Working class community in the era of affluence : sociability and identity in a Yorkshire town, 1945-1980
This thesis presents a qualitative case-study of the impact of post-war affluence on working-class ways of life in the small town of Beverley, focussed particularly on sociability and identity. The thesis argues that sociological and historical concern with the decline of forms of âtraditional working-class communityâ amongst mobile populations in the 1950s and 1960s has obscured recognition of the continuing importance and vitality of local community for many working-class people in this period. Those who argued that there was a decline of community during the age of affluence (approximately 1955-1975) posited a transition from âtraditionalâ to new forms of working-class life â the present thesis suggests that in so doing, authors exaggerated both the communality of the âtraditionalâ working classes and the individualism of newly affluent workers. In Beverley, individualism and status divisions existed alongside communal sociability and mutuality in working-class streets before the age of affluence. The rising living standards of the 1950s and 1960s did not coincide with an appreciable shift towards âprivatised nuclear familiesâ. I am not arguing only for continuity. In the years of austerity
Ramsden, Stefan
History
Working class community in the era of affluence : sociability and identity in a Yorkshire town, 1945-1980. This thesis presents a qualitative case-study of the impact of post-war affluence on working-class ways of life in the small town of Beverley, focussed particularly on sociability and identity. The thesis argues that sociological and historical concern with the decline of forms of âtraditional working-class communityâ amongst mobile populations in the 1950s and 1960s has obscured recognition of the continuing importance and vitality of local community for many working-class people in this period. Those who argued that there was a decline of community during the age of affluence (approximately 1955-1975) posited a transition from âtraditionalâ to new forms of working-class life â the present thesis suggests that in so doing, authors exaggerated both the communality of the âtraditionalâ working classes and the individualism of newly affluent workers. In Beverley, individualism and status divisions existed alongside communal sociability and mutuality in working-class streets before the age of affluence. The rising living standards of the 1950s and 1960s did not coincide with an appreciable shift towards âprivatised nuclear familiesâ. I am not arguing only for continuity. In the years of austerity
working_class community era affluence sociability identity yorkshire town present qualitative_case study impact post_war affluence working_class way_life small_town focus_particularly sociability identity argues sociological historical concern decline form traditional working_class community amongst mobile population obscure recognition continue importance vitality local_community many working_class people period argued decline community age affluence approximately posit transition traditional new_form working_class life present suggests author exaggerate traditional working_class individualism newly affluent worker individualism status division exist alongside communal sociability working_class street age affluence rise living standard coincide shift_towards nuclear family argue continuity year austerity