The British class system

Who belongs to

Name of the class

The characteristic

Aristocrats (= nobility + landed gentry[= Baronets + knights]), landowners

The upper class

.Represented in the House of Lords

.enjoy prestige in social and cultural life

.access to exclusive clubs and special regiments

.country houses, a chalet (Schlösschen) abroad

.double-barrel name

.favourite sports: cricket, horse riding, skiing abroad, etc.

.go to "Oxbridge"-university

Managers, civil servants (Beamte), professional classes, businessmen

The upper middle class

.important stratum of society

.replaced the aristocracy in politics, administration, civil services

.avoid slum areas and neighbourhood of coloured immigrants

.prefer pleasant modern suburbs, surrounded by green areas

-> detached or semi-detached houses

.both parents work

.have 2 cars and own the latest "modcons" (Geräte)

. ambitious (ehrgeizig) at the education of their children

-> grammar school, public school

Owners of small businesses, commuters (Pendler), non-manual white collar office workers (builders,.)

.biggest stratum of the British society

The lower middle class

Semi-skilled or unskilled workers

The working class

.have antagonistic feelings (feindliche Gefühle) towards the other classes

.have their own exclusive cultural and social events

.terraced houses, close to their neighbours or councils (Sozialwohnung)

.mixed easily with the coloured people

.cheap holiday camps if they can afford (sich leisten können) or popular resorts (Majorca)

.state schools, often do not care about education

->"skive" off the school or leave it without exam

-> youth unemployment