Introduction

This chapter proposes that the social ideology of the working class tends to take the form of a power model whereas that of the middle class approximates the hierarchical model. Although some of the studies have noted variations in social imagery within the working class, they have concentrated chiefly on explaining the variations between the classes. Thus the power or dichotomous ideology of the working class and the hierarchical ideology of the middle class have been accounted for primarily in terms of difference in the industrial life chances and life experiences of manual and non-manual employees. Moreover, the concept encompasses not only the most radical and class conscious segment of the working class but also it is most socially acquiescent and conservative elements. It must be noted that the boundary between the middle and working classes is probably maintained as much by work and residential segregation as by personal exclusion.