Working class

The working class is a specific group within a social hierarchy. Most definitions focus on people who earn wages or salaries through their labor. These individuals rely on their earnings to pay for the things they need to live.

In the United States, the term often refers to blue-collar or pink-collar workers. It can also describe people whose income is not high enough to be considered middle class. However, other groups use much broader definitions for this social category.

Socialists often use the term proletariat to describe the working class. This definition includes anyone who must sell their labor to survive. This group includes white-collar and blue-collar workers, as well as manual laborers. It excludes people who make a living from owning businesses or using the labor of others. Some researchers suggest a subjective approach to this definition. In Australia, researchers say people can identify their own social class. This allows individuals to define their own perceived status.

Occupations within the working class can be organized into four distinct groups. These categories are unskilled laborers, artisans, outworkers, and factory workers.

Each group represents a different way of performing labor. Some workers perform physical tasks that require little specific training. Others, like artisans, possess specialized skills. Understanding these categories helps explain how different types of work contribute to an economy.

Karl Marx provided a famous definition of the proletariat. He argued that these workers are responsible for creating a society's wealth. They physically build bridges, craft furniture, grow food, and nurse children. Despite this, Marx noted they do not own the land or the factories. He also identified a sub-section called the lumpenproletariat, or the rag-proletariat. These are the extremely poor and unemployed people, such as the homeless. Marx believed this specific group lacked class consciousness.

The history of this group has changed significantly over time. In feudal Europe, a large working class did not exist. Most people belonged to a general labouring class. This group included lawyers, craftsmen, and peasants. They were seen as a third estate, separate from aristocrats and church officials. This social order was often viewed as a natural or religious law. However, these views were contested by groups like the peasants during the German Peasants' War.

During the late 18th century, the Enlightenment brought new ideas to Europe. This era challenged the idea of a fixed, God-created social order. As society changed, wealthy members created ideologies to explain social problems. They often blamed the struggles of the working class on personal morals. They might point to perceived laziness or excessive alcohol use. Historian E. P. Thompson argued that the English working class helped create itself. He described the shift from pre-modern laborers to a politically aware working class.

The 20th century saw major political shifts regarding the working class. Starting around 1917, several countries were ruled in the interests of the working class. This led to different types of governance, such as the Soviet-style systems. Some historians note that these societies often forced peasants into new roles through displacement. Since 1960, large-scale industrialization has also created new working classes in the third world. Meanwhile, countries like India are seeing their urban working classes grow slowly.

A modern concept is the informal working class. Sociologist Mike Davis used this term to describe over a billion people. These are mostly young people living in urban slums. They are not formally connected to the global economy. Unlike earlier theories, these individuals often have very little chance to join formal economic structures. Additionally, working-class students sometimes face challenges in higher education. They may feel a sense of "otherness" in universities. This can happen because of differences in social norms and academic knowledge.