Sociology Plus
Mediated Class Location Definition
Mediated class location describes the sociological reality that an individual’s social class is determined not by their direct relationship to the means of production, as traditionally defined by Marxist theory, but rather by the class position of their relatives. This concept highlights how social stratification is transmitted and experienced through mediating relationships, demonstrating that class identity is socially constructed and passed down across familial lines.
Origins
The term was introduced by sociologist Erik Olin Wright during the 1980s to address the ways in which class is situated within social relations rather than solely economic ownership.
Dynamics of Class Change
The concept is particularly relevant when examining the mobility of individuals, especially women. The text illustrates that an individual’s class location can be highly volatile; for a woman, this change might occur four times over her lifetime: twice due to personal circumstances concerning employment or non-employment, and twice through shifts in her mediated class as she moves from her father’s class to her husband’s class.
Implications
Given that women constitute half the population, this potential volatility in class location carries significant implications for understanding the development of class consciousness within society.