underclass notes Essay

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Underclass notes

Underclass is a term that has been passed through different generations under various names, but became popularly known in the late 20th century. Underclass is used as a term to define a group of people in society that are beneath the other social classes, amongst the social class hierarchy. The underclass are mainly low in wealth and are generally unemployed, in comparison to the other social classes, that are in, a more established and classified social group. The underclass also has a reputation of having a disrespectful behaviour and attitude towards things in society.

What is an underclass? An underclass is a term used to describe a group of people in society that are socially excluded from the other social classes. This is mainly due to their behaviour and attitude towards specific things within society. The underclass behave in this manner because they are socially isolated, from the more established social classes, therefore they feel the need to be recognised amongst society.
The underclass is dependent upon the government to help them out. In some sense disabled people and elderly people can fall into this categorization of underclass, as both of these categories in a sense are dependent on the government. They are both in some ways also excluded from specific qualities in society, because of their physical conditions.
The terms used to describe this situation is the 'deserving poor' and 'undeserving poor'. The 'deserving poor' are those in society, like the elderly people, disabled people and sick people. These people are the 'deserving poor' because they have physical conditions, in which prevent them, being able to participate in certain things within the everyday society. Whilst the 'undeserving poor' are those within society, that are capable of working, but choose not to. These are the people, which are mainly classified underneath the term 'underclass', because of their behavioural aspects in society.

What are the effects of underclass?
One of the effects 'underclass' has is that it, imposes a threat to society, because they are people that have no respect for other people's property. This links into the London and UK riots, where a majority of the people committing anti-social behaviour were the underclass. The Telegraph (2011) writes that " feral kids with no jobs ran
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