Underclass

The term underclass refers to a specific socio-economic demographic. These individuals occupy the lowest possible position in a class hierarchy. They sit below the core body of the working class. Sociologists use this term to describe people with the least access to scarce resources. This group is often considered cut off from the rest of society. Because of this isolation, they may not share in the nation's common ambitions or achievements.

Social scientists study the underclass through several different lenses. One way is the economic focus. This view looks at how people interact with the labor market. Another way is the spatial or ecological focus. This examines where people live and how their surroundings affect them. There is also a behavioral focus. This looks at the actions and lifestyles of the group. Finally, a social-psychological focus examines the attitudes and beliefs held by these individuals.

Different scholars have proposed distinct ways to define the underclass. Marxian sociologist Erik Olin Wright focused on economic oppression. He argued that the underclass is denied access to the labor market. Because they lack labor power, they are not consistently exploited by higher classes. In contrast, William Julius Wilson focused on space and place. He studied the black urban underclass in the American rust belt. Wilson described this group as a massive population at the bottom of the social ladder. He noted they were often plagued by poor education and low-paying jobs.

History shows that the concept of a class below the workers is quite old. Henry Mayhew wrote about this in London. His work described the invisible world of street-people and casual workers. However, the specific term "underclass" became popular in the 20th century. Gunnar Myrdal is credited as the first major proponent of the term. In the early 1960s, he used it to describe the unemployed and underemployed in the United States. Later, journalist Ken Auletta helped bring the term into the American consciousness. He suggested the underclass could be divided into four distinct subcategories.

Researchers have identified several common characteristics of the underclass. These include high levels of joblessness and high school dropout rates. They also include higher rates of crime, violence, and substance abuse. Economically, the underclass is overwhelmingly poor. They often hold precarious labor, which means their jobs are not steady or secure. Some scholars note that simply being poor is not the same as being in the underclass. Some people living in "underclass areas" may not be poor but still show other characteristics. This can include participating in antisocial or criminal behavior.

Psychologically, the underclass is often described as a "discouraged" group. They may feel mentally disconnected from mainstream society. This is sometimes linked to lower levels of literacy and cognition. Some theorists believe these traits form a "culture of poverty." This idea suggests that certain styles of life are transmitted across generations. However, this specific concept is highly debated among social scientists. There are also many different types of underclass discussed in literature. These include the educational underclass, the violent underclass, and the criminal underclass.

Understanding the underclass is important for studying urban sociology. Many studies focus on the "urban underclass" in city centers. This is often linked to discussions about the post-civil rights African American ghetto. The concentration of poverty in specific zones is a major part of the discussion. Some researchers, like Elijah Anderson, use ethnographic methods to study these neighborhoods. They look at how gentrification affects areas bordering these zones. By studying these patterns, sociologists can better understand how social dislocations occur in modern cities.