WORKING-CLASS VS.

MIDDLE-CLASS

Presented by Shelma GuanOct,22nd,2002

Different attitudes: how to use their homes for entertaining friends: Middle class: home is a comfortable and congenial

place,invite friends to a meal,have parties,etc .

Working class: a clear distinction between home and

outside,only for family relatives entertaining.

The two classes differ in:Component of peopleEconomic conditionsLiving style Leisure activities

Component of people: Middle class:business and professional

people,bureaucrats, and skilled workers

(e.g. doctors,engineers,supervisors,etc) Working class:people who work for

wages,usu. at manual labor

(e.g. truck drivers,dustmen,etc)

Members in the family:Middle class: Jobs are a single-person enterprise.

Wife spends all of her time at home.

sometimes employ a work force to cover the chores

Working class: husband and wife both have jobs in order to meet the financial need.

the wife do all

the housework

Economic conditionsMiddle class: Higher occupations

leads to higher income. Jobs stemmed from

business partnerships,or financial security came from trusts ---- steadier income

Bigger,better furnished and more delicately decorated house of their own

Working class: Jobs with lower income Threat of losing their

jobs----unsteady income Smaller and simply

furnished rented house or flat

Living styleMiddle class: In need to have

social contact within or outside the class

Emphasizing friendship and partnership

Enjoying life

Working class: In no need to much

social intercourse

Emphasizing family happy gathering and union

Eking out their livelihood

Leisure activities(after 1850):Middle class: Not only respectable but

also productive Outside home: rambling(mainly in parks);

hiking;going to seaside;going to pubs; playing golf , cricket, rugby, tennis, and football

At home: holding parties;friends

gathering

Working class: Comparatively limited Outside home: going to local

pubs;gambling;sports(e.g. watching football match, jogging)

At home: watching TV; relaxing;

shielding from outsiders; having joy with family members

The development of leisure in Britain after 1850[1]:The promoter: the middle classReasons: responses to its fears of

political instability in the form of Chartism and labor unrest and appalling problems of public health.

The development of leisure in Britain after 1850[2]:the outcomes The born of new athleticism Establishment of town parks Exploitation of seaside resorts re-establishing through leisure a moral and

codified framework which would stabilize and transform society.

purchasing of grounds and buildings for leisure activities,and establishing various sports clubs

The appear of ordered football match, constructions of football grounds and stadiums

The situations in china[1]:class structureNo clear distinction between

middle and working classesThe majority are the proletariatsPeople identified by

profession,community and sex

The situations in china[2]:how to use the home for entertaining Traditional ways:

family gathering,festival celebrating

(e.g. the family reunion during the Spring Festival),wedding ceremony,etc.

Modern ways:

mainly for family members entertaining e.g.watching TV,or VCD

The situations in china[3]:how to use the home for entertainingProfessional men: regard home as a private place for

relaxing and refreshing after workCommon people: a place for watching TV , playing

with children,occasionally inviting friends to have a tea and chat

The situation in China[4]:how to use the home for entertaining Men: less staying at home but going out for social

gathering for business or personal purposes (e.g. restaurants,bars,saunas, etc) home is a place for sleeping at night and

reading newspaper Women: most of the time staying at home dealing the

chores and taking care of the children, watching TV

The situations in china[5]:the reasons Higher living standard Have better choices instead of home (e.g. going to restaurants to share meals with

family relatives and friends) More forms of entertainment are

available,esp. the diverse electrical household appliances:TV set,VCD set and personal computer

People’s awareness of privacy at home The stereotype sexual roles in the family

Conclusion[1]:in Britaindifferent kinds of jobs require

different kinds leisure activitieseconomic limitationdifferent social values shapes

people’s behavior

Conclusion[2]:the commonplaces between the UK and ChinaEconomic growth in the whole

societyThe individual economic factorsSelf identification and Self-

justificationDevelopment of leisure activitiesPerfection of facilities

References:Contemporary British Cultur

e and Societywww.Sunderland .ac.ukwww.Muohio.edu www.bbc.co.uk

Thanks for your

attention !!