The Many Dimensions of Social Class in Canada: Early Evidence from the Great Canadian Class Study


Michelle Maroto, University of Alberta

What does social class mean in diverse 21st century post-industrial societies like Canada? How might social class be conceptualized to account for the complex and multi-dimensional social space of this country? Data from the Great Canadian Class Study – a mixed methods project including over 8,000 surveys 100 interviews across the country -- present a complicated picture of social class in Canada. By incorporating different types of economic, cultural, and social capital with subjective perceptions of social class standing into this survey, we are able to map different measures and show whether links occur. Interview data show that experiences of increasing economic insecurity across the class spectrum have further complicated people’s understandings of social class position. In addition to discussing some of the main theoretical conundrums regarding the concept of class, we bring to bear some of the most extensive data on the topic of social class collected in recent years in Canada. We intend for this to be the start of a much larger conversation.

Non-presenting authors: Zohreh BayatRizi, University of Alberta; Guillaume Durou, University of Alberta; Delphine Brown, University of Alberta; Samuel Braden, University of Alberta

This paper will be presented at the following session: