ABSTRACT
Social class is one of the main sources of variation in behaviour and life style in society. The idea of class is familiar: society is seen as composed of a number of layers of people in a hierarchy. Within each layer individuals accept one another on equal terms, and are more likely to intermarry, for example. There are no clear boundaries between the layers, but a number of distinct classes are generally recognised – ‘middle class’ and ‘working class’, for example. The hierarchy reflects, and is partly based on a number of hierarchical organisations, especially working organisations, where those at higher levels have more power and money than those lower down.
