Social Class And Society Essay

The social structure of Britain has been highly influenced by the concept of social class. In sociology, the term ‘social class’ is most often used to refer to the primary system of social stratification found in modern capitalist societies. Social stratification refers to ‘the presence [in society] of distinct social groups which are ranked one above the other in terms of factors such as prestige and wealth’.

Karl Marx described class from different perspectives. Karl characterized two main conflicts between class, the capitalist (upper class) who owned the means of production and proletariat (working class) who work but does not owns the means of production but sell their labour power to bourgeoisie (middle class) in return for wages.
The main issues to be dealt were social security (guaranteed income), medical services, housing and education. They were all achieved by the passing of the following legislation, National Insurance act 1945, National Insurance act 1946 focusing on family allowance to the people who were sick, unemployed, retired. The National Health Service act 1948 focusing on providing free medical support .The Education Act 1944 (education reform) focusing on a basic education for all, However raising a question of what is the point in having National Insurance benefits, free medial care, proper housing and wise schooling, if there were no jobs? Marwick claims, it was the fundamental assumption of the war and post war period that all the different pieces of welfare legislation would be backed up by an economic policy deliberately designed to create jobs and avoid