Social Inequality and the Sociology of Life Style: Material and Cultural Aspects of Social Stratification

Abstract

The rising importance of dimensions such as age, gender, nationality, ethnicity, political attitudes, and multiple choices to organize the notion of "life course" has made the older class concept appear obsolete to the research sociologist. My thesis is that the current expanding discussions of life styles are not necessarily a substitute but a valuable supplement to social stratification theory. Life style research can contribute to the question of the relevance of the class concept.The result of my investigation shows that life style research, when connected to the writings of Thorstein Veblen, Georg Simmel, and Max Weber, can enrich research in the social sciences.

The Influence of Income, Lifestyle, and Green Spaces on Interregional Migration: Policy Implications for China

“…Further, green spaces are an important influence on the environment and on people's habitat (Yang et al, 2010;Lovell & Taylor, 2013;Qureshi et al, 2013); therefore, green spaces per capita and the green spaces ratio in urban areas were chosen as indicators. In addition, lifestyle is a manner of living that reflects the person's values and attitudes, which manifest in coping with their physical, psychological, social, and economic environments (Bögenhold, 2001;Baker & Palmer, 2006). This variable is typically based on the income required to generate motivations, cultural needs and wants, as well as a harmonious family and social life (Clemente & Sauer, 1976;Link & Phelan, 1996;Bowling, 2005), which may link to green spaces, too.…”

Life-style, History of the Concept

“…Veblen develops the idea of a kind of conspicuous consumption. He argued that this conspicuous consumption is important for the upper class in order to keep their status (Bögenhold, 2003;Veblen, 1899). It has been argued that in modern societies this kind of consumption and demonstration of the wealth has changed.…”

Moving Towards a Better Understanding of Socioeconomic Inequalities in Preventive Health Care Use: A Life Course Perspective

“…Scholars have argued that in current post-industrial societies, stratification is not driven by social class alone (Clark and Lipset 2001). As a result of better labor conditions, increasing wages, and disposable time, consumption patterns have gained importance (Bogenhold 2001). Therefore, the explicit inclusion of cultural capital in explanatory approaches to social inequality in health and health behavior has been advocated, rather than deducing it from general measurements of socioeconomic status (SES), such as social class and income (Abel 2008;Abel and Frohlich 2012;Shim 2010).…”