Class and Status Stereotype

In the media, Stereotypes (Labelling, which involves a process of categorising an individual or group) are targeted at Class and Status. Class is a social stratum where members share certain economic, social or cultural characteristics. These classes are: The working class, Middle class and Upper class. Status on the other hand is different. Status is the position or rank of someone compared to others in a group or organisation. The difference between these is Class is made into three separate groups of people in society and Status is the role some one has in the selected group.

The stereotypes shown about Class vary between the three groups. In the media, the working class are shown as:

• Men are lazy, foolish selfish and childish. - Argued by Richard Butsh
• The women are physically out of control - fat, loud, overly sexual and dressed in a 'loud' and inappropriate clothing. This is manly shown in television sitcoms, which is shown by Pepi Leistyna in his documentary 'Class Dismissed: How TV frames the working class.' 
• Racist.
• Shown as failures.
• Complete more physical/unpleasant jobs than anyone else.
• Alcoholics
• Extreme fans of football. 

The working class are also referred to 'Blue collar', or 'Low - wage workers with out college education, who also struggle in society economically.' 

The middle class are shown as: 

• Financially stable family
• Nuclear family
• Children go to university
• Able to go on vacation once in awhile
• Do not entirely depend on government for money
• Have some extra money on the side
• Works white collar jobs e.g. Doctors or Office workers
• Often follow in their parents foot steps to maintain some sort of professional job.

The middle class are also referred to as the 'White collar workers'.

The upper class are shown as: 

• Work in high paid jobs.
• Wealthy and powerful
• Posh
• Well mannered 
• Private schools and expensive universities for their children
• Own big businesses to live off the investments
• Tend to be quite arrogant 
• Have achieved the 'American dream'.
• Well dressed
• Have their own personal clubs.

In the media, the Status is is shown in two different groups. These are also stereotyped. These are:

High status:

• Show a lot of pride.
• Show a lot of anger.
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