Social Class in the 21st Century

Date: Monday 2 November 2015
Time: 6.30-8pm
Venue: Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building
Speakers: Dr Niall Cunningham, Professor Fiona Devine, Dr Sam Friedman, Dr Daniel Laurison, Dr Lisa McKenzie, Professor Mike Savage, Dr Helene Snee, Dr Paul Wakeling
Chair: Professor Nicola Lacey
A fresh take on social class from the experts behind the BBC's 'Great British Class Survey'. Social class has re-emerged as a topic of enormous scholarly and public attention. In this new book, Social Class in the 21st Century, Mike Savage and the team of sociologists responsible for the Great British Class Survey report their definitive findings and propose a new way of thinking about social class in Britain today. The book presents the ideas and facts behind their new conceptualization of class: a new British class system composed of seven classes that reflect the unequal distribution of three kinds of capital: economic (inequalities in income and wealth); social (the different kinds of people we know) and cultural (the ways in which our leisure and cultural preferences are exclusive). This book looks beyond labels to explore how and why our society is changing and what this means for the people who find themselves in the margins as well as in the centre.
Niall Cunningham is Lecturer in Geography at Durham University.
Fiona Devine is Head of Manchester Business School and Professor of Sociology.
Sam Friedman (@SamFriedmanSoc) is Assistant Professor in Sociology at LSE.
Daniel Laurison (@Daniel_Laurison) is Post-doctoral Fellow in Sociology at LSE.
Lisa Mckenzie (@redrumlisa) is LSE Fellow in Sociology at LSE.
Mike Savage (@MikeSav47032563) is Martin White Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the International Inequalities Institute at LSE.
Helene Snee (@HeleneSnee) is Lecturer in Sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Paul Wakeling (@pbjwakeling) is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education at the University of York.
Nicola Lacey is School Professor of Law, Gender and Social Policy, attached to the Departments of Law and Social Policy and to the Gender Institute at LSE.
The Department of Sociology at LSE (@LSEsociology) was established in 1904 and remains committed to top quality teaching and leading research and scholarship today.
The new International Inequalities Institute at LSE (@LSEInequalities) brings together experts from many LSE departments and centres to lead critical and cutting edge research to understand why inequalities are escalating in numerous arenas across the world, and to develop critical tools to address these challenges.
The LSE press release for the publication Social Class in the 21st Century can found found at Britain needs a new approach to class if inequalities are to be addressed.

[@randomperson2606]

They seemed to overlook the fact that people from London universities are likely to stay in London and therefore have a higher wage.

[@libertybellgaming6551]

The cultural capital variable is highly suspect. I have colleagues who claim they like the "middle class" tastes/activities but, when probed, know next to nothing about them. We know that the capacity of the average person for bullshit is immense. And it doesn't allow for choice. What if you are in a secure upper middle class job but you just prefer hip hop to classical music? The social capital variable is also a bit iffy. Depending on what I entered on the BBC calculator, I'm either traditional working class or new affluent. In fact I'm a senior academic. I'd be inclined to omit these from future surveys and stick to tangible indicators such as ownership of significant assets, skills/credential assets and organisational assets.

[@theLondonSchoolofEconomics]

The slides are available to download on the following page www.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/videoAndAudio/channels/publicLecturesAndEvents/player.aspx?id=3262

[@corinaschwarz2042]

Where exactly?

[@robertcalamusso1603]

As long as humans have an ego ~ the will try to prove to themselves they are better than the other guy.

[@amymoney8144]

Really interesting and insightful talk. I cannot believe how many people coughing in the background though. Super annoying and distracting to a wonderful talk.

[@ramblingsandrecommendation8452]

could the slides please be recorded

[@mcmxli-by1tj]

It would be helpful if the providers identified these speakers in writing. I have not the foggiest idea who they are.

[@fdftmdon]

such an interesting talk, I'm a sociology student and all topics are extremely relevant to my a level studies. if anyone knows any similar videos please link me to them

[@rachcliffe3182]

mmmmmm! The most obviuos reason is the lack of hope and trust, the road too tough, so might as well form subcultures and get on with survival, since the odds are overwhelming!

[@Johnconno]

Upper Middle-Class Academics talk about class in Britain, with token prole.

[@benjamingeorgecoles8060]

I think Mike Savage is also from a working class background. And what makes you think the inclusion of the woman with the red hair - the prole, as you call her - is tokenistic? Also, are you blaming these academics for the fact that working class people are a lot less likely to go into and excel in academia, such that they'd be in a position to lead this kind of research project? These academics seem to be expressing sincere concern about this kind of fact.

[@Johnconno]

@@benjamingeorgecoles8060 They always do. That's the problem.

[@benjamingeorgecoles8060]

@@Johnconno The problem is that they're expressing these sincere concerns?

[@jewelcitizen2567]

Short hair Large earrings Oh oh… this can’t be good and I’m wondering why on earth it was in my recommended list?

[@khastehshodam]

This is a typical university class, too much talk little useful information. Wasting students' time