Class and social types

Firstly, here's a link to a great BBC archive site where you can watch 17 different classic comedy sketches, all of which have class - and class consciousness - at their heart.

Classic British comedy sketches based on class

There's some very very funny stuff there.
Hope you enjoy it - and start to understand it more now.

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Next, have a look at this reading lesson from a book Andrew and I wrote - Innovations Advanced.

It's about social types, but also tackles the whole notion of stereotypes that we discussed before - and encourages a critical reading, if you like.

There's space at the end for cross-cultural comparisons too, which ties in to a homework I'd like you all to try.


Reading

1. Before you read
In Britain, it's common to categorise people in lots of different ways. People may be pigeonholed depending on the newspaper they read, the city they grew up in, what social class they are, what kind of lifestyle they lead, how they dress, their age and so on.

Discuss these questions with a partner.

a. Do you stereotype people in similar ways in your country?
b. Do you have special names for any particular type of person?
c. Do you think any of the stereotypes are fair / unfair? Why?

2. While you read
Read this humorous text about British social types. As you read, see if any of the social types are similar to the ones you have in your country.

Typical!
Buzzwords come and buzzwords go. In 1980s Britain, we had yuppies - young urban professionals - living in their converted warehouses, driving BMWs, drinking in expensive wine bars and making loads of money. Following hot on their heels were the Buppies - black urban professionals! Then came the lad and his female equivalent, the ladette - binge-drinking, chain-smoking and swearing their way through the 90s. A few years later, David Beckham introduced the metrosexual - fashion-conscious straight men in touch with their feminine sides and very keen on shopping and hair and beauty products!

Here, we explore some of Britain's other social types, some of which have stood the test of time and moved from buzzword to institution, some of which may well be here today - and gone tomorrow!

Typical Guardian readers
The Guardian - a popular broadsheet newspaper - is the bible of left-wing voters. Stereotypically, Guardian readers are middle-aged, middle-class and university-educated. They like to think of themselves as open-minded, but others think they're simply smug and self-satisfied! They tend to be pro-public spending on health care and education, pro-political correctness and pro-immigration - although some cynics say that's only because they don't live close to any of the poorer immigrants! By and large, they're anti-war, anti-hunting and anti-Daily Mail!

Typical Daily Mail readers
The Daily Mail is a paper that likes to think of itself as serious, but that actually seems to be full of 'My husband left me for another woman' articles, puzzles, quizzes and lifestyle questionnaires. If you asked a typical Guardian reader, they'd probably tell you that The Mail is aimed at frightened, paranoid white right-wingers who like to imagine they are now an oppressed minority. Daily Mail readers always seem to be whingeing about one thing or another. Stereotypically, they often preface their opinions with "I'm not racist, but . . . " and constantly remind us that "Things aren't what they used to be".

Scousers
Scousers are people from Liverpool, a port on the north-west coast of England with a large Catholic community and strong links to Ireland. It was also the home of The Beatles. Liverpool is traditionally a working class city that has gone through a lot of ups and downs and its people have developed a reputation for being survivors - even if that may sometimes have meant bending a few rules. Scousers are also believed to be natural comedians who are very proud of their city and their football clubs and very community-minded.

Sloanes
Sloanes (also known as Sloane Rangers) are named after Sloane Square, an incredibly posh area in west London. Princess Diana was regularly described in the newspapers as a Sloane before she became a Princess. Sloanes come from very privileged backgrounds and spend half their lives going to fancy parties and the other half in their big country houses hunting, shooting and fishing. Sloanes have extravagant tastes in almost everything and seem utterly uninterested in anything outside of their narrow little world - hence their reputation for not exactly being Einsteins!

Dinkie couples
DINKIE stands for Double Income No Kids and Dinkie couples are a growing social trend. Not only are couples getting married later and later nowadays - if they bother to tie the knot at all - but many are also choosing not to have kids, but rather to pursue their careers and enjoy the wealth it brings instead. They holiday in the sun twice a year, own two decent cars and possibly even have a second home in the countryside - much to the horror of the Daily Mail readers, who think they are selfish, self-centred and contributing to the downfall of society!

3 Comprehension
Which of the social types mentioned above might say these things?

1. Rather than spending all that money on weapons they should improve hospitals.
2. My taxes have gone up, but the country's going downhill.
3. I can't remember how I got home last night, but it was a great night!
4. Just because I look after myself and I'm into clothes, it doesn't mean I'm gay!
5. Children are just so time-consuming, not to mention expensive!
6. If you stick together and can laugh about things that go wrong, you can get through anything.
7. You mean some people actually clean their own houses? Doesn't everyone have a maid, then? How ghastly!


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Now, here's how this connects to YOU.

For homework today, write your own responses to these questions.

1. Do any of these social types exist in your country?
2. What other kinds of social types do you have? How would you describe them to a foreigner?
3. Do you fall into any social group? Do people ever stereotype you? Do you mind?


Really looking forward to your responses.