The definition of “working class” is controversial, but generally refers to those in unskilled or semi-skilled professions with low wages and strict schedules. This includes factory and agricultural workers, and some associate the class with reduced education. The labor movement and social mobility are often associated with the working class.
The term “working class” is used in a wide variety of ways, some of which are controversial. Some people see the term as a pejorative slur, for example, while others adopt it as a symbol of personal pride. Precise definitions of the term tend to be a bit hazy, thanks to shifting ideas about work, politics, and socioeconomic class.
Essentially, members of the working class work in unskilled or semi-skilled professions for generally low wages. Typically, work environments are characterized by very strict schedules with penalties for workers being late or lazy at work, and are often organized in a very hierarchical fashion, with clear delineation between workers, managers and employers. The term also includes dependents of someone working in such an industry.
Some examples of traditional working class jobs include factory work and basic agricultural work. In both of these sectors, people receive basic and simple training for their job, although in some cases they may have additional qualifications and the work is often very physical, repetitive and exhausting. Many people associate things like heavy, functional clothing with people of this class, leading to the slang term “blue collar,” referring to the shirts worn by workers to hide grease stains.
Some consider all members of the working class to be part of the proletariat, a socioeconomic class defined by Karl Marx. According to Marx, the proletariat consisted of individuals who sold their labor power for wages without ownership or control of the means of production. Others reject this definition.
Some people associate this class with reduced access to education and a general lack of learning and refinement. Others with a prouder attitude towards the working class might use members of this class to illustrate a society’s leading members, suggesting that without the hard work of workers, the society would collapse. Discussions of social mobility often include this class as well, with people arguing that in the best societies, people can start out as factory workers and end up as factory owners.
Many people associate the labor movement with the working class, perhaps because these ordinary people were among the first to agitate for workers’ rights and to increase worker protections. People interested in employment policy may choose to spend time in this class so they can understand the complex issues involved.
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