petty bourgeoisie
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A social class comprising small business owners, shopkeepers, lower-level office workers, and other individuals who are neither part of the large-scale capitalist class nor the industrial working class. This group is characterized by its ownership of some small property or capital (like a shop) or its reliance on specialized skills and education for non-manual labor, placing it in an intermediate economic position.
Usage
- The term is used in sociological and economic discussions, often within a Marxist or critical theory framework, to analyze class structures.
- It describes a class with specific economic interests and social attitudes, frequently associated with social conservatism and a desire for economic stability.
Examples
- Sociologists argue that the petty bourgeoisie often aspires to join the upper bourgeoisie, making them politically cautious.
- The economic policies heavily impacted the local petty bourgeoisie, causing many small shops to close.
- His analysis focused on the role of the petty bourgeoisie in 20th-century political movements.
Advanced Usage / Nuances
- The term can carry a slightly pejorative connotation, implying a focus on narrow, materialistic concerns and a lack of broader class consciousness.
- It is often contrasted with the "proletariat" (industrial working class) and the "haute bourgeoisie" (high bourgeoisie or capitalist class).
Variants and Related Words
- Petit Bourgeoisie: The original French term, often used interchangeably in English.
- Petit Bourgeois (noun/adjective): A member of the petty bourgeoisie, or describing the attitudes associated with this class (e.g., ).
- Middle Class: A broader, more common, and less politically charged term that often encompasses the petty bourgeoisie but is not synonymous.
Synonyms
- Lower middle class
- Small bourgeoisie
- Petite bourgeoisie
Antonyms
- Proletariat
- Working class
- Haute bourgeoisie / Capitalist class
Noun
- lower middle class (shopkeepers and clerical staff etc.)