Class paths and historical representations of the social class position. A multidimensional approach to the Argentinian social classes (2003-2011)

Abstract

The article examinates, from a qualitative perspective, the constructions of meaning (perceptions) that people elaborate in relation to the social position they occupy. It does so by approaching the way in which these subjects construct present interpretations, including a past and a future reference and, from these elaborations, they put into practice strategies to organize the trajectories of social mobility of the members of the household. The technique used was that of life history, analyzed in a comparative way. In general it was found that social origin has an effect on the way in which such perceptions are constructed. The social classes best positioned in the social structure present relatively accurate perceptions about the future, referenced to the (own) capacities to establish strategies to achieve it. In contrast, those who experience processes of short-range intergenerational mobility and/or spurious mobility see an idealization of the past, and a disagreement with the present that translates into uncertainty with the future. As for the working classes refer to an improvement in their living conditions, based on the triad employment - social security - consumption and a context (political economic) that maintains these elements.