Britain's 7 new social classes: do you fit into one?
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As a nation, we're obsessed with class, but it seems the three traditional and rigid choices are no longer fit for purpose.
In the largest ever survey of class in the UK (with more than 160,000 respondents) seven new levels have emerged.
The 7 new classes (according to the BBC Lab study):
- Elite - The most privileged class. High level of all three capitals (economic, cultural and social).
- Established middle class - High levels of all three capitals but not as high as Elite. Gregarious and culturally engaged
- Technical middle class - New, small class, with high economic capital but less culturally engaged. Relatively few social contacts.
- New affluent workers - Medium levels of economic, but higher levels of cultural and social capital. Young and active.
- Emergent service workers - New class with low economic but high 'emerging' cultural capital. High social capital. Young and often found in urban areas.
- Traditional working class - Low on all three capitals, but not the poorest. Older on average than other classes.
- Precariat, or precarious proletariat - Most deprived group, with low levels of all three capitals.
What do you think of the new categories?
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