Social class refers to a way of dividing up the members of a society into different groups, based on certain criteria. The modern British class system has traditionally been based on occupation, with the main dividing line being between manual and non-manual occupations. However, more recently – with marked changes in occupational structure – it has become more nuanced, taking into account levels of education and income, as well as type of occupation.
Despite some moves towards a more meritocratic system with increased levels of social mobility, a person’s class of origin, i.e. the class into which they are born, is a major determinant of life chances, including education, health, life expectancy and property ownership. Efforts to improve upward social mobility through various social policies have met with very limited success, and evidence suggests that levels of inequality are increasing,
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