lower-middle-class
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Occupying the lower part of the middle socioeconomic range in a society. This term describes a social class positioned between the working class and the upper-middle class, typically characterized by modest income, non-manual or skilled trade occupations, and certain cultural and educational aspirations.
Usage
- The term is used as an adjective to describe people, families, neighborhoods, or lifestyles associated with this socioeconomic stratum.
- It is typically hyphenated when used attributively before a noun.
Examples
- Adjective:
- They lived in a lower-middle-class neighborhood with small, well-kept houses.
- Her parents had lower-middle-class values, emphasizing education and financial prudence.
- The policy aimed to provide tax relief for lower-middle-class families.
Advanced Usage
- Sociological Context: In sociological studies, the "lower-middle class" is often analyzed in terms of income brackets, occupational types (e.g., clerical workers, small business owners, skilled technicians), and its role in social mobility.
- Cultural Signifier: The term can carry cultural connotations related to consumption patterns, educational attainment, and social attitudes, often distinguishing it from the working class and the professional upper-middle class.
Variants and Related Words
- Lower middle class (noun phrase): The social class itself.
- Members of the lower middle class often aspire to greater economic security.
- Middle class (noun phrase): The broader socioeconomic category.
- Upper-middle-class (adjective): Describing the higher stratum of the middle class.
Synonyms
- Petit bourgeois: A term, sometimes used critically, referring to the lower middle class and its perceived social attitudes.
- Lower middle income: A more economic, less socially nuanced term.
Antonyms
- Upper-class: Of the highest social and economic rank.
- Working-class: Of the social group consisting largely of people engaged in manual or industrial labor.
- Upper-middle-class: Of the higher stratum of the middle class.
Related Phrases and Concepts
- Socioeconomic status (SES): An individual's or group's position within a hierarchical social structure, based on a combination of economic and sociological factors.
- Social stratification: The hierarchical arrangement of social classes within a society.
Adjective
- occupying the lower part of the middle socioeconomic range in a society