Group+D

=**__Social Class Structure__**=

Social class can be defined as "a category of people who have generally similar educational histories, job opportunities, and social standing and who are conscious of their membership in a social group that is ranked in relation to others and is replicated over generations." (Kantner. J, 1999, "Tel el-Far'ah Dictionary/Pictionary", accessed 02/12/10,[])

Every society has a unique and complicated social class, which is evident both in society today, and is reflected in such literature as Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice".


 * Class Structure in Australia**

In Australia, there is evidence of a upper class (Business people, Politicians, people of higher education, celebrities/ media personalities), middle class (lower level business people, people who work in industrial, well paid jobs; etc) and the lower (working) class (low skilled jobs, uneducated, colloquially "bogans").

Gladstone is considered to be a pretty small town, which has a strong industry backbone. Because of this, many people who did not attend college (or even left school in year 10), and worked their way up from grassroots jobs to well paid managerial positions in local industry. From what I know about American society, it seems that college is a socially expected thing for you to get a job and earn a reasonable income, but in Australia, only those wanting to go into specialist professions really go.

In the United States, class structure is not very specfic and is often confusing. Where a person stands socially can rely greatly on the amount of money a person makes and/or possesses. Movie stars, music artists, professional sports players, business owners of huge and successful corporations, and the overall famous are in the high class of "celebrity." They are well known and usually extremely wealthy. On the other hand a good college education is very respectable and many people who are not in the celebrity category receive a post-highschool education. However, many celebrities don't get a good education. These celebrities, with the exception of business owners, are in such a high social standing usually because of their good looks or because of their muscles and skill on a sports team. Some celebrities do absolutely nothing to receive their fame and social standing (Paris Hilton for example). There are those, however, who hold a respectable position, make a decent living, and actually worked for it through education (doctors, lawyers, etc.). Yet we still view the famous as a higher rank, although they are constantly making idiots of themselves and don't necessarily deserve the social rank that they have. People of the upper, middle, and lower classes even look down on this "upper" class of celebrity. We tend to associate the lower class with those without much money, those who have dropped out of high school, those who did not receive a college education, those who are into hard drugs, and those with jobs that are not considered decent and respectable (fast food workers, grocery store cashiers, strippers, etc.). That is not what is considered "classy" in this country. However, these "lower class qualities" are present through every class, especially the class of celebrities. The paparazzi is always sinking their teeth into stories of sex tapes, overdosing, and how just plain stupid the average celebrity seems to be. There just seems to be no solid distinction between the ranks in the United States. Even money can't save you from being unadmirable. Any class structure seems to be a matter of opinion.
 * Class Structure in PA/USA**


 * Class Structure in 'Pride and Prejudice'.**

Georgian England was a place where social classes were extremely visible, and many social rules governed the interactions between these classes. In 'Pride and Prejudice", both the middle class (i.e. The Bennet family) and the upper class (i.e. Mr Darcy) are present, but through Jane Austen's writings, she has carefully silenced the lower class. 'Pride and Prejudice' focuses on different characters interactions within their classes and required social restrictions. Although the Bennets are from the middle class, they are still allowed to socialise with the upper class at events such as balls, but social bias is clear within the book towards the Bennets.

'Pride and Prejudice' is set just after the Industrial Revolution, where many people fell into a lot of money, despite not having the education and sophistication that was required of the higher class in the 18th/19th Century. This can be seen in 'Pride and Prejudice' in the character of Mr Collins, who is portrayed as being quite uneducated and unaware of social norms.

Some of these double standards have to do with gender. The men can do this, the men can do that, only the men can own property, only men can inherit money, only men can go to school and men make all of the decisions. Mrs. Bennet couldn't even take her daughters to visit Mr. Bingley when he first came to Netherfield unless Mr. Bennet allowed it. This was a point in time when women were still greatly unequal to men. If it were not for these double standards, Mrs. Bennet would not be so desperate to marry her daughters off, especially to someone with wealth. She does not have a son who can take care of the family by himself.
 * In what ways are double standards present within 'Pride and Prejudice'?**

Other double standards occur within the class structure. Those of the higher class tend to act however they want without consequence. They can get away with being totally arrogant and impolite and still have the respect of society. An obvious example of this is when Mr. Collins attempted to introduce himself to Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy treated this with sheer rudeness, making it obvious to everyone (except Mr. Collins) that he thought to highly of himself to deal with the likes of Mr. Collins. However, if someone of the middle or lower class were to behave this way to a member of the upper class, it would be completely unnacceptable.

There is a definite difference between the 19th century and the 21st century, but these double standards have not entirely disappeared. Women are now said to be "equal," but not according to mass opinion. For instance, if a man is to have sexual relations with a multitude of women, it's socially acceptable and hardly a big deal. If a woman does the same action she is considered a "slut" or a "whore." Sure women can now own property and go to school and are equal with men in that sense, but they are still defnintely considered the inferior sex, just in a different aspect.
 * Is there much difference between the 19th century and the 21st century?**

As far as different acceptance of behavior in different social groups, in some cases the double standard is present and sometimes it is not. If someone of the middle or lower class commits a crime, they receive punishment, just as it should be. But there are those of the upper classes with money who can buy their way out of punishments, which is completely unfair.

However, it seems to be that when someone is of a higher class, the more arrogant they act and the more they disrespect others, the more respect they lose from others. Modesty and humbleness seem to be more valued today then they were back then.


 * **Characters** || **Roles in Society** || **How they are accepted** ||
 * Elizabeth Bennet || Middle Class ||

Elizabeth Bennet is a lady with more wit and intelligence than is socially expected of females in her era. Her disregard for staying ladylike (as seen when she walks all the way to visit Jane when she is ill) initally is her downfall, but once Mr. Darcy picks up on her humour and intelligence, a newfound respect is formed for her. once Mr. Darcy is fond of Elizabeth Bennet, the other members of the high class are socially forced to pretend to like her for the sake of keeping the peace. ||
 * Mr. Darcy || High Class || Very well accepted by everyone in the upper and middle class. Nobody is willing to directly challenge his knowledge and place in society, and everyone wishes to befriend him. ||
 * Jane Bennet || Middle Class || Jane Bennet sits well on the border of the classes, as she is of the middle class, but because of factors such as Mr. Darcy's fondness for her, the fact that she is very agreeable and that her temperment fits in with that of the times, she recieves better reception than Elizabeth. ||
 * Mr. Bingley || High Class || ​ Mr. Bingley is a wealthy man and a highly respected member of society. Though he is of the high class, he is good natured and polite, unlike the seemingly arrogant Mr. Darcy. His behavior towards the entire Bennet family is cordial and he is most preoccupied with Jane even though she is of a lower class. ||
 * Mr. Bennet || Middle Class || Mr. Bennet, head of the Bennet family, is calm, sarcastic and quick witted. Elizabeth Bennet seems to take more after him than Mrs. Bennet. Unlike Mrs. Bennet he is not obsessed with his daughters being married off and he seems a great deal more sensible than Mrs. Bennet. He is of the middle class like the rest of his family, but he seems fairly respected by other characters in the story. ||
 * Mr. Wickham || Middle Class || Elizabeth describes him at first as one of the most agreeable men she's ever met. He seems highly respectable, honest, and polite. The only man Elizabeth seems to be really attracted to from first impression. He seems to good to be true, in which case he is. Mr. Wickham told Elizabeth about a fued between Mr. Darcy and himself saying that Mr. Darcy was jealous of the relationship between Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy's father. The real case was that Mr. Wickham had tried to marry Mr. Darcy's sister for her wealth. Mr. Wickham lacks money and simply tries to marry the woman with the most money. He is not as agreeable, respectable, or as acceptable as once thought. ||
 * Lady Catherine deBourgh || High Class || Lady Catherine deBourgh is of the highest class and most certainly acts like it. Just as Mr. Darcy was first perceived, Lady Catherine is proud and looks down upon those beneath her social standing. However, she is very respected and very well accepted into society. ||
 * Mr. Collins || Upper Middle Class || Mr. Collins seems to sit somewhere on the line between upper and middle class, but that seems only due to his connection with Lady Catherine deBourgh. Other than that he is not as high in society as he likes to think he is. Mr. Darcy certainly looked down upon him when Mr. Collins introduced himself to him. ||
 * Miss Bingley || High Class || A woman of high class and Mr. Bingley's sister. It is obvious that she is proud of her higher birth due to her arrogance and how she looks down upon the Bennet family. She is highly accepted in society even though her personality is not so admirable. ||