The UK has been uncharitably described as a society based on privilege , inherited wealth and contacts. Class is also what divides the bosses from the workers in the UK and the class struggle is at the root of many industrial disputes. It has certainly re-ignited over the past couple of years. Many Britons are obsessed with class and for some, maintaining or improving their position on the social ladder is a full-time occupation.
英国一直以来都被刻画成一个坐享特权、遗产以及社会关系的社会。在英国，老板与员工也处在不同的社会阶级，而社会阶级斗争的根源是劳资纠纷。而在过去的几年，这种斗争又被重新点燃。许多英国人都非常关注自身的社会地位，且对于其中的部分人来说，保持或提高自己社会地位的重要影响因素就是其职业。
A blue-collar worker must never accept a position that elevates him to the ranks of the lower middle class(a white-collar job), otherwise his workmates will no longer speak to him and he will be banned from the local working men's club. Similarly, middle-class management must never concede an inch to the workers and, most importantly, must never have direct discussions with them about anything, particularly pay rises or a reduction in working hours.
蓝领工人不能接受一份使其跻身于中产阶级下层的工作（白领），否则他的同事将不再与其交谈，而且他也会被当地工人俱乐部驱逐。类似地，中产阶级的管理层也不能向工人退让一分一毫，更不能引导他们讨论一些事情，特别是关于涨薪以及减少工作时间的话题。
According to a new study, the UK population is split into no less than seven different social classes, from the "elite" to the lowly "precariat".
据一项最新研究显示，英国人分为从“精英阶层”到最底层的“匮乏者”不等的7个不同阶层。
Precariat: This is the most deprived class of all with low levels of economic, cultural and social capital. The every day lives of members of this class are precarious.
匮乏者：这是最贫困的阶级，拥有的经济、文化以及社会资本水平非常低。这个阶层的人们颠沛流离，每天的生活都非常不稳定。
Traditional Working Class: This class scores low on all forms of the three capitals although they are not the poorest group. The average age of this class is older than the others.
传统的工人阶级：这个阶层的人们尽管不是社会上最穷的人，但是他们享受的三种资本水平是最低的。这个阶层的人们平均年龄要比其他阶层大。
Emergent Service Workers: This new class has low economic capital but has high levels of 'emerging' cultural capital and high social capital. This group is young and often found in urban areas.
应急服务工人阶层：这一阶层的人拥有较低的经济资本，但掌握着较高的社会、文化资本。这个阶层的人比较年轻，多活跃于城市地区。
Technical Middle Class: This is a new, small class with high economic capital but seem less culturally engaged . They have relatively few social contacts and so are less socially engaged.
技术中产阶层：这是一个新近诞生的、人数较少的阶层，拥有较高经济资本，但在文化资本上有所欠缺。由于他们拥有的社会关系较少，所以社会资本也较低。
New Affluent Workers: This class has medium levels of economic capital and higher levels of cultural and social capital. They are a young and active group.
新贵工人阶层：这一阶层的人掌握着适中的经济资本和相对较高的社会、文化资本，构成人员普遍年轻、活跃。
Established Middle Class: Members of this class have high levels of all three capitals although not as high as the Elite. They are a gregarious and culturally engaged class.
成熟的中产阶层：该阶层英国人的特点是拥有较多的经济、社会、文化资本，虽然不及精英阶层，但该阶层的英国人乐于社交，喜欢参与文化活动。
Elite: This is the most privileged class in Great Britain who have high levels of all three capitals. Their high amount of economic capital sets them apart from everyone else.
精英阶层：归属于该阶层的英国人是拥有特权最多的阶级、社会、文化资本，过高的经济资本将这一阶层的英国人与其他阶层的英国人严格划分开来。
