Fifth Paper: Habitus and Social Class
In this paper, you will be looking for social class markers in places frequented by working-class and upper-middle-class people.
What makes this assignment a little tricky is that you are visiting a place that is open to the public, which would welcome your purchasing power no matter what your cultural tastes. During your trip, therefore, you should be thinking about Lamont's question about what constitutes the main symbolic boundaries of the dominant class: money, morals, or manners (culture)?
How to Collect Your Data
In this assignment, you need to visit two different sites: one that is frequented by people from an upper-middle-class background and one that is frequented by people of working-class background. I have listed some possibilities here; you may use others, but you should check them with me first. I particularly want to make sure that you are aiming high and low enough so that there is a signifcant enough contrast in your sites. You may wish to compare sites that are similar types, such as a grocery store with a grocery store or an auto dealership with an auto dealership.
On your visit, you will want to note:
- the general atmosphere of the place
- the kinds of items for sale
- the layout and organization of the place
- the prices of the items for sale
- the other people in the store---both customers and sales personnel---including their demeanor, clothing and hair style, content of conversation, gestures, styles of movement
- your own comfort level
You will want to note patterns and similarities, as well as differences, within each establishment. You will want to take notes about these sites immediately after your visit, so that you can draw on the particular details in your paper.
How to Organize Your Paper
Description of the Two Sites
First, you want to describe the two sites you visited in great detail, describing the details noted above. You want to also compare and contrast the two sites across these items.
Accounting for Your Own Habitus
Then, you need to describe your own class background, using the class terms from Gilbert and Kahl's diagram.
- How did your class background affect your own feeling of comfort or discomfort in these two sites?
- What does your feeling of comfort or discomfort tell you about the symbolic boundaries being drawn?
Argument
Here, you want to make an argument about whether class boundaries are being drawn symbolically in these establishments, and if so, how they are being maintained.
Analysis of the Two Sites
Referring to your descriptions above, now tell us what those details signify, drawing on the terms and concepts discussed in Michele Lamont's Money, Morals, and Manners:
- Were the symbolic boundaries of social class being maintained in this store?
- Were the stores contributing to the "symbolic community" of a particular social class (Lamont, 1992, p. 15)?
- If so, how were they being regulated? To what extent were boundaries drawn on the basis of money, and to what extent on the basis of cultural style or taste?
- If not, why are these stores not serving this function? Where might you go to see social class boundary maintenance occurring if not in these establishments?
Conclusion
Here, you should restate your argument, using different words, about the maintenance of symbolic boundaries through a commercial establishment.
How I Will Evaluate Your Paper
For this paper, you need to demonstate to me that you understand the concepts of social class, habitus, cultural capital, and symbolic boundaries discussed by Michele Lamont and in class discussions/lectures. I strongly recommend that you review the theoretical sections of Money, Morals, and Manners (pp. 1-14, 174-192).
I will turn back to you any paper that does not have correct APA citation in the text and bibliography.
Your grade is dependent on:
- your understanding of the concepts of social class, cultural capital, symbolic boundaries, and habitus;
- a close observation and attention to detail: describing and citing the two sites;
- the depth of your analysis: your ability to link this detail to the concepts above; and
- the quality of your sentences and the organization of your paper.
The paper is due Thursday, November 15th. Come prepared to discuss your analysis in class. (15%)
Potential Sites
Upper Middle-ClassInterior DesignN. K. Thaine Fine Arts and Crafts Gallery Haddonfield Antique Center Justyna Interiors Anthropologie |
Working-ClassInterior DesignDollar Store
|
Car DealersDeSimone BMW Mercedes-Benz of Cherry Hill |
Car Dealers/Auto Parts StoresAutoPlace USA Pep Boys AC Auto Inc |
ClothingRichard Bennett Clothing for Men Davidson's Bella Figura Maternity and Baby Chico's
|
ClothingRoss: Dress for Less Walmart |
RestaurantThe Four Seasons Hotel Le Bec-Fin Restaurant |
RestaurantHot Spot There are many Mexican take-out places along Federal Street and River Road, Camden, NJ
|
Grocery StoreWegman's |
Grocery StorePathmark |
These pages maintained by Cati Coe (ccoe-at-camden.rutgers.edu)
Department of Sociology, Rutgers—Camden.
Updated
October 31, 2007.