Whiteness, Class and Grassroots Perspectives on Social Change and Difference

Abstract

This paper suggests that the definition of the white working class, as an ethnic majority, is fluid and shifting, in contrast to its conventional portrayal as a fixed and static group. They are more than simply voiceless and 'left behind', especially with regard to views of multiculturalism, immigration and social change. Using data from two recent studies, we see a range of views expressed by white working class communities, which underlines the need for care to be taken when attempting to describe common-sense views on these polemical subjects.

White Working-Class Voices

“…Often, the white working class are portrayed as either in the vanguard of the Right, left behind or voiceless, which precludes perspectives that deviate from these views. As we have discussed, recent studies have shown that the reality may be different for white working-class communities, with opinions ranging from being fatalistic to embracing multiculturalism (Beider, 2011(Beider, , 2014Garner, 2011). The variation in viewpoints, and particularly those that demonstrate a progressive assessment of the issue of race, immigration and change, suggests that a more refined explanation is required.…”

“…Reification is generally flawed and this applies to the white working class and visible minorities. Numerous studies have testified to the richness and diversity within white working-class communities (Rogaly and Taylor, 2009;Beider, 2011Beider, , 2014Garner, 2011;Skey, 2011).…”

“…In the 1960s, the influential Labour politician Richard Crossman acknowledged the vulnerability of the Labour Party to immigration in his 'Diaries' (Crossman, 1991). However, recent research using a mixed methodology, including in-depth interviewing, shows that workingclass communities hold a range of views on multiculturalism and social change (Garner, 2011;Pearce and Milne, 2010;Beider, 2011Beider, , 2014). This will be explored in depth later on in the book.…”

“…White working-class communities engage with minority communities in the same neighbourhoods, workplaces and schools. Recent research has shown that while language may be racialised, there is a wide range of political views, including criticism of the far Right (National Community Forum, 2009;Beider, 2011Beider, , 2014.…”

L’obstacle était trop grand : les 4 difficultés de Monsieur Miliband

“…It was " superb at parcelling people up as outsiders, malcontents or morally undeserving 'scroungers'". 48 Endlessly reinforced and magnified by the Conservatives and the right-wing press (and increasingly, by television) 49 such ideas had entrenched themselves in the public psyche, and the "hard-working families" vs. the undeserving poor cleavage has increasingly displaced traditional notions of class identity. 33 How was the party to respond?…”