The rigid social hierarchy of Victorian Britain, and the impact this had on people's lives and opportunities.
Class structure: The social hierarchy of the Victorian era was characterized by a rigid structure that placed people in different tiers based on their occupation, income, and family background.
Aristocracy and landed gentry: The upper classes were composed of wealthy landowners, titled nobility, and their descendants, who maintained social and political power through inheritance and privilege.
Middle class: The emergence of a middle class was a significant development during the Victorian era. The middle class consisted of merchants, professionals, and industrialists who aspired to social mobility and inclusion in the upper echelons of society.
Working-class: The working class was the largest and most diverse group, consisting of manual laborers, artisans, and factory workers who experienced harsh living and working conditions.
Wealth and income: Wealth and income were critical determinants of social class during the Victorian era. Those with substantial wealth and income had greater access to education, leisure, and social connections.
Education and social mobility: Educational opportunities played a vital role in determining social mobility during the Victorian era. Education was a pathway to upward mobility, particularly for the middle class.
Gender and class: Gender played an essential role in determining social class during the Victorian era. Women faced significant barriers to social and economic mobility, particularly in the upper classes.
Poverty and social exclusion: Poverty and social exclusion were widespread issues during the Victorian era, particularly among the working-class. Many people struggled to access basic necessities such as food, shelter, and healthcare.
Social reform movements: Social reform movements such as the abolition of slavery, Suffrage movement, and labor reform played an essential role in challenging the rigid class hierarchy of the Victorian era.
Culture and lifestyle: Culture and lifestyle were significant markers of social class during the Victorian era. Dress, manners, leisure activities, and social connections were used to signal social status and identity.
Aristocracy: Aristocracy refers to a social class of noble individuals who possess hereditary privileges and power in society.
Upper-middle class: The upper-middle class refers to a social class within society that typically comprises individuals who hold professional careers or highly skilled jobs, enjoy considerable wealth and prestige, and occupy a position just below the upper class.
Middle class: The middle class refers to the socio-economic group that falls between the upper class and the working class, typically consisting of individuals who hold white-collar jobs and have a moderate level of wealth.
Lower-middle class: The lower-middle class refers to a social class comprised of individuals who hold occupations that require some level of education or skill but do not have significant wealth or social status.
Working class: Working class refers to the socio-economic group consisting of people who perform manual labor and earn wages in order to make a living, typically encompassing low-income individuals engaged in non-managerial and non-professional occupations.
Paupers: Paupers in history refer to impoverished individuals from lower social classes who struggled to meet their basic needs and relied on charity or public assistance for survival.
Lunatics: The topic of Lunatics focuses on the historical treatment and perception of individuals with mental health conditions based on their social class.
Criminals: The topic of Criminals in history by chronology and social class explores the involvement, actions, and societal perceptions of individuals who have committed criminal acts throughout different historical periods and within various social classes.