status was almost always inherited. You were born into a certain class which meant you followed whatever career path your family did and that was life for them. It was very rare that a family’s position in the social hierarchy would change. Correlations To Present Day. Many of the social injustices and prejudices are still quietly displayed today. People are still “positioned” based on social standing, career path, and education level amongst other things. We also still see where the small majority has a lot of privileges that aren’t afforded to the masses. We see celebrities, athletes, and politicians parading around like nobility, with …show more content…
Final Thoughts and Summary . In my opinion, based upon experience and research done for this project, our societal structure is merely a duplication of the past. We’ve modernized terminology and replaced nobility and other aristocrats with political figureheads but at the bare bones it’s still the same. However, there is one major difference, and I believe this may be key. During the Victorian Era, social status or position was a birthright, and still is to an extent today. Yet, while it may be a hard, arduous journey, it is very much possible to change your position in hierarchy. Celebrities spring up almost overnight, successful business ideas can propel a person from the bottom of the barrel to the front of the line, and people can win the lottery, just to name a few ways to upgrade your social card. So, in closing we go back to our initial question. Is it a new day with a different practice, or is it the same old same? My opinion hangs in the realm of leaning both ways, yes, it is very much the same but there are differences as well. Based on the evidence presented here what are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree? I challenge you to consider the facts,
Social Classes Throughout History The gap between different classes has always been very prominent in
Vitality in England during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was not strictly determined by food, clean water, or a good paying job, but rather by the all-encompassing idea of social class. Being in a highly regarded social class provided better access to life’s necessities and frills. A business owner could afford more bread and appliances than a factory worker could, and an official in Parliament would most likely have more maids and land than a business owner. However, transitioning to a higher class was not the only way to improve someone’s social status. If the social class, as an entity, developed more of an influence, that class’ prestige could greatly increase, resulting in a greater reverence for all of its members. With this
In a Chinese family, women or children’s opinions were expressed, the father was sole decision maker, others had no importance, because he held higher social class. In ancient China, those who possessed the majority of the land were nobles or kings, but they had no qualifications to be nobles or kings, some characteristics they held decided this for them, they didn’t necessarily have the traits of a leader, or were the most amiable people, they held the highest social class. Altogether, we have always grouped ourselves, whether it be positively or negatively, with or without reason; it is human nature, to judge, and group ourselves.
Class affects the experiences around us-how we grow up, the people we associate with, the schools we attend, our health, and our opportunities in life. Those who grow up in the upper class have the opportunity to attend the best schools, have plenty of food to eat, associate with what society deems the “best” people. The underclass, or the poor, often have a poor education, are on welfare, and are deemed the undesirables of society.
Ever wondered what was the differences from the classes and how in affected families in the Elizabethan era/Tudor Era? In the Tudor Era, the complex organization of the families, along with the social classes played an important role in society. There are six social classes in this particular era: the monarch, nobility, gentry, merchant, yeomanry, and the laborers. Every class had its own problems but they each had something that made being the class able to be bearable with living within starting with Monarch.
There are many levels of the social class. There was different levels of the social class pyramid.
The Victorian period was not just the royal monarchy but by the intense changes in the society, economy, and culture of the Victorian age (Swisher 1). Many changes insured including voting rights. Most of England’s male citizens received the right to vote (Swisher 1). The population of Britain doubled (Swisher 1). The base of society changed from agriculture to industry (Swisher 1).
Social structure made a huge impact during this time period because it regulated the positions among individuals. These positions determined where a man and woman stood within the society. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the characters Mr. Collins and Mr. Bennet were classified as landed gentry. In other words, they were the
Daily life in Victorian times was strictly regulated, with rules of etiquette that were not to be breached even during leisure time. However in the mid 1800s visits to public parks, libraries and halls increased, with free access to all, not segregating people due to their class and social status. In comparison to the modern day where such refined access is less common, but not yet
Rural families with skilled workers and artisans began to move into cities in order to be closer to factories, they are classified as the “Working Class”. Generally involved in heavy physical labor or sweatshop work. “Lower Working Class” refers to other professions, which exclusively got paid enough to their own needs, such as teachers, nurses, miners, office workers, and shop owners. Mostly composed of immigrant groups and African-Americans. Professionals and business people, such as doctors, lawyers, white collar workers, and bankers are examples of the “Middle Working Class”. Middle class families focused on teaching children the complex tasks demanded by an increasingly urban and commercial society. However, on the other hand, the “Upper Class” were composed of very rich industrial families, politicians, and business men. The upper class constantly tried to maintain religion and social control, and also, it was the smallest social
In America, the extent of people becoming more educated, can earn more money and can be able to occupy more prestigious locations. Prestigious locations are the other factor that besides higher education and comfortable income influences an individual to identify him or herself in a specific social class. This helps give the lower social classes hope to make themselves better, as well as work a little harder so they are not hanging by a string or two, getting ready to drop in to the lowest social class.
Social stratification continues over generations and people within these groups will have common interests and share similar lifestyles, which to some degree will separate them from other members of the hierarchy (Haralambos and Holborn, 2008). A hierarchy still exist in the UK today however the features are very different to what they were between the eighth and fourteenth century. At these times society was largely supported by the feudal system social hierarchy. The feudal system consisted of four classes which where the kings, the barons, the knights, and the serfs. Within the feudal system the majority of privileges would go to the upper class, the king was seen to be the most powerful and top of the rankings he held the power and the control and he ruled the kingdom and owned all the lands.
Status, More Important Than the Truth The Victorian society was more about social status than anything else; if you were from the upper class they live a life of luxury and power. If you were from middle class, most had successful businesses, but did have a lot of political power during this time period. The working class, they struggle to find good jobs and keep food on their tables (Victorian).
In Victorian England there were very distinct and important classes among the people in England. The classes consisted of the working class, the middle class, and the upper class, these were very strict and if not abided by punishments could be life threatening. The upper class, “consisted
This was the thought of, upper class, middle, and lower class. The upper class was one who was born into wealth and power. When comparing to the Caste system this would be like the Brahmins. The middle class was people who lived happily and were not poor but they were not extremely wealthy and did not have a lot of power and prestige. And lastly comes the lower class, this was the lowest social status, based on they do not earn much. Their income is low and as some could say upper class used this term in a manipulative way and direct attitudes towards the lower-class people. In the class system, it is very hard to change social classes, it can be difficult to move between the classes but it can be done. If you marry rich and are going to be coming into wealth your social status can be