Class appears to have returned convincingly to geography agendas (Stenning, 2008: 9). Discuss

Culture, Place and Society

‘Class appears to have returned convincingly to geography agendas’ (Stenning, 2008: 9). Discuss

In times of old, Class analysis has been seen only to concern those in the field of sociology. The issue of class in Sociology means that class is coterminous with economic activity, suggesting that position within the class system is purely based on the occupation you may have and the wage you receive from this. In sociological terms class is the ‘hierarchal system’ or arrangement that people have within society. It is based on economic stature and interests alone creating social divisions and contributing to the economic apartheid some countries experience today. However, class is not solely based upon economic wealth anymore, according to other social sciences; such as Human Geography. Although, economic interests are still to have an effect on class, it is not the sole purpose of an individual’s positioning on the hierarchical system or the reason for their categorisation into a particular social class. Human geography suggests that social inequalities, segregation, regeneration and even territorialisation are also to blame for class divides within society and even the location of an individual or group (spatial divide) can become one of the reasons particular groups receive class names.

Karl Marx, one of the earliest Socialists, is evident of this idea that economic interests are the basis of your class. He suggests that “class is defined by collective groups or individuals who share economic and social relations, with intrinsic tendencies and interests that are different from other interests of other groups within society. For Marx, classes are defined and structured by the relations concerning work and labour and ownership or possession of property and the means of production”. This again suggests that the issue of class is that of economic value which ultimately decides positioning within the class system or divide, thus a social relationship with other classes e.g. higher class won’t mix with lower class thus leading to class division or segregation. Marx using the process of categorisation put people within society into groups or classes. As each different class is a group the categorisation process was that of mere economic wealth or earnings creating social divide amongst the people, purely based on economic interests. “Karl Marx focused his search for the basic principles of history on the economic environments in which societies develop. He believed that society is divided into those who own the means of producing wealth and those who do not, giving rise to class conflict”. (Michael Hughes, 2008). This suggests that economic areas and environments are created excluding those who do not work or have a particular occupation, again basing the class system solely on economic interests within society.

Recently, however the shift of this analysis has changed with the topic becoming more popular with social sciences such as Human Geography. “Within a society, a set of people who are of the same economic position, and who may share the same tastes and social status. In capitalist societies, class is defined by socio-economic status, but post-Fordism has created a new division: specialist, skilled workers, in highly paid positions with a large degree of self-determination, and low-paid workers with few skills, working in poor conditions with little or no security. This pattern is common in service employment, but is exacerbated ...

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Segregation is a form of class division. It is “The spatial and social separation of populations that occurs without legal sanction” (Babylon). Driven partly by economic interests it is the process of whereby communities cut themselves off from other communities, and congregate or group due to their similar social, religious and economic interests. Examples of this are communities such as Bradford which has seen a large number of Pakistani immigrants group in and just outside of the city. This process is due to the fact that many of the immigrants feel safer and more at home around their own type of people as they share more similarities in how they live and work. Fear also plays a part in determining spots of segregation. Communities which are closely bonded would see the influx of migrants or immigrants as a threat against tradition and value thus migrants tend to centre in and around cosmopolitan cities such as London, Birmingham and Bradford. An example within the US of this class segregation is that of the housing market. The market would price out those who didn’t have the required economic interests and cater for those who did, thus creating an area that was very wealthy yet the population was of uniformity or homogeneous. This created fiscal autonomy where the rich did not need to fund services outside of their areas thus create an economic apartheid where everyone is responsible for themselves. (Johnston 1984).

Another area in which class has become a part of the Geography agenda is that of gentrification. This is the process of whereby an urban area is renewed or restored. It results in the area becoming affluent; as the area becomes more desirable to live in prices for property increase pricing out those who are of a lower financial position and displacing inhabitants who already live there, which are usually the working classes. (N. Smith 1996). This reinforces economic and class based divisions as wealth is the reason for this territorialisation and social category being formed. This is evident with the Docklands and Cardiff Bay regeneration process of whereby, these areas were formally working class spaces but due to the process of regeneration it has turned these areas into zones of affluence, with residents being of the middle class. However this could also be a simple change in the land use of particular areas. This type of territorialisation consigns the poor to particular areas which are usually very run down and are in need of regeneration but do not receive government funding for this.

Social inequalities are another class based issue within Geography. Social inequality refers to the social status an individual or group holds within society. There are many different types of social inequality as status can be defined by many things. Firstly, education is an example of social inequality. This is evident in the news today. With the increase in University fees for Students it is going to price out those who are from poor backgrounds and positions. This would only allow for students who are from affluent families to attend and make the monetary demands the government is asking for. Furthermore, education could be seen as a social inequality as there is public and private schooling. Again this requires a certain amount of wealth to keep your son or daughter in private education even though there is a clear higher standard of schooling than in state run schools. Another social inequality could be that of housing. Although, I’ve already touched on the subject, housing is a very prominent and recognisable social divide. The poor are excluded from the suburbs of cities and placed at the heart of them in run- down or ‘no go areas’ (Cozens et al, 1999). The difference in the type of housing is also evident, i.e. poor live in flats or council housing whilst the rich in their detached houses in a far safer environment. Finally, healthcare is a very good indicator of social inequality. Again the public and private healthcare sector implies whether you’ll receive a higher or lower standard of healthcare. This division again is based on economic inequality and disparity, for those who will receive better treatment for their illnesses will be able to afford to whilst those who cannot will have to settle with a lower standard of healthcare, however this is free.

In conclusion it is evident that Class has made a return to the Geography agenda. Segregation, Regeneration, Territorialisation and Social inequalities imply that class is a term that can be geographically determined. However, although there are many geographical terms in which to describe and apply class to society it is still based on economic inequality, meaning that the disparities of wealth between one group and another will determine which class or group in the hierarchal system they are placed.

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