Class is not only amongst the oldest and most controversial of all concepts in social science, but a topic which has fascinated, amused, incensed and galvanized the general public, too. But what exactly is a ‘class’? How do sociologists study and measure it, and how does it correspond to everyday understandings of social difference? Is it now dead or dying in today’s globalized and media-saturated world, or is it entering a new phase of significance on the world stage?
This book seeks to explore these questions in an accessible and lively manner, taking readers through the key theoretical traditions in class research, the major controversies that have shaken the field and the continuing effects of class difference, class struggle and class inequality across a range of domains.
The book will appeal to students and scholars in sociology, social policy, geography, education, cultural studies and health sciences.
About the Author
Will Atkinson is Lecturer in Social Research at the University of Bristol.
New to Edition
The different life chances and outcomes that arise from one’s social class are a central concern of a just society and have been central issues in sociology since its birth. ALL sociology students need to study and understand class. It’s a vast topic that has produced many theories over more than 100 years, and a text like this condenses it down into an easily digestible yet still rigorous and intellectually challenging way - ideal for students on courses.
