Social Spaces

Social classes have been drastically downplayed in the last 200 years, but are still a prevalent part of our society. People within higher classes still own large houses, belong to exclusive country clubs, and dress, speak and act with an air of dignity. Stereotypically, people within lower classes still go out to run down bars, live in tenant houses, and are more rustic.

The gentry and noblemen of the 19th century had their designated spaces, and would not dare be caught in spaces for lower classes. The women had certain dress and fabric shops that they would go to, and the men had exclusive gentleman’s club memberships. They would throw parties and balls either at one of their own mansions, or at expensive hotels and inns. They would even only try to vacation in certain areas such as the Bath region in Emma.

The lower classes such as the farmers and day laborers did not have the luxury of being able to join these exclusive clubs, going to said exclusive stores, and vacationing in the country. They did not have the time, the money, or the invitation. People of lower classes had pubs, farms, and commercial clothing stores. They most likely would be mending and making their own clothes whenever they could. They did not have the time or money to prepare or attend extravagant balls thrown in extravagant mansions.

Nowadays classes are less distinct and the lines are blurred, but they are still very much present. Wealthier people still have large country houses or multiple, whole floors in apartment buildings in the city. Outside of the city and in suburbs, they belong to country clubs that are really like the old gentleman’s clubs but have expanded to include women and children. Inside of the city, they belong to exclusive committees that can only be joined by invitation. There are exclusive shops that only some people have the money or invitation to shop at. They attend elusive, top secret and exclusive parties now in large ballrooms in distinguished hotels. Men still have their stereotypical dark libraries, scotch and large comfy chairs. Even the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta has the aforementioned room for socializing and drinking.

Lower classes today at least have more time for entertainment, given the relatively recently passed labor laws. They have large department stores, food courts that often give out free samples (and if one circles it enough, they get a meal), public movie theatres, bars and pubs, and clubs such as the YMCA or local religious organizations.

Classes are still defined by wealth, but it is also okay to know where someone’s money came from. There are still rich spoiled kids who did not have to work a day in their life for the luxuries that they receive, but there are also a lot of self made people who have risen to their social and economic status based on merit. Exclusive clubs still allow for the opportunity to network and more often than not, give its members opportunities that people in lower classes may not receive.

Citation:

Austen, Jane. Emma London: Penguin, 1996. Print