class awareness

class awareness: A term-broadly synonymous with ‘class identification’-referring to the subjective definition and interpretation of social class in the public consciousness. Sociological investigations of class awareness therefore examine the class labels (if any) that are commonly used in popular discourse; the extent to which people personally identify with these labels; which factors determine identification with particular classes; and the implications of class identities for broader political orientations and social behaviour generally. The term has a much wider currency in the United States than in Britain or Europe, mainly because it carries less of the ideological baggage associated with the Marxist notion of class consciousness , although there are obvious overlaps between the two concepts and indeed in the relevant sociological literatures. For example, and rather confusedly, Reeve Vanneman and Lynn Weber Cannon (The American Perception of Class, 1987) argue that lack of an organized working-class movement in the United States does not mean that American workers lack class consciousness-by which the authors mean class images and identities that affect other perceptions of society (in other words class awareness). It is doubtful whether this minimal conception of class consciousness would be accepted by Marxists or other class analysts. A more typical (and probably the best) treatment of the American material is Mary R. Jackman and Robert W. Jackman's Class Awareness in the United States (1983). See also class imagery.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

class — class, social class See bourgeoisie ; class awareness ; class consciousness ; class imagery ; class interest ; class position ; contradictory class location ; false consciousness ; Marx , Karl; middle class ; … Dictionary of sociology
class consciousness — In the transition from a ‘class in itself’ (a category of people having a common relation to the means of production) to a ‘class for itself’ (a stratum organized in active pursuit of its own interests ) the emphasis in Marxist analysis has been… … Dictionary of sociology
class consciousness — n. an awareness of belonging to a class in the social order, with definite economic interests; sense of class solidarity class conscious adj … English World dictionary
class consciousness — class conscious /klas kon sheuhs, klahs /, adj. 1. awareness of one s own social or economic rank in society. 2. a feeling of identification and solidarity with those belonging to the same social or economic class as oneself. [1885 90] * * * … Universalium
class consciousness — awareness of the differences between the classes (lower class, upper class, etc.) … English contemporary dictionary
class consciousness — class′ con′sciousness n. 1) soc awareness of one s own social or economic rank 2) soc a feeling of identification and solidarity with those belonging to the same social or economic class as oneself • Etymology: 1885–90 … From formal English to slang
Class consciousness — Part of a series on Marxism … Wikipedia
Class — Although, surprisingly, Karl Marx did not elaborate a systematic theory of it, nevertheless the concept of class is central in Marxist theory. In the Communist Manifesto Marx wrote, “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history… … Historical dictionary of Marxism
class-conscious — adjective (used of society) socially hierarchical American society is becoming increasingly stratified • Syn: ↑stratified • Similar to: ↑hierarchical, ↑hierarchal, ↑hierarchic * * * ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjecti … Useful english dictionary
Class Consciousness — Classes, according to Karl Marx, inevitably develop their own identity, interests and outlook. Class consciousness is the development of an awareness of belonging to a class, of that class’s interest and its enemy. The proletariat, although… … Historical dictionary of Marxism

Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

class awareness

Look at other dictionaries:

Share the article and excerpts

Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Dictionary of sociology

class awareness

Look at other dictionaries:

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link