The Great British Class Survey launches on BBC One Show

Summary

The BBC's Great British Class Survey delves into the complexities of modern class structure in the UK. With nostalgic nods to history, the survey moves beyond traditional labels of working, middle, and upper classes, incorporating cultural and social capital indicators. By examining hobbies, friendships, and lifestyle preferences, the survey aims to capture a nuanced view of British society. Professor Mike Savage is hopeful that the survey will provide an accurate map of current class dynamics, helping shape effective policies.

Highlights

• Anita Rani explores public perceptions of class in Manchester. 🏙️
• The class system labels originated in the 19th century, evolving significantly since. 🏛️
• French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's ideas on social and cultural capital influence the survey. 📚
• Professor Mike Savage discusses the survey's goal to map modern class comprehensively. 🗺️
• The survey includes questions about lifestyle, interests, and social networks. 🧩

Key Takeaways

• The BBC is launching a survey to explore if traditional class labels still apply in the UK. 🎓
• A satirical sketch is used to highlight the historical attitudes towards class. 🎭
• The survey considers cultural and social factors, not just economic ones. 📊
• Conversation highlights the blurred lines of modern class definitions. 🤔
• The survey seeks to gather diverse responses to accurately map the class system. 🌍

Overview

The BBC has launched an innovative approach to assessing the British class structure with its Great British Class Survey. Hosted on BBC One's The One Show, this initiative aspires to reveal whether old class distinctions still hold or if a new, intricate social hierarchy has emerged. The survey prompts participants to gauge their place in the spectrum of class based not only on occupation and wealth but also on cultural interests and social networks, reflecting Pierre Bourdieu's theories on social capital.

Manchester serves as the setting for scrutinizing contemporary class sentiments, with locals sharing their self-identified class standing. This effort invokes the historical context of the British class system, once defined by strict lines separating the working, middle, and upper classes. Today, however, these boundaries are recognized as more fluid, prompting a deeper investigation into what truly constitutes class in the modern era. Observations from participants underscore the blend of tradition and progress defining society today.

The conversation is led by Professor Mike Savage from the University of York, aiming to unpack Britain's current class makeup comprehensively. Significant focus is placed on collecting varied perspectives across the population, despite potential biases towards middle-class respondents with internet access. By garnering a wide array of insights, the survey intends to inform future policies and better reflect societal shifts, making it an essential tool for redefining class in a contemporary British context.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to the Great British Class Survey The chapter 'Introduction to the Great British Class Survey' delves into the ongoing debate over class distinctions in British society. It questions whether traditional class labels—working, middle, and upper—still apply or if society has evolved into a more complex structure. The chapter introduces the BBC's Great British Class Survey, which seeks to explore these issues. Additionally, it mentions Anita Rani's efforts in Manchester, engaging with people on their perceptions of class.
• 00:30 - 01:30: Historical Context of the British Class System The chapter 'Historical Context of the British Class System' explores the persistent influence of the British class system through the lens of a popular satirical sketch. The sketch humorously portrays how individuals perceive themselves and others based on class distinctions. It highlights the lasting impact of class attitudes on society, questioning whether it remains easy to categorize oneself within the class hierarchy in contemporary times.
• 01:30 - 02:30: Modern Perceptions of Class in Manchester The chapter titled "Modern Perceptions of Class in Manchester" explores contemporary views on social class among residents in Manchester. It starts with a commentary on traditional class symbols like the cloth cap, Trilby, and bowler hats to highlight perceived social standings. A resident shares their perspective of considering themselves middle class due to living in a nice area and aspiring to attain a good job after getting a degree. This illustrates a belief that social mobility is achievable through education and career. The chapter reflects on the contrasts between past opportunities and the current socio-economic identity, where despite a working-class background, individuals strive for upward mobility, seeking to achieve middle-class status through education and better employment.
• 02:30 - 03:30: Class Redefined through Social and Cultural Capital The chapter delves into the evolving concept of class, reflecting on how traditional class distinctions—working, middle, and upper class—originated during the 19th century amid the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution. However, the discussion highlights how these distinctions have become less rigid and relevant in contemporary society, as people like the speaker identify with a mix of different class attributes, indicating a shift towards social and cultural capital redefining class boundaries.
• 03:30 - 04:30: A New Approach to Defining Class in Britain The chapter explores modern Manchester, highlighting its role as a social and cultural hub with diverse cultural offerings. It uses Pierre Bourdieu's argument on social and cultural capital to suggest that these should be considered when defining class and society.
• 04:30 - 07:00: Discussion with Professor Mike Savage Professor Mike Savage discusses the Great British class survey's insights on class status, highlighting that it's not solely determined by job or income. Instead, a broad range of hobbies and a wide circle of friends can also contribute to one's class status. The discussion acknowledges various activities like attending theater, music gigs, and cricket, which the speaker initially perceived as upper class, reflecting on how these cultural engagements are valued in the survey.
• 07:00 - 09:30: Concerns and Goals of the Survey This chapter delves into the concerns and objectives behind conducting a survey, particularly one aimed at understanding class structures. It reflects on how, in the past, certain things might have been deemed unacceptable, yet now connections and information readily available online can provide insights into one's economic, cultural, and social standings. The chapter also discusses the hope that such gathered information will aid in understanding the contemporary British class structure. Additionally, there is an acknowledgment of social perceptions, as illustrated by a comment on looking down on someone for having fewer interests.
• 09:30 - 10:00: Conclusion and Call to Action The chapter explores the internal conflict and uncertainty of social class identification and self-worth. The narrator admires a peer for having more hobbies and friends but looks down on her due to his higher earnings. This complexity highlights the struggle of understanding one's social position. The chapter also introduces Professor Mike Savage from the University of York, who admits to identifying as middle-class but shares a similar sense of uncertainty about social class.

The Great British Class Survey launches on BBC One Show Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 politicians have been bending our ear for years about creating a society in which working middle and upper class labels no longer apply well the BBC's Great British class survey aims to find out if they've succeeded does the class structure still exist or have we become something a bit more complicated we'll be explaining more about the survey and how you can take part shortly but first Anita Rani has been asking the people of Manchester just how classy they are I look down on him because I am
• 00:30 - 01:00 upper class I look up to him because he is upper class but I look down on him because he is lower class I am middle class I know my place this sketch has kept people giggling about the British class system for Generations it was a brilliant biting satire and an accurate reflection of social attitudes of the time but how easy is it to class ourselves these days
• 01:00 - 01:30 I think we'll need more than a cloth cap Trilby and bowler so using the Hat stand to see where we stand socially it's time to ask the Great British public I still consider myself middle class cuz I still live I still live in the nice house in the nice area and hopefully if I get a degree I'll get a decent job yeah I think you look marvelous you see if the days of the Empire this and I could have gone off and made my fortune and be come up class from a working class background but probably now middle
• 01:30 - 02:00 well my dad never went out without his black did he not oh lovely so solid working class routs probably middle class everybody's middle class there's no working class ched accountants is that what you're telling me the old class system really doesn't count to me I'm a bit of bit of everything the labels working middle and upper first appeared in the 19th century as a way of classifying the social differences thrown up by the Industrial Revolution but things have changed take
• 02:00 - 02:30 modern Manchester it's much more than just a place to work it's a social and cultural Hub with theaters restaurants bars world famous sporting venues and a mixture of cultures and people but now for the social science bit noted French sociologist Pierre bordier argued social and cultural capital that's the richness of our friendship networks groups we belong to and hobbies we enjoy should all matter when it comes to defining our society and our class
• 02:30 - 03:00 the buffins who have put together the Great British class survey agree it's no longer just your job or how much cash you've got that will determine your class status you'll still score well if you have a broad range of hobbies and a wide circle of friends all sorts of weird and wonderful people that's good and you do a lot you're going to the theater tonight yeah theater lots of music gigs y glal family Global Australia America Cricket I was thought before I started playing I always thought was a very upper class game yeah we're going on a cruise next
• 03:00 - 03:30 January which would have been years ago a no no for our class if you've got the contact it opens all sorts up for you doesn't it online you can figure out where you fit in economically culturally and socially it's hoped that the information gathered will help figure out what the modern British class structure actually looks like I look down on her because she doesn't have as many interests as I do I
• 03:30 - 04:00 look up to her because she has more Hobbies than I do but I look down on her because I earn more than she does even though she has more friends than I do I just don't know my place anymore so I'm off online to find out uh Professor Mike Savage from the University of York is here so Mike what class are you well I guess I would own up to being middle class in some ways but I think I share this this uncertainty as to we clo
• 04:00 - 04:30 operates these days and that's the aim of the survey is to really come up with the most comprehensive map of class in Britain now we did fill the survey in early around this afternoon didn't we and what you do at the end you f on these boxes and then you have three marks out of a 100 that's right so what will you do with the collated information from the survey well we're interested in whether people score similar marks across these three different headings cultural capital economic capital and Social Capital if they do it implies that there is a kind of class system at work where if you score highly in one area you score highly in other areas but we're not sure
• 04:30 - 05:00 that'll be the case we expect to find quite a lot of dis dis uh disconnection between those things it's interesting CU I mean classes have always been used as a stick to beat people with and and you know they bring a lot of unhappiness to be honest in a lot of ways why do we need to have a new version of class I think policy is made on the basis of understanding the society which we live unless we've got a very accurate assessment of the nature of our society we can't divide the most effective policies and this is really massively overdue I think overhauling the class structure thinking ser about the nature
• 05:00 - 05:30 of social groups in Britain today is so for so sorry M for viewers out there who will be filling in the survey what kind of questions are you asking what type of things do you want to find out it's a whole range of things really it covers your musical interests the the food you like eating the friends you have what you do in your spare time um your savings the area in which you live the idea is to give a much richer view of the class structure than we have up to date isn't there a bit of a danger uh though that the class of people you'll get filling in are is the people that you know are Ed in the BBC and have
• 05:30 - 06:00 computers that by itself is and people who can write and people absolutely no that that we'll certainly get a lot of BBC viewers we hope fly in this questionnaire but we have middle class middle class middle class absolutely but we do have means of trying to boost the Boost the the responses from people who don't fill in the questionnaire immediately and if we're hoping to get hundreds of thousands of responses yeah and if we can do that we can control for the for the skewer the sample and try and provide a map of their whole is it just middle class and and working class upper class am I right and saying you
• 06:00 - 06:30 have to have a title to be upper class you have to be like a duke or an is that right yes that's one of the issues can we still talk about the upper class in that way well how things become much more complex okay I would go comp it's going to be absolutely fascinating thank you very much Mike uh you can take the survey and find out you know whether you're classy or not if that even applies anymore by logging on to bbc.co.uk laab now every year we spend a staggering 300 million pounds on vitamin pills